Bryan Tomes, Executive Director of Asheville Academy for Girls defines academics and therapeutics, and explains how they are integrated so academics is a priority in its own right and does not take a back seat to therapeutics.
Bonners Ferry, ID -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/12/2012 -- To get the discussion started today on Lon Woodbury’s Internet Talk Radio Show "Parent Choices for Struggling Teens" January 16, 2012 on LATalkRadio at http://www.latalkradio.com, Lon shared with today’s guest, Bryan Tomes, the Executive Director of Asheville Academy for Girls that in the past academics at therapeutic boarding schools have “taken a backseat” or been somewhat mediocre, with an exception to a very few. But as Bryan shared, “there has been a historic shift in therapeutic schools and programs offering more sophisticated academics, in addition to seeing that “school” is one of the many areas in which the student’s behaviors arise.”
As Bryan stated “a school/program needs to identify a mission or vision for learning, in addition to looking at the class schedule, curriculum and accreditation process, a therapeutic setting looks at a student’s broad range of issues and their social and behavioral differences. “What is referred to as a whole child approach. Size of the school and number of students per class in a therapeutic school is so important, because it is built on relationship building, added to the factor that students receive an individualized program, and also necessitates the size being small.”
“It is so important to make sure the academic staff receives therapeutic training and are included in the therapeutic team meetings. They hear the goals for the child, and can utilize interventions and skill building techniques in the areas of their classrooms. The students therefore receive continuity in all areas and it normalizes the process. Students need to see success in their academics as well as their successes in relationships with their families and peers for a smooth successful transition after they leave a therapeutic school” shared Bryan. As Lon pointed out, “sounds like a conductor of an orchestra, synchronizing all the factors, needs, textbooks, sports, arts and therapy needs.”
With homework being the number one problem in creating a dysfunction in families, parents and an Educational Consultant can help find the proper placement for a student needing the small size or specialized classes some students need to obtain academic success. In a therapeutic setting, students looking to transition or graduation are given core study and organization skills they vastly need to learn how to prepare to use their time wisely with homework, to take a learning style assessment to find out what kind of “learner” they are and to build an academic plan utilizing their strengths and weaknesses.
To sum up the advantages in working with students in a therapeutic school, with a class size of 1-8, Bryan shared “you don’t have to push a kid into a mold; you let the kid create their own mold.”
To listen to the full interview on Academics in a Therapeutic Setting go to http://www.latalkradio.com/Players/Lon-030512.shtml on LATalkRadio.
Lon Woodbury as an Independent Educational Consultant is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and http://www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00 Noon, Pacific Time, Channel One.
Bryan Tomes is the Executive Director for Asheville Academy For Girls, in Weaverville, North Carolina, a Therapeutic Middle School for girls ages 10-14. This new therapeutic boarding school was founded December 1, 2011. Bryan has been working in the therapeutic school environment for over 7 years and beforehand worked in the public school sector in both traditional and special education. Bryan can be contacted at 828-484-9901 or by email at bryan@ashevilleacademy.com.
This Segment is sponsored by Grand River Academy, http://www.grandriver.org, a transition boarding school for boys in Northeast Ohio.
Woodbury Reports was founded in November 1989, by Lon Woodbury, MA, IECA, CEP, as an Independent Educational Consulting firm to help parents of teens making poor decisions select a private, parent choice program that would help return the family to normalcy. Through interviews with parents, communication with professionals who know your child well, and then thoroughly researching viable options, we can help parents make the right choices that will help your child get back on the right path. For more information about Woodbury Reports Inc., call 208-267-5550, or email to lon@woodbury.com, or visit the web site http://www.strugglingteens.com.