The Family Foundation School

In my life before The Family School I was extremely self-centered. I hurt everyone around me to get what I wanted and got a lot of negative attention by acting like a psycho. I had no interest in God because he probably didn't want me to steal, lie, cheat, or use substances.

A.C.

My life became unmanageable early on. I was kicked out of 8th grade for drinking and drugging, and a year later was thrown out of 9th grade for the same reasons. I also owed thousands of dollars in gambling debt and spent my life running from those I owed money to.

A.H.

Before FFS, my life was unmanageable and out of control. I was shooting heroin, selling drugs, stealing, and lying to my parents. I did anything to blind me from reality because I hated who I had become.

C.B.

At home I was an overeater and extremely overweight. Going to school was the last thing on my mind. I stayed home and slept all day, then got up and stayed out all night. I was rude and disrespectful and had fits of temper.

D.W.

At home I perfected the art of quitting. My attempts at sports, school, and relationships amounted to nothing but pathetic stories because I never followed through. I did not like myself and wanted to escape the judgment of others.

J.C.

My life at home was full of lies and deceit. I became part of the tough crowd in middle school, and in high school I was in and out of detention, got into bad relationships, ran away and was sent to a psych ward.

J.G.

To put it bluntly, I was a drunk. I didn't care about my family, or God, just drinking and smoking. I was drug-tested for the first time at 12, at 13 I was in outpatient rehab, and at 15 I was sent to wilderness and then to The Family School.

J.M.

I was 15 and my mother was driving me to the hospital. She was crying, but all I could think of was what a good job I had done not eating. I felt no remorse, only the desire to leave and continue killing myself.

M.R.

I am an alcoholic and a drug addict who couldn't live life on life's terms, so I drank. When my dad was diagnosed with cancer, I was introduced to heavier drugs and started stealing and selling his pain medication.

R.B.

I was empty, angry, miserable, and lonely at home, and used any means possible to numb my feelings. I dropped out of school. Nothing really mattered, and I was quickly using up my friends and family.

V.K.

Honors Courses

The Family Foundation School offers seniors the chance to take advanced-level or "honors" courses. Most of these are also dual-credit college courses offered through St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota; Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania; or the State University of New York at Delhi. Students receive one high school credit and three or four college credits per course. Conducted by qualified college instructors, these offerings allow students who have completed most high school requirements, but who need to stay and strengthen the changes they have made, to do so with no loss of educational opportunity.

  • English Composition
  • Masterpieces of Literature
  • Myth, Legends, and Sacred Literature
  • Social Problems
  • Statistics
  • Calculus
  • Science 110
  • Chemistry
  • General Biology/Lab

Honors Courses Faculty

Sidney F. Parham, Ph.D. Sidney F. Parham, Ph.D. Myth and Literature

B.A., English, Washington and Lee University
M.A., English, University of Virginia
Ph.D., drama, Tufts University

An administrator and college English teacher at The Family Foundation School, Sid's myth and literature classes reflect his passion for the theater. Since joining FFS in 2000, the school's drama department has grown and evolved under his leadership, with The Family Players now rivaling many college and community troupes.  A performer himself, with a Ph.D. in drama, Sid has made the works of such classic playwrights as Moliere, Chekov, and Dorothy Parker both accessible and wildly entertaining to contemporary audiences.  He resides on campus with his wife, FFS administrator Rita Argiros, and their two German shepherds.

Jan Cheripko Jan Cheripko English Composition

B.A., St. Thomas Aquinas College

A career writer, editor and journalist, Jan began working part time at The Family Foundation School in 1986 and full time in 2000. In addition to teaching English and English Composition, he conducts Living Skills and philosophy classes, and is the family leader of FFS Talbot House. He has also served as principal of the FFS middle school. A celebrated author of award-winning books for children and young adults, Jan has addressed audiences throughout the country and abroad on at-risk teens, addiction, and writing. He lives with his wife, Valray, and daughter, Julia, in Bethany, Pa. where he sits on the Borough Council.

Ann Janauer Ann Janauer College Chemistry

B.A., Ph.D., Chemistry, Binghamton University

Daughter of The Family Foundation School founders Tony and Betty Argiros, Ann joined the FFS faculty in 2006 as a chemistry teacher. She previously taught chemistry at Delhi State College and Sienna College. Her administrative duties since returning have included Director of Human Resources, and in 2009 she was named principal. Ann and her husband Gerald enjoy backyard farming and are active promoters of local agriculture, including organic produce and dairy products, grass-fed beef and pasture-raised pork.

Larry Leung Larry Leung College Physics

B.S.M.E.,  Worcester Polytechnic Institute
M.A.T., Physics, Binghamton University

Larry joined the faculty of The Family Foundation School in 2004 with more than 10 years of classroom teaching experience in the New York public school system. He teaches Earth Science, Regents Physics and College Physics, and often uses his background and interest in mechanics and environmental science in his physics labs. The class's annual trip to Six Flags to study the physics of amusement park rides makes Larry's class one of the most popular on campus.

Edmund Leung Edmund Leung College Biology

B.A. Hofstra University
Ph.D., University of Florida

Ed has been on staff at The Family Foundation School since 2006 and currently teaches Regents Biology, College Biology, and College Science in Modern Society. A biotechnology enthusiast, Ed has introduced his biology classes to Gel Electrophoresis and treats them to a day-long DNA profiling session each semester with Dr. Darwin Yerky, outreach coordinator of Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers.

Jim Kavarnos Jim Kavarnos Calculus and Statistics

B.S., M.A., Binghamton University

Since joining the faculty of The Family Foundation School in 1998, Jim has taught chemistry, physics, and math. He currently teaches college calculus and statistics, as well as Regents Math B and has taught P.E. classes in weight training. For the last two years he has coached the school's "Moody's Mega Math Challenge" team, which placed 17th out of 431 teams in 2009. Jim lives in Callicoon Center, N.Y. with his wife, Carolyn, and their three young sons.

Rita Argiros Rita Argiros Social Problems

B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Sociology, Binghamton University

In addition to her role as V.P. for Administrative Affairs, Rita teaches college sociology classes at FFS. Prior to returning to the school in 2000 when her parents (FFS founders Tony and Betty Argiros) retired, she was associate professor of sociology at St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minn. Her areas of interest include research methods and statistics, social inequality, and social problems. 

"Two years ago we didn't think Kristin was going to graduate high school. Now she's graduating, going to college on a scholarship, and has a world of opportunities awaiting her."

The Family Foundation School has a well-earned reputation for the best academics of any residential program serving at-risk teens.