Academics in present programs

[Whooter]

I started this thread to discuss the academics provided by the present programs and discuss the ways they have improved (and have not improved) over the past several decades.  A good start may be to post the schools rooster of teachers and their qualifications.
Thread rules:
I want to keep posting in this thread limited to survivors and program parents only and exclude previous program teachers and staff because of their bias on the subject.

Program name: Bromely Brook

Teachers on staff as of 1/2011:

Balch, Colleen - Science Teacher B.A., Colby College; MS.Ed., Northern Illinois University

Burrow, Jeremiah - History Teacher B.A., Marlboro College; M.A.L.S, Dartmouth College

Clark, Kim - Teacher (no information)

Dawsen, Clemma - English Teacher BA in literature, creative writing and ceramic art from Bennington College, and an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College.

Lenfest, Chenoa - History Teacher.  She graduated from CSC with a B.A. in History and Minor in Political Science.

Meyer, William - Science Department  He earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from Yale University in New Haven CT and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Noguero, Manuel - Language Teacher

Rubano, Pat – Teacher Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science from Pace University, Master of Business Administration degree

Bromley Brook School is accredited by CITA, licensed by Vermont Department of Children and Family Services, and a Recognized Independent School in the Department of Education in the State of Vermont. As such, our curriculum is approved by the State, facilitating appropriate credit transfer to other schools across the country. Our High School Diplomas are recognized by the State of Vermont.

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[Whooter]

Academy at Swift River:

Here is a program teacher staff list:

These are the teachers that ASR have on staff.

Ballou-Baldwin, Martha    Administrative Assistant .... Licensed Practical Nurse

Gutermuth, Brittany    Teacher......BA in Environmental Studies

Jasinski, Chris    Teacher.......  BA in Linguistics and Minor in French

LaForest, Jennifer    Teacher .........Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry & Philosophy

Lyons, Judith    Learning Specialist .......Masters in Education from Fitchburg State.

Misener, Melinda    Teacher    .......degree in Comparative Literature.

Tripler, Charles    Teacher ......no info

Wallender, John    Teacher ......  bachelor’s from State University of New York,

Wilcox, Dennis    Academic Registrar/Scheduler   .......majored in Mathematics

Williams, Greg    Teacher  ....BA in Biology from the Univ of Penn.

Winston, Jeff    Teacher .....  Temple University with a degree in Communications.

Accreditation

CITA (Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation)

Approved as a private school by the Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee in compliance with Massachusetts Chapter 71 Section 1

SEVIS-approved and qualified to accept international students


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[Ursus]

Program name: Bromely Brook

Thanks for all that information, Whooter. Fwiw, you left out:

Clark, Kim - Teacher[/list]

Like Manuel Noguero, also a teacher at Bromley Brook, absolutely no information is listed. Perhaps it isn't available yet.

Btw, do you have a link for your info on Academy at Swift River?

[Whooter]

Program name: Bromely Brook

Thanks for all that information, Whooter. Fwiw, you left out:

Clark, Kim - Teacher[/list]

Like Manuel Noguero, also a teacher at Bromley Brook, absolutely no information is listed. Perhaps it isn't available yet.

Btw, do you have a link for your info on Academy at Swift River?

Fixed it.  Thank you Ursus.



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[Whooter]

Oakley School

Academic Teachers:

Campbell, Tim - English Teacher ….. B.A. in English from Colorado College

Gines, Dallas - Learning Specialist …. Masters Degree in Special Education.

