The Phoenix Center is co-founded and opened with 16 students and 12 staff in a 13,000-square-foot space in West Paterson. Enrollment as of June 1992 is 49 students.

Home and School Association, Partners in Caring, is formed with the mission of supporting fundraising for the school.

The Phoenix Center became the first private school in the state to receive approval for its Supported Employment program (now known as Work-Based Learning).

TPC Staff and enrollment continues to grow from original 16 students and 12 staff to where it is today.

Community-Based Instruction (CBI) is introduced to allow students to learn how to use such local institutions as banks, bookstores, grocery stores, the public library, the post office, and restaurants.

Interactive Restaurant Program is started with state-of-the-art kitchen equipment and furnishings (donated by Inserra Shop Rites of Mahwah).

Phoenix develops inclusion program to return students to their local public school districts.

Percussion Ensemble is formed and cuts own CD.

Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program starts.

Phoenix purchases two additional vans to transport students into the community.

School finds a permanent home in 44,000-square-foot former Catholic School in Nutley.

The Fish philosophy focuses on four principles: choose your attitude, make someone’s day, be present and play. Strengthening trust, teamwork and engagement is so important in building staff culture. This philosophy helps everyone choose to bring energy, passion and a positive attitude to work.

Dance troupe is introduced to enhance participants’ rhythm, concentration, and team spirit.

First Annual Student Art Show is held at the school for families and the community.

Phoenix introduces a Sensory Motor Gym.

Family Night Out program is introduced to parents.

The Phoenix Center purchases its first 16-passenger school bus (donated by the Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation).

Consumer Family Life Skills Program is introduced (funded by Columbia Bank Foundation).

Bowling League is formed with other Private Schools (funded by Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation).

Horticulture Program is instituted to give students hands-on gardening experience and enhance beauty of the school’s outdoor garden (funded by Ramsey Area Garden Clubs and Columbia Bank Foundation).

SMART Boards are installed in 14 of 16 classrooms.

Achieved NCASES Accreditation.

Multisensory Environment is opened thanks to a grant from Seton Hall University.

Achieved Middle States Accreditation.

Pet Therapy is introduced.

Provided supervision for eight graduate school student interns in Occupational Therapy, Physical therapy, Speech and Counseling, from Montclair State University and Seton Hall University.

Our students engaged in 3,930 hours of CFL in the areas of cooking, laundry, kitchen organization, and living space maintenance.

Columbia Bank Foundation funds the construction of a secure school lobby.

Met MSA goal for 90% of our students in all grades to increase their access to technology weekly within Academic Content areas by 200%.

Happy Birthday to The Phoenix Center!

Achieved 1:1 student/staff tech ratio throughout the school community.

Awarded two 3-year grants for IXL and Unique Learning System to further enhance TPC’s access to subscription-based online learning platforms.

Fully renovated Teaching Kitchen that promotes life skills and helps prepare students for life beyond the classroom.

Purchased new 24 passenger school bus, largely funded by a grant from The Bolger Foundation.

The Phoenix Center proudly celebrates its 35th anniversary—honoring three and a half decades of education, innovation, and life-changing impact for our students and community.