Executive Director Message

David Mitchell

David Mitchell

Thank you for visiting our website. With over 30 years experience working with students with special needs and as director of pupil services for numerous school districts throughout New York State, it is my pleasure to serve as  Executive Director of Oak Hill School. Our commitment to serving children and families remains as important today, as it did when the program began over forty years ago by founder, Ruth Crandall.  Our mission is to provide a quality individualized education for students with emotional challenges by providing a safe and stimulating learning environment, while focusing on their positive wellbeing.

Oak Hill School is a NYS approved Chapter 853 private therapeutic day school for children in K-8th grade with social-emotional and/or behavioral challenges that keep them from being successful in a traditional school setting. We serve 36 students from 21 school districts and eight counties that include: Albany, Fulton, Greene, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Rensselaer and Washington.

Our highly committed, NYS certified, staff deliver a non-traditional program that utilizes a variety of resources including, but not limited to: nature and the outdoors, hiking, cooking, chess, ceramics, and gardening to build self-esteem and support learning in the traditional core curriculum subject areas. In addition, all staff are trained in TCIS (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention of Schools). Students also receive technology, physical education, and art classes on a weekly basis. Our program also provides related services including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. We also employ a behavior specialist, along with counseling support from our therapists.  We utilize a cognitive behavior therapy approach and the Zones of Regulations for our social skill building program.

I encourage you to continue to look through our website and if you have any questions regarding our program please feel free to contact me at 518-399-5048 ext. 110 or via email at [email protected].