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JOWONIO SCHOOL INC

SYRACUSE, NY · EIN 160981162 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Medium ($1M-$10M) · jowonio.org
revenue
$4.9M
expenses
$5.4M
net assets
$621K
employees
138
volunteers
66
program ratio
82%
mission · from form 990

THE SCHOOL'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WHERE DIVERSITY IS CELEBRATED AND ALL ARE FREE TO LEARN AND GROW. JOWONIO IS DEDICATED TO: CREATING INNOVATIVE SETTINGS WHERE CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES ARE FULL PARTICIPANTS AND ENCOURAGED TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL; OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF THERAPEUTIC AND FAMILY SERVICES; PROVIDING TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS, THERAPISTS, AND PARENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES; AND ADVOCATING FOR THE INCLUSION OF ALL CHILDREN IN SCHOOL AND SOCIETY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Early childhood education program in Syracuse, NY, serving children ages 2–5 of all abilities through inclusive classrooms. The school integrates therapeutic supports and family services within a play-based curriculum aligned with New York State standards. Focuses on social-emotional development, individualized learning, and training for educators and therapists.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Preschool Programs
Play-based early childhood education for children ages 2–5 of all abilities, aligned with NYS Core Body of Knowledge standards and offered in inclusive classrooms.
Special Class Inclusive Setting (SCIS)
Inclusive classroom model with approximately 40% of students qualifying for special education services, supported by certified special education teachers and therapists.
Summer Program
Six-week inclusive summer program for children of all abilities and needs, continuing Jowonio’s educational and therapeutic support during summer months.
activities · 11 groups

