Our Story
We are developing the J.S. Bryant School, a therapeutic day high school that will energize LGBTQ+ students’ curiosity and learning passion through creative exploration, farming entrepreneurship, and climate innovation, emphasizing learning excellence.
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As a therapeutic high school nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires, educators, clinicians, farming professionals and artists will nurture and grow students’ personal power and wellness in a gender-affirming environment. Students will graduate ready for college or take on a job in the arts, farming, or climate innovation. We will open Fall 2025 as a therapeutic day school, and in years to come will add a therapeutic boarding program.
Thoughts From Our Community
Luke
LGBTQ+ mental health practitioner
Pamela
LGBTQ+ singer, songwriter, musician, activist, and educator
Lexi
Owner of an independent bookstore for youth and teens of all identities
Meet our Founders
The founders, Dr. Allison Druin (she/her) and Dr. Ben Bederson (he/him), are life-long educators and innovators with a commitment to experiential learning and listening to the voices of young people. They are lovers of craft, creativity, and the healing properties of outdoor education and life. They are also the parents of a college student who walked this journey, attending a therapeutic boarding school during his high school years. In seeking a supportive environment for their son, they learned what was and wasn’t available. Coupled with their history of living in the Berkshires, they have been inspired by their family journey to create a much-needed therapeutic learning community in the northeast.
J.S. Bryant is a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization.
Your donations are tax-deductible.