Heesch, Adam - Art Instructor….. B.F.A. - Illustration – Brigham Young University

Jacobs, Craig - English Teacher….. B.A. – History, University of Colorado,  B.S. – Journalism, University of Colorado

Jones, Pat - Music Teacher ….. A.S. – Business, Salt Lake Community College

Katchuk, Kay - Math Teacher … B.A. in Secondary Ed.,  M.S. in Math

Noel, Richard - Physics Teacher …. degree in Psychology

Prugh, Alex – Teacher ….  J.D. – Nova Southeastern University,  B.A. – Mercer University

Spitzer, Justin - History Teacher ….    B.A., History, University of Michigan,  M.A., American History, University of Connecticut

Veitinger, Craig - Math Teacher … B.S in Mathematics, minor in Engineering –Valparaiso University

Williams, Jay - Science Teacher … B.S. – Biology

B.S. – Biology … B.A. – U Mass, Masters Degree in Humanities – “Latino Immigrant Issues” – Prescott College

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[Dysfunction Junction]

I've been saying this for many years.  The vast majority of these programs have "self-study" academics, no accreditation, no licensed teachers, etc.

We had a long discussion several years ago about the Academy at Swift River, an Aspen Education Program, and the unaccredited academics there.  It was insisted by one poster here that all credits transfer, the school was accredited, etc., although he did admit that his own child had to repeat a year of highschool after leaving ASR.  He continued to claim "improvements have been made and all credits transfer and 100% of this kids get into the college of their choice."  This is false.

After operating this "school" for over a decade, Aspen Education still does not provide transferable credits through its education program.  Here is a recent statement from just last year from a parent whose child was forced to repeat a year of high school after finishing the ASR program:

This school is not structured. The credits do not transfer to any school other than as those such as a gym class or band credits. My son, upon returning to regular highschool, had to repeat junior year while taking senior year. I do not recommend this school to anyone.
Posted by a parent on 07/28/09

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Parents should beware Aspen Education's aggressive and false marketing of its "schools" which cannot issue diplomas nor transerable academic credits.

[Dysfunction Junction]

I lost most of my respect for this school when one of the therapists laughed at my child during a session. The schoolwork is below par in my standards, and I am inclined to pull my child out of this so called school.
Posted by a parent on 01/12/09

I suspect this was during a group session where confrontational "therapy" is performed by unlicensed line staff called "peer group counselors" who may or may not even have formal education beyond high school, but are not licensed to perform therapy of any kind.

More on the group sessions used at ASR here:

This is a therapeutic boarding school that is supposed to focus on personal growth. It is a very clinical environment and they have tremendous turnover in students. It is more like an RTC. The group therapy is done in groups of up to 26 kids at one time. I do not recommend this school.
Posted by a parent on 04/06/06

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Are parents told that the "group therapy" used at ASR has up to TWENTY-SIX KIDS in group?  How on earth can this be properly facilitated?  The "peer group counselors" who run these so-called therapy sessions aren't even educated or licensed to do this job and obviously don't have the ability to handle 26 patients at a time - nobody does.

Parents should beware of Aspen Education's unlicensed, uneducated "therapists" and unaccredited academics.  Children cannot earn a diploma from ASR, nor do their credits transfer to properly accredited local highschools.

[Dysfunction Junction]

Even Whooter's kid had to repeat a grade after her so-called "graduation" from ASR.  

"Academics are one of ASR's strengths"?  Are you kidding?  Every kid who goes there repeats the grade, like yours did.  

You always defended this by saying "academics aren't a concern when kids are at risk" but now you're saying kids flunking grades due to unaccredited academics is a strength.  You've got a few screws loose, IMO.

Your kid flunked a grade and had to repeat it.  Explain how that is a "strength" so everyone can understand this Orwellian concept.

She needed 5 years to complete highschool because she had to repeat a grade due to ASR's unaccredited "school".

[Dysfunction Junction]

Link

Just for clarification sake for those of you who don't actually have the insight that I do, the majority of the students at RCS are actually NOT inner city. Another point is that my daughter attended that school and luckily we were able to get her out of there. All of this is true, as well as incident in Dec. with my daughter, where she was severely beaten, at the same time as a counselor. Gues who had to pay the medical expenses ? I did, because the privacy rights, of the other student had to be protected, as well as even though inadequate staffing allowed for this to occur, RCS did not pay.
Two points : 1) after reading these posts I definitely am pursuing legal action. 2) This school needs to be shut down immediately.
The kids are running that place. Nearly all the kids are having sex in the dorms, in the bathrooms at the SAC, in the bathrooms in the "school" bldg, everywhere !
Poor education, unqualified staff, abuse and many other incidents.

