Our Philosophy

Mardan enjoys a well-respected reputation of success in serving the needs of bright children whose special needs have gone unaddressed or unsupported. Many of these bright yet struggling children are unable to access learning and reach their potential in other school settings. A large percentage of the children served by our program, armed with increased confidence, learned social and coping skills, and enhanced academic success, are able to successfully transition back to public or regular private school settings and/or graduate to go on to post-secondary education.

Mardan offers a network of caring individuals who provide a safe and supportive environment in which clear expectations, firm limits, and consistency are always evident. The teachers and staff provide guidance and reinforcement to help students achieve emotional stability, direct instruction to develop academic and social skills, and opportunities to learn and access coping strategies needed to function successfully within the community.

A strong sense of our own community defines the Mardan program and embraces our students with a feeling of acceptance and belonging. It provides them with a sense of security, a sense of identity, and the experience of being important and noticed. This is especially important for those children who are angry, anxious, isolated, or withdrawn, have experienced failure, or no longer believe in themselves or others. At Mardan, their strengths are valued, their weaknesses addressed, and they learn to be responsible for what they are able to accomplish when their needs are met.

Mardan believes that children deserve an opportunity to be happy, successful, and productive, and that they can achieve these goals when given the respect, understanding, and support they deserve within a competent and caring environment.