The Vanguard School and Services

Welcome to The Vanguard School and Services (VSS)!

I hope you find our website helpful and a good introduction to the incredible scope of work our staff and faculty do here.

VSS aims to serve and meet the unique needs of students with disabilities, ages 6-22, with special education (K-12) and vocational services. VSS also serves adults with special needs through Vanguard Recreation Services, and our one-of-a kind, Vanguard Supported Employment.  We are here as a resource for you and your family to help your child or adult with special needs through every aspect of life. We enthusiastically greet you and are excited about all the ways we can work together!

The 2024-25 school year marked my first year as Executive Director of The Vanguard School and Services. I am honored to be following in the footsteps of my predecessor, Dr. Grace Fornicola, who was instrumental in both introducing and building Vanguard Supported Employment. The program naturally builds off the foundation laid by The Vanguard School – our signature program for nearly 65 years and Pennsylvania’s first Approved Private School – to meet the needs of students not best served by their home school districts. 

VSS now draws from over 50 districts to create a specialized program for students who need the expertise of our remarkable staff.  We work closely with the Pennsylvania State Department of Education, our lawmakers in Harrisburg, and our partner school districts to ensure the highest quality resources.  This includes behavioral experts, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and a teaching staff experienced in working with students who most need our services.

Our campus is a lively and dynamic place. When you visit - which I strongly encourage you to do! – you will see a strong sense of belonging in our students. Vangaurd is “their place” wherever they happen to be on their journey here. Whether a K-12 student in The Vanguard School or our Vocational & Transition Center (VTC), working to gain employment through our supported employment program, or joining Vanguard Recreation Services for a summer retreat – students see Vanguard as an extension of their family. With so many ways for students and families to engage with our programs and staff, it’s hard not to be drawn in.

There is a lot of new things happening around campus, as well. We are so fortunate to be located in Malvern, a beautiful part of Chester County and a real haven.  Our staff works very hard to keep the campus beautiful. The Board of Trustees and all of us who work here are dedicated to not only making today the best it can be for our students, but also to looking to the future to introduce new programming and features to our campus.

Growth is important, however, not our number one commitment. Our first priority is the safety and security of our staff and students.  No learning, no growth can happen if students, the adults we serve, and our caring staff members, who not only apply their expertise, but their hearts to their work, don't feel safe in their surrounding environment.  That commitment to safety is where everything begins.

So, please take the time to explore this website and get to know us.  We are very proud of what happens here every day.  VSS is a family, and we invite you to both learn about our family, and if appropriate for your needs, to join our family.  Please reach out to any of our departments should you have more questions.

All the best,

Tom Quinn, M.Ed
Executive Director