A private school for foster children in East Valley is expanding its horizons with the construction of a new 18,000-square-foot facility. Shade Tree Academy, initially started in 2020 by three East Valley foster parents, is set to welcome up to 100 students to its new campus which will feature an equine therapy facility and a pool. After operating in a converted Masonic Lodge with a capacity for 10 students, the school's leap to accommodate tenfold more pupils marks a significant upgrade for the community.
The initiative to construct the new building was largely fueled by a generous donation of $4 million, which was contingent on the academy also independently raising $1 million. As reported by 12 News, the fund-raising efforts are surging toward the finish line with only $300,000 left to collect. “We saw a need and knew that these children need more support than what was currently being offered," Susan Mulhearn, co-founder, told 12 News.
Shade Tree Academy's approach is tailored to address both academic and personal growth, integrating skill development exercises alongside somatic and trauma therapy, facilitated by licensed professionals. "We originally had caregivers who would reach out to us asking for help their children would be expelled from public schools and expelled from alternative behavioral public schools," co-founder Anika Robinson said in a statement obtained by 12 News. This attention to detail stems from the founders' own experiences as foster and adoptive parents who recognize the unique challenges faced by children rising from difficult circumstances.
The upcoming facility's groundbreaking was announced for Saturday and met with excitement by the East Valley community. According to details shared by Ground News, besides the therapy centers, the enhanced infrastructure will also allow the school to offer a broader range of services and activities. "We're so excited at the lasting impact that this will have on generations to come," Mulhearn echoing her enthusiasm about the project's long-term benefits.
