Shrub Oak International School Highlights Founders Pillar Curriculum: A Comprehensive Five-Pillar Approach for Autistic Students with Complex Needs

MOHEGAN LAKE, N.Y., April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Shrub Oak International School is proud to highlight its Founders Program, a highly specialized educational model grounded in the Founders Pillar Curriculum, a comprehensive, five-pillar framework designed by Shrub Oak to support the strengths and needs of autistic children, adolescents, and young adults with complex profiles.

The Shrub Oak Founders Program serves autistic students with a wide range of needs, including students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom are nonverbal. To support individualized attention and meaningful progress, classes maintain a 1:1 student-to-staff ratio and are intentionally kept small, with typically no more than five students per classroom.

"At Shrub Oak, we believe that every student deserves an education tailored to who they are," said Nancy Tritsch, MS Ed, EdM, Director of Education. "The Founders Pillar Curriculum reflects our commitment to adapting our approach to meet each student's needs—never the other way around."

The Founders Program is grounded in five core pillars that support students' development across academic, social, and life domains:

1. Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Students build emotional awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills through structured supports and daily practice. Emphasis is placed on self-advocacy and communication of preferences.

2. Community Engagement
Students participate in appropriate community-based experiences that promote independence, safety, and confidence while reinforcing real-world skills.

3. Household Skills
Through hands-on instruction, students develop essential daily living skills such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and self-care, supporting greater independence and interdependence.

4. Health and Safety
Students learn about hygiene, personal development, and safe relationships through evidence-based curriculum aligned with New York State standards.

5. Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS)
Students are introduced to vocational and pre-employment skills through structured, hands-on activities and community-based experiences that support future readiness.

The Founders Program reflects Shrub Oak's broader mission to improve the lives of autistic children, adolescents, and young adults through strength-based, individualized learning. By integrating therapeutic supports, academics, and life skills instruction, the program equips students with the tools needed to build greater independence, foster relationships, and engage meaningfully in their communities.

About Shrub Oak International School and The Pines at Shrub Oak

The mission of Shrub Oak International School is to improve the lives of autistic children, adolescents, and young adults. Through individualized, strengths- and passion-based learning, we help students form meaningful relationships, navigate their communities, and maximize their potential.

Located on the campus of Shrub Oak International School, The Pines at Shrub Oak is a specialized therapeutic program designed to address the unique needs of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and young adults—with or without an autism diagnosis—who require intensive psychiatric support.

Shrub Oak International School is accredited by:

• The National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA), Level III Therapeutic Certification, Academic Accreditation, with an Autism Endorsement;
  
  
• The Middle States Association Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS), a globally recognized leader in school accreditation and improvement; and
  
  
• Cognia, signifying that the school meets or exceeds rigorous standards of educational quality and effectiveness.

For more information about Shrub Oak International School, visit www.shruboak.org or contact Lauren Koffler, Head of Admissions and Organizational Growth, at [email protected].

SOURCE Shrub Oak International School