A cultural and educational trip that specializes in traveling with neurodivergent, “special needs” high schoolers on international travel is going abroad to Spain again for February 2026! As a chaperone for several student trips to Poland and Spain prior, I am excited to support and share the experience once more with our special and dynamic students.

Unveiling history, art, food, traditions, architecture, and social “norm” diversity in international travel with our selected students is a way of practicing and applying many benchmarks met in our specialized district BUT in a “larger world” context.

From REACH Academy, let me introduce our selected student this year… John! John came to the REACH Academy just after the COVID shutdown, which was not easy for him. However, he has made the REACH Academy his school to grow and strive to thrive over the years. He has worked every day at school to not “give up” with the daily challenge of learning for him. John has also sought specific opportunities in school to enrich his learning from the classroom such as involvement with student government, yearbook photography, and being a student representative for the school safety committee.

Outside of school and in his community, John has been involved in the Marching Cobras of New York, teaching him the rhythm of resiliency in various ways of disciplined marching band performances. John is also in the Star of the Sea CYO Cadet Corps, which teaches youth development and leadership building that is modeled after the structure, discipline, and customs of the United States Armed Forces. Most recently, John is being awarded the Commander's Medal for his consistent support of his company commander, as written in the “Bronx Times.”

Please help me support John in this fundraising through GoFundMe as he continues to explore REACHing beyond “disabilities.” This fundraiser will not only help students like John go on this trip in 2026 but will also pay it forward for other students selected to go abroad in the year after him. Each student’s “reach” is so important to support. Thank you!