Some families are selling their homes and spending life savings to send their children there. Obviously filing complaints does not work. I also have reason to believe drug trafficking as I have filed complaints on this already. Complete mismanagement of medication, unmarked bottles, little baggies of drugs and no original prescriptions to be found. I gladly will provide more information on the specifics of the numerous incidents at RCS. All the children's health and safety are in danger there. Due to confidentiality, I have no contact information for any other parents, but to hope that they google and find this site.

(EDITOR NOTE:  They will find it via Google, scroft.  I have assured that.)

Nov 2009 to May 31, 2010 my daughter was at that "school". I am now paying for counseling for her to be treated for the trauma received from that school, in addition to the issues that were present prior to her attending.

Having met many of the parents, during this time, they are most definitely not inner city. It is a sad situation. I do hope that this school gets shut down as soon as possible, and hopefully can refund me some of my money to put towards continued care now. Any attorney's please feel free to send me your information. So far the two I have seen are in LA and TX. I am in Nashville, TN.

[Dysfunction Junction]

Ridge Creek School is not recognized by the state of Georgia as a private school nor is it considered licensed by the state as a school; it is considered a child caring institution. Parents need to know this so they can make an informed decision before placing their child there. The fact that RCS is permitted to call itself a "school" is very questionable to me.

RCS is not considered a "Private" school:
http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_exceptio ... ateSchools

RCS is not considered a "Private" school by GAPSAC:
http://www.gapsac.org/index.php?option= ... 4&Itemid=3

RCS is not considered a "Public" school:
http://lumpkincounty.schoolinsites.com/?PN=Schools2

RCS is not considered a "Charter" school:
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/pea_charter.aspx

RCS is not considered a "State" school:
http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/pea_stateschools.aspx

Find " State Certified" teachers:
http://www.gapsc.com/

[Dysfunction Junction]

Whooter posted anon for a while when he came back after dropping his old username "TheWho."  You can start reading here to get the flow of the conversation and a few posts below Whooter (posting anon) says his daughter actually dropped out of high school and it eventually took her 5 years to graduate because the 16 months she spent at ASR didn't count for any high school credits.  For what it's worth, at the time she was there, ASR was legally barred from issuing state diplomas and was not accredited at all, contrary to what Whooter says in this thread.  In the link above he even says they were working on accreditation.

He also says she was smoking pot and drinking.  Dropping out + still using drugs + still drinking underage does not = "the program was successful" IMHO.  Rather it seems to have been a complete waste of time and money, not to mention setting her back 16 months academically.

Please, Morgan, let your parents know about these programs that are not allowed to issue high school credits.  I did a quick search on the Academy at Sisters on the Oregon department of Education website (you can enter the search terms "Academy at Sisters" here and see for yourself) and for the years they have data they show no graduates went on to college after leaving there.  They only "graduate" about 4 kids per year as well.

[Dysfunction Junction]

Ivy Ridge, home sold for $2.8m, Watertown Daily News

The high school diploma case was too much for them. It seems that the future for this branch of WWASP is Oceanside.
From the article:

The Ivy Ridge property is assessed at $1.9 million and the Route 37 home is assessed at $175,000. School officials didn't return calls for comment.

The former Mater Dei College campus in the town of Oswegatchie was sold to Robert Browning Lichfield Family Limited, Toquerville, Utah, in August 2001 for $1.23 million. The Academy at Ivy Ridge, a school for troubled youths, opened a few months later.

The behavioral modification school has been under scrutiny by the state for several years. Then-Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer determined the school was making fraudulent claims that it was accredited and could issue high school diplomas. As a result of that investigation, Ivy Ridge agreed to pay nearly $1.5 million in refunds and fines.

[Dysfunction Junction]

I could go on ad nauseum on this topic, time permitting.

[Whooter]

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[Dysfunction Junction]

In short...they suck.