Teen Gulag in Texas, Excel Academy, Shuts Down
Maybe the economic downturn does have a silver lining (see the Royal Gorge post). I wrote about Excel Academy in 2006. It was founded in 1997 and then was purchased by the Aspen Education Group in 2001. Aspen Education Group became part of the Youth Treatment Division of CRC Health Group in 2007.
Today it was announced that as of November 21, 2008, Excel Academy of Texas will discontinue operations and consolidate services. With the robust continuum of services within Aspen Education Group, we are in the fortunate position to consolidate Excel's services with other Aspen programs to weather the current economic downturn. Our network of solid, quality programs will allow us to continue providing the highest level of care for our current students and those still seeking treatment.
Fornits Wiki for Excel Academy Cafety on the Aspen Group
“Excel Academy” is located on 25 acres of picturesque countryside outside of Houston, Texas. The academy provides guidance to students unable to advance in conventional education environments. Students participate in a traditional family setting. Upon acceptance to the academy - students are assigned to a family unit composed of; staff ‘parent’, a senior strength ‘big brother or big sister,’ and student peers. This family unit eats together at all meals and discusses typical adjustment or personal concerns. Student families eat, work, and play together.
“The academy’s goal is to provide a wholesome family living environment in a drug-free setting, enabling adolescents to flourish both emotionally and academically. Our philosophy is based on the principles of the 12 Step self-help program. The 12-Steps teaches responsibility to one’s self, family, friend, community, and country. There are no specific religious teachings at the academy.
“Excel Academy” strives to improve both scholastic and emotional IQs. To provide the finest, the academy works in conjunction with Step by Step, Inc. (Licensed for drug and alcohol rehabilitation counseling by the State of Texas) and Houston Learning Academy (Licensed by the State of Texas). Staff are trained by Step by Step, to teach students personal responsibility for their own ultimate success or failures. Typical techniques by adolescents to manipulate parents or teachers do not work in this setting. Rebellion is met with immediate consequences. Adolescents learn an immediate sense of “cause and effect.”
“Our students, though bright and talented, are falling through the cracks of public education. Their peers easily influence them. Alcohol and drug use, depression, sexually inappropriate activity, and defiant behavior at home have interrupted their schooling. Educationally they are quickly falling below their natural given abilities.”
“Parents are in control through interactive counseling segments held on weekends. We instruct parents in handling a myriad of behavior problems. Many of our adolescents were successful at manipulation. Part of our counseling is training students that these manipulative techniques no longer work.”
“The academic segment provides a fully accredited curriculum. Student-teacher ratio is 7:1 permitting individual attention.”
“Developing strong work ethics is one of the most desired achievements. Exemplary work ethics are essential not only for earning a living but also in achieving a sense of self-esteem.”
Both parents and potential students are screened before an enrollment decision. Commitment on the part of the parents is vital, as well as on the part of the students, although students frequently would rather not be there at first. The optimum size is about 35 students, with 12 professional staff.
Copyright © 1998, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
At 3 years old, Excel Academy is a fresh newcomer in the field of schools for teens with problems. Some time back, the founders decided it was going to be increasingly difficult to survive, let alone provide quality services, within the treatment center/insurance system as it was currently developing. They reworked their center into a program that made sense to them based primarily on a school model, which they felt was better suited to meet the total needs of its students, rather than having to conform to the demands of a mental health system that primarily thinks in terms of disorders.
The “home-grown” way in which the Academy developed makes it difficult to categorize. The program seems to be very eclectic, comprised of those program elements judged to work with struggling teens, based on the experience of its Director, Sally Keith. As a result, some recent generalizations floating around about Excel are somewhat misleading. Excel does not see themselves as a recovery model, do not use any kind of addiction model, and don’t consider themselves any more comparable to the Family Foundation School in New York then to any other school that works with this difficult population.
Having said what they are not, the only way to understand the school is by a look at how the various components fit together.
Strong academics are a priority; students attend classes in the morning, until about 2:30 in the afternoon with a break for lunch. The only thing that might interfere with that schedule would be when an individual student’s attitude or behavior makes constructive participation impossible. In that case, an intervention designed for that individual student might be developed. Classes are small, fewer than 12 students, and academic credits are awarded by fairly traditional methods based on time in class and content. This makes accelerated academics difficult, but due to the wide range of proficiency among the students, the teachers are rapidly finding ways to individualize instruction. Since one year behind is the average academic status when a student arrives, the school’s goal is to get them “caught up” with their peers. The quality of reports on display that were written by some of the older students ranging at least 30 pages long, convinced me good quality instruction was taking place. In the classes I visited, the students were attentive and participating. Academics are provided under the umbrella of the Houston Learning Academy, so all credits are fully transferable.
