Our Story
“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
- Romans 8:28
Opening Doors to Catholic Education
Mission
One Classroom accompanies families and schools by providing the financial support, training, and resources needed to ensure every learner — regardless of ability — has the opportunity to belong and thrive in Catholic education.
Vision
Through faith, students of all abilities find a place of belonging and communion within Catholic schools.
Values
Faith. Collaboration. Welcome. Excellence.
Our Story
The foundation of a fruitful childhood is knowing you belong.
With students spending anywhere from 15 to 20 thousand hours in the classroom from preschool to twelfth grade, it is more important than ever to ensure that a sense of belonging for every child is instilled into the fabric of their school. However, students with disabilities and learning differences often experience academic, social-emotional, and even spiritual barriers to accessing true inclusion in Catholic schools.
Rooted in God’s call to love, educate, and find the perfection in all His children, One Classroom was founded in 2015 to ensure that every learner — regardless of ability — has the opportunity to belong and thrive in Catholic education.
For over a decade One Classroom has accompanied families and schools by providing the financial support, training, and resources to create pathways for students with disabilities to access Catholic education.
Through our granting work, we fund infrastructure at schools to support all learners. By engaging in our professional development programs, local educators invest in their continued education and professional growth. Supporting families allows One Classroom to be a force for generational connections, mentorship, and community. Collaborating with like-minded community organizations develops a multi-tiered network of support to serve the needs of a broad spectrum of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, learning differences, and physical needs.
The convergence of these efforts is transforming Catholic education across Eastern Missouri so that students of all abilities may find a place of belonging and communion within Catholic schools.
One Classroom is opening doors to Catholic education for all learners.
Inspired by their son Christopher, Tony and LeeAnn Armitage founded One Classroom in 2015. Their mission was simple: make it possible for students with special needs to attend Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Guided by the Holy Spirit, what started with two students at their parish, Mary Queen of Peace, has expanded to a third of the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, serving hundreds of students, educators, and families annually.
Inspired by her story as a mother who dedicated her life to prayer for her son, One Classroom has named St. Monica as our patron saint. As an organization founded from a conversation amongst mothers, we look to St. Monica as an example of unwavering faith, devotion, and perserverence for the sanctification of of all God’s children.
St. Monica, pray for us.
Our Patron Saint
“We seek to serve all children, regardless of their disability. The greater the challenge, the higher the priority.”
— Tony Armitage, One Classroom Co-Founder