Program History

In 1991, Joan McLaughlin and Gladys Oberle recognized a need to provide specialized educational and employment services to disadvantaged and disabled youth residing in Planning District 16 and surrounding areas. With a mission of working directly with the community to assist these youth in acquiring the education and skills necessary to become successful, contributing members of the workforce, they founded Employment Resources Incorporated and became pioneers of specialized alternative education and workforce training in the Fredericksburg area. The Academy now averages 36 new admissions per year.

Gladys Oberle

Joan McLaughlin

To meet the educational needs of students identified with disabilities, ERI established a private, special education day program called "The Star Center." This was one of the first schools of its kind in the area and quickly became a model program for meeting the unique needs of special education students. Upon Mrs. Oberle's death in 1996, ERI changed the name of the school to the Gladys H. Oberle School which remains one of the top schools of its kind in the area.

Over the past 30 years, ERI's mission has remained the same. Working collaboratively with individuals, school systems, state and federal agencies, and local businesses, we have created and operated numerous innovative programs to bring workforce training, special educational programs, alternative education and career and technical programs to the youth of our area. Currently, ERI employs over 30 professional educators and workforce specialists with well over 100 collective years of experience in education and services for disabled and disadvantaged youth. The company is governed by a Board of Directors and its by-laws which ensures that services meet the mission.

The Oberle Philosophy

$Math Learning$

We recognize there are a variety of complex issues that contribute to a student’s lack of success in the traditional educational system. Some students can only achieve academic success by being placed in a non-traditional, alternative education setting that provides academic instruction based upon their academic, emotional, social, behavioral, and functional abilities.

We approach each student’s strengths and weaknesses through individual planning. This individualization enables the students to start at their own level of ability and meet with success rather than failure. Thus, a student who is disenchanted with school can effectively overcome his or her negative academic performance.

A combination of academics, behavior modification, counseling, career and technical education, transition planning, transition training, and community involvement aids the Oberle School in assisting students ages 11-22 in:

Increased reading & math skills
Improved SOL testing scores
Increased graduation rates

Transitioning back to public school
Decreased serious disciplinary offenses in the school setting
Increased personal responsibility

Employment success during & after high school
Transitioning to post-secondary education

Administration

Marbury A. Fagan, II, MBA, CPA

President & CEO

Ken Manahan, M.Ed.

Program Director

Linda Sealy

Director of Development

Joyce Corbin

Office Manager

Carol Sharp

Administrative Assistant

Jeanine Marchese

Executive Assistant

The Oberle Academy Staff

The backbone of The Oberle Academy, our staff takes pride in providing our students with the best education possible. With an average of 12-years of teaching experience, their value cannot be understated. Quality, consistency, and professional excellence, with a personal touch!

To contact a staff member, please contact our main office.