The setting is rural. The academy is on twenty-five acres outside Conroe, Texas, which is on the outskirts of Houston. The buildings are well maintained, the grass trimmed, and there are bass in the pond. The physical environment shows as peaceful with a sense of isolation, which is important to the healing process these students need. One important note - the bedrooms of the students were very well maintained, neat, and clean, which is done by the students. This is always a strong indicator of a staff that pays great attention to detail, a vital component to success in working with kids making poor decisions which is Excel’s version of group. These can be the whole student body, or broken up into smaller groups, depending on the student needs at the time. It was a whole student body session the day I was there. Jamie started the session, but Director Sally took over half way. I was impressed at the work done in a large group by both, but from watching Sally in action, it was obvious she is the heart and soul of the school. She seemed to be on top of where each student was at the time, with a prod here, a complement there, and sharing a laugh with another. From the student responses, and their focused attention, they were with her all the way, not at all easy to do with almost fifty easily distracted students in one room during the late afternoon.
Not believing in punishment as such, they have a ranking of consequences that are well understood by all the students. The most common is for a student to wear a red t-shirt that looks like the standard Excel t-shirt except for the color. This is referred to as “shirted.” This occurs when a student is consistently into his/her negativity and the color helps other students recognize the restrictions that might go along with that status as well as a physical reminder to the student of where he/she is at emotionally. More serious attitudes, such as a run risk, earn a jump suit to wear. There are other consequences, from doing work around the campus and missing out on some of the fun activities, to thoroughly aerating the enclosed garden with a shovel for the student consistently pushing all the boundaries. A common activity all the students do early after their enrollment is a tour of the local jail, where they have the opportunity to see a possible consequence of getting caught by authorities if they leave Excel and go back to some of their more acting-out behaviors.
Having fun is an aspect of the school the staff considers to be very important. The students had many activities over Christmas, which included each student receiving a furbee (a talking furry toy that can be individually programmed). I was told the sight of 40+ students training their furbees at the same time in the same room was delightful. I did notice during my visit that virtually every bed had its own furbee close by. Having settled down from the Christmas excitement, I am told a Super bowl party is planned, of course in a style appropriate for kids with problems.
When asked what advice the students might have for educational consultants, one said, “Don’t let the kids manipulate their educational consultant.” And, “Psychiatric reactions don’t work here.” The feel of safety or serenity on campus was quite good, even though at the time a significant number of students were “shirted.” The students were attentive in class, and when I looked in the eyes of various students, it was easy to pick out those who had been in the program longer by having good eye contact and clear eyes. The newer ones generally had poor eye contact and an almost “glazed” over protective look in their eyes.
I will be very comfortable referring to Excel Academy because they can handle a wide range of behavior problems, and also are capable of handling students with somewhat serious disorders, in a caring and detailed structure that can get to the root of issues.
Copyright © 2000, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
Woodbury Reports November 13 2003
Located on a 25-acre ranch an hour north of Houston, Excel Academy, with 79 students at the time of my visit, is a highly structured college preparation school for children who are struggling with academics and behavior. Drug problems are common among entering students, so recovery and sobriety perspectives are strongly integrated into the program. Structure and academics are emphasized in this school, with some supplemental counseling. This concept leads some educational consultants to view Excel Academy as more of an Emotional Growth school than most others in the network of schools and programs currently utilized by the educational consultants.
While watching the students move around the campus, it was obvious the school has a strong structure. Although the students visited with each other while informally moving between classes, there was no “fooling around” such as a visitor would see at most mainstream schools. All seemed intent on what they were supposed to be doing, which strongly indicated the students were interacting within a well-specified structure. Sprinkled among the students were a few dressed in Orange jumpsuits. It was explained that these students, through their attitudes or actions, appear to be a “run-risk.” They are required to wear the brightly colored Orange jump suits until it is determined they won’t do something as irresponsible and potentially dangerous as running away. The jump suits are an obvious way for the staff and other students to identify the ones needing extra attention. It also discourages any runs because if a student does run away, it would be difficult for them to blend into the local community. I talked to a couple students dressed in the jump suits, and they did not seem to feel it was a humiliation, but admitted it was a visible recognition of their attitude struggles. Director Sally Keith observed Excel Academy has had very few runs.
Keith emphasizes that much of their approach is to hook students through challenging academics. For example, most of the students at one time or another during their stay at Excel completes a 50-page essay for honors. I saw several of those projects posted around the academic building, and the work and care put into them were impressive for high school students. This project is the highlight of a serious effort to do academic recovery for their students. Classes are from eight to noon, and from one to four, which means a significant portion of their day is devoted to academics. This schedule also includes a number of their experiential and emotional growth activities, consisting of Life Skills, scuba diving, and climbing. As part of their daily responsibilities, the students participate in a horse program, as well as working with and caring for a variety of other animals. As a result, the program and the academics are closely integrated. This structure allows the teachers to focus on academics, without the responsibility of being disciplinarians. The staff takes care of the consequences for behavior or attitude problems that come up in the classroom.
Depending on the student’s academic needs, they can work on the Junior High level, High School level, or College level. At the time of my visit, there were about a dozen students working on college course work. The Academy’s goal is to get all the students into college preparatory course work, except of course, those already doing college work.
The complexion of the student body tends to be older teens, with about half their student body coming from Texas.
Since my prior visits, the most obvious change was the addition of the swimming pool. Plans are in