Green Chimneys

The Green Chimneys School for Little Folk opened in 1948 with eleven students 3 to 6 years old, with young Samuel Ross leading a small staff to provide academics, recreation, and a loving environment for the children, with the unique experience of interacting with and caring for animals. His father, Dr. Barney Ross, and Adele MacDonald, a nurse working for him, helped to establish a home-like setting at this unusual boarding school. Housemothers were employed to tend to the needs of each child, essentially becoming substitute parents. Night staff brushed the children’s teeth and put them to bed. Teachers, staff, and children ate meals and celebrated birthdays and holidays together. The school community was one large family.

By 1952 the school expanded to include children 2 to 9 years of age. It was just two years later that Ross married Myra Mattes, a teacher, on the grounds of Green Chimneys. Continued success led to a further expansion in 1957 to include children up to age 12 with Green Chimneys providing pre-school through 6th grade.

As the school grew, Ross realized that some of his students, even the brightest and most gifted, had social, behavioral, or emotional problems that prevented them from reaching their full potential. These students received extra attention, and many were able to overcome their difficulties. The focus of the school began to change; it was gaining a reputation for helping children with special needs.

By 1966, it became apparent that the children attending Green Chimneys were in need of a year-round program. Both a middle school and dormitories were added to the campus and the academic year expanded to 12 months.

Today Green Chimneys serves more than 200 students in renowned therapeutic day and residential school programs. The Farm & Wildlife Center is home to nearly 200 domesticated farm animals and wildlife species, including injured and imprinted birds of prey. Animal-assisted therapy continues to play a critical role in the education and therapeutic treatment of the children who not only benefit from the presence of animals but play a role in their care.

Green Chimneys is a comprehensive multi-service agency with programs in Putnam County, New York and Danbury, Connecticut, and the third largest employer in Putnam County. We are known for our nature-based philosophy encompassing animals, plants and outdoor adventure, and encourage highly motivated, talented candidates to join our staff.

DIVERSE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

- Special Education
- Social Services
- Residential Childcare
- Clinical Services
- Farm & Wildlife
- Outdoor Education
- Summer Camp
- Community Outreach

We offer a competitive benefits package to permanent, full- and part-time employees.

The Experience of Working at Green Chimneys
Green Chimneys operates a friendly and caring family environment where colleagues and clients are treated with care and respect. Green Chimneys is also an animal-friendly, nature-focused community that believes in the dignity and worth of all living things.

We maintain a safe work environment and all employees are expected to manage their responsibilities within a safe milieu, fostering an environment of trust, open communication and respect for clients, coworkers, and themselves at all times.

Working at Green Chimneys is a life-long learning experience. Employees are encouraged to expand their skills, get involved in new initiatives and participate in decision making.

We value:

- Diversity on all levels, both personal and professional
- Best practices and new ideas to answer ‘How can we be better at what we do?’
- People who are flexible and enjoy new challenges
- Commitment and longevity (some employees have been here for over 40 years!)
- The connection between humans and the natural world

Green Chimneys is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers employment to all qualified individuals without regard to age, color, creed, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or gender expression in all personnel matters, including recruitment, evaluation, selection, promotion, compensation, training and termination. Under the Green Chimneys Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, we take affirmative action to recruit, hire, develop, transfer and promote qualified members of protected groups (defined as racial minorities, women, physical or mentally disabled, persons age forty or over and veterans).