Tia Katy’s Corner October 2024

For the past several years my local Educarte team and I have dreamed of opening a high quality, private special education school to serve the many disabled children in this community who have no access to educational opportunities. I am thrilled to share that this dream became a reality last month when we opened the doors to Escuela de Victoria – the first-ever private special education school in Puerto Peñasco. This project was possible thanks to the support of our many Educarte supporters on both sides of the border as well as a wonderful new partnership with Victory School of Arizona. I wanted to help you get to know Nick Schuerman and Krystal Lowe, the founders of Educarte’s newest non-profit partner.

Question: How did you get started in special education and how did you get where you are today?

Nick: I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in K-8 Education with a minor in K-12 English, as well as a Master’s Degree in School Leadership and Administration. My formal background did not initially include Special Education, but my journey into this field began when my son, Conner, was diagnosed with Autism. This personal experience led me to deeply study Autism and other disabilities. Over my 24 years in education – 7 years as a teacher and 17 years in administration – I have been driven by a passion for supporting underserved populations. I believe my success in this field is largely due to my dedication, strong work ethic, a giving spirit and solid moral compass.

Krystal: I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in K-8 Elementary Education and K-12 Special Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in School Leadership and Administration. From a young age, I’ve been deeply passionate about making a difference in the lives of children with special needs. My journey began by accompanying my mother to her work, where she dedicated herself to helping children with diverse needs. Stepping into a classroom environment for the first time, I felt an instant connection to the field of education. However, I soon realized the significant challenge of finding schools that could provide a well-rounded education for children with special needs. This realization became my driving force – to ensure children with special needs received the education and preparation they deserved. While I cherished my years as a special education teacher, my desire to reach more children led me to transition into an administrative role, and I was determined to expand my impact.

Question: Nick, as the C.E.O. of Victory Schools of AZ, which currently operates six very successful schools serving children with disabilities in Arizona, you are an extremely busy person. What led you to start Escuela de Victoria, a U.S. non-profit with a mission of providing special education opportunities in under-served communities around the world?

Nick: For me, starting a non-profit was a straightforward decision – it’s my way of giving back. As the CEO and founder of these schools, I’ve been financially successful, but I wanted to create something impactful where my contributions would be purely philanthropic. I aimed to make a difference by giving both financially and physically, as a way to express my gratitude for a career that has been incredibly rewarding to me.

Question: What led the two of you to choose Educarte in Puerto Peñasco as your first international non-profit partner?

We learned about the non-profit organization Educarte and were impressed by their work, so we decided to reach out and inquire further. Through our initial conversations, it became clear that our mission and vision for supporting students with disabilities were closely aligned. This alignment led us to form a partnership and collaborate on establishing Escuela de Victory, or “School of Victory.”

Now that Escuela de Victoria is open, what are your hopes for the future of this project? Our hope for Escuela de Victoria is that it continues to grow and serve as many students with special needs as possible. We aspire to never turn away a family seeking this specialized education. Additionally, we hope that the community will recognize the positive impact we are making and choose to support this remarkable project, which is profoundly changing many lives.

My local team and I, as well as the families of the very special students now attending Escuela de Victoria, are incredibly grateful to Krystal, Nick and their entire team in AZ. Over the past several months they have invested a tremendous amount of time, energy and resources in getting Escuela de Victoria up and running. Now, my local team and I hope to expand the current program to give even more disabled students access to educational opportunities that can help them reach their potential and participate fully in life.

Tax deductible donations to support this effort can be made at www.AmigosEducarte.org.

Mil Gracias!