What they do

  • Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 1 activity
    • Advocacy for inclusion of children of all abilities
      Engages in advocacy to promote the inclusion of children of all abilities in educational and social settings, supporting broader adoption of inclusive models in schools and society.
  • Children's Play and Motor Development Spaces 1 activity
    • Daily movement and outdoor learning opportunities
      Provides daily opportunities for free and structured movement across indoor and outdoor spaces, including a playground, nature trail, and tree house, to support physical development and nature-based learning.
  • Alumni and School Community Newsletters 1 activity
    • Family communication and enrollment management
      Produces and distributes newsletters to families four times per year and maintains interest lists for enrollment, conducting tours for all families as part of the enrollment process.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Field trips and community engagement
      Organizes bi-weekly field trips for each classroom to community spaces, parks, and points of interest that align with classroom learning themes, fostering experiential learning and community integration.
  • Early Childhood Education Financial Assistance 1 activity
    • Free Universal Pre-Kindergarten program
      Offers free Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) tuition for 3- and 4-year-old children residing in the Syracuse City School District through a partnership with SCSD, supporting access to early education for eligible families.
  • Special Education Preschool Programs 1 activity
    • Inclusive early childhood education programs
      Provides inclusive preschool education for children ages 2 to 5 of all abilities, including those with developmental disabilities, through integrated classrooms with staff-to-child ratios of 1:3 to 1:4. Approximately 40% of students receive preschool special education services through referral by CPSE, and the program operates with 12–16 children and 4–5 adults per classroom.
  • Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
    • Inclusive summer program for children
      Operates a six-week inclusive summer program for enrolled students, running from July through August with sessions lasting 2.5 hours per day in morning and afternoon blocks, providing continued engagement and learning during summer months.
  • Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
    • Play-based, inquiry-driven curriculum implementation
      Implements a play-based, inquiry-driven curriculum aligned with New York State’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten framework and developmentally appropriate practice principles, emphasizing child-led exploration and learning.
  • Teacher Professional Development 1 activity
    • Professional and parental training programs
      Provides training and professional development for teachers, therapists, and parents in collaboration with educational institutions and community agencies to promote inclusive practices and support child development.
  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
    • Social-emotional learning instruction
      Teaches social-emotional skills using the Second Step curriculum and program-developed strategies, with a focus on emotion regulation, empathy, and social problem-solving to support children's development.
  • Specialized Therapy for Children with Disabilities 1 activity
    • Therapeutic and family support services
      Provides therapeutic services and family support as part of its inclusive educational programming, offering individualized accommodations and routine developmental assessments with progress updates provided to parents at least twice per year.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.88M
Contributions & grants$345K7%
Program service revenue$4.45M91%
Investment income$48K1%
Other revenue$35K
expenses
Total expenses$5.38M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$4.54M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.63M
Cash$612K
Investments$0
Liabilities$3.01M
Net assets$621K
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -4.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SAILE LORETTA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $99K
MIRIZIO SHEILA BOARD MEMBER 1 $81K
BAYARDI ADRIAN BOARD MEMBER 1 $38K
board members · 14
  • D'ALOISIO JIM — BOARD MEMBER
  • DURHAM KELLY JAKIA — BOARD MEMBER
  • DWYER ELISABETH — VP & SECRETARY
  • HAMMERLE MICHELLE — TREASURER
  • LONGLEY SARAH — BOARD MEMBER
  • MALONE NICK — BOARD MEMBER
  • NATOLI KOBIE — BOARD MEMBER
  • NORTON CHAD — BOARD MEMBER
  • OLEVANO MICHELLE — BOARD MEMBER
  • REY KATIE — BOARD MEMBER
  • REY MICHAEL — PRESIDENT
  • RILEY JAIME — BOARD MEMBER
  • SCHUSTER NICOLE — BOARD MEMBER
  • TAMPONE KEVIN — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • Committee on Preschool Special Education Government — Refers students to Jowonio's Special Class Inclusive Setting through local school district CPSE processes.
  • Community Agencies Partner — Collaborates with community agencies to provide training and development for teachers, therapists, and parents.
  • Educational Institutions Partner — Collaborates with educational institutions to provide training and development for teachers, therapists, and parents.
  • N.Y.S. Office of People with Developmental Disabilities Government — Provider of special support since 1975 enabling Jowonio to operate as an inclusive educational program
  • New York State Education Department Government — Recognized the need for special education programming, influencing Jowonio's transition to preschool and inclusive practices.
  • Syracuse Government — Located in and serves the community of Syracuse, New York.
  • Syracuse City School District Government — Partners with Jowonio to fund tuition for eligible children through the Universal pre-K program.
  • Syracuse City School District Partner — Partners with Jowonio to provide free Universal Pre-Kindergarten for eligible students.
  • Syracuse City School District Partner — Partnership to provide free Universal PreK tuition, classroom materials, and support services for teachers and families.
  • area colleges and universities Partner — Collaborates with local colleges and universities to host student interns in teacher and therapist training programs
  • community agencies Partner — Collaborates with community agencies to provide training and development for therapists and parents.
  • educational institutions Partner — Collaborates with educational institutions to provide training and development for teachers and parents.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Inclusive Education Model
    methodology: inclusive_education
    By integrating children of all abilities into the same classrooms with individualized supports and a high adult-to-child ratio, the school promotes full participation, enhances development, and fosters community diversity because inclusive environments are believed to benefit all learners socially and academically.
  • Play-Based, Child-Centered Learning
    methodology: play-based_learning
    By centering curriculum on play and self-directed exploration, children develop essential cognitive, social, and emotional skills because autonomous engagement fosters intrinsic motivation, creativity, and deeper learning aligned with developmental goals.
  • Process-Oriented Arts and Self-Expression
    methodology: process-oriented_arts_education
    By emphasizing the creative process over the final product in arts education, the school nurtures self-expression, intrinsic motivation, and emotional development because valuing exploration supports identity formation and resilience.
  • Relationship-First Social Inclusion
    methodology: relationship-first_inclusion
    By modeling social relationships that prioritize personal identity and friendship over perceived differences, the school fosters empathy, belonging, and social problem-solving because positive peer dynamics are foundational to inclusive communities.