Hi!
I've been working at stone mountain school since January, I'm the roommate that was asleep. The other one, should be getting back from his trip today actually, and he's worked there for 6 years.
I really like working at stone mountain, nothing about it is punitive, any consequences a student experiences are naturally related to their actions, under their control. Staff never puts their hands on a student unless he is being physically unsafe to himself or others and then all of the "restraining holds", are in no way harmful, and all staff are trainned in these holds. Having to restrain a student almost never happens, even if say, the boy is walking off campus, staff will just walk beside him and talk to him. Students are never refused food no matter what their behavior is.
I work with the youngest age group, age 11-14, most of these boys have ADHD and didn't get along with their families, had trouble in school, ect. Right now there's 6 boys in my group, there's 4 staff per group, 2 the first part of the week, then the other 2 come in for the second shift.
Each group has a cabin in the woods, everybody has chores like- chop wood, clean the outside latrine, sweep the cabin, clean the kitchen shelter, ect.
Is there anything specific you want to know? You can email my personal email address, or we could talk if you want.
You asked about visiting without planning it, and i don't think they would refuse you, but there's more of a chance for you to get more out of a visit if they knew you were coming. this definitly isn't a school where reality is covered up when parents visit.
i believe you can also ask to contact the parents of students who went there or are still going there. i would also ask the school to send you copies of the "level sheets" the STUDENTS get, since that's the central structure of the whole program as well as a STAFF manual, because that explains all staff procedures. And if you do visit, I would figure out which group (it's all by age) your son would be in and talk to that groups senior counsler, as well as talk to the counslers that are on shift for that group. I am always surprised at how few parents actually try to get to know that staff that work with their kids 24/7.
Much of the school's program is based upon William Glasser's (he's written a couple books, check them out) reality therapy of individual choice and responsibility.
Even though the system and structure really make sense and is therapeutic, the counslers are the ones that implement it into the students daily lives. You asked about the turn over rate for the staff, and I'd say about 1/2 last around 6 months. it is a very challenging job, and after working there for 6 months, i am just now starting to feel very confident and can work a shift without coming home totally exhuasted. The pay isn't "great", I made more money doing trail work for the forest service, But this job is so fullfilling, I love working with kids, being outside and I get 1/2 the week off. (counslers stay 3 or 4 days and nights a week). So i'd say anyone who stays with this job for longer than 6 months is doing it because they truly love it. It tries you and if you're heart's not in it, you don't make it. So I definitly encourage you to meet with the field staff. And as for credentals of the staff, before I worked there, I'd only worked with kids in volunteer settings, but I've spent a lot of time working outside in various situations. I'm 22 and haven't gone to college yet, but am looking to go within the next 2 years, I love learning, but i just wasn't ready right after high school. Anyway, the hiring process is very long, they do a complete background check, drug testing, check up on all your references, 48 hours interview- where you come and stay with a group and then have a interview with an administration staff. So they look at a lot of different aspects of a person when they interview them, I didn't have paid/ professional experience working with kids and hadn't gone to college yet, but I know that I'm compassionate and good with kids and that's really what matters.
I'd love to talk more or answer any other questions you might have! Good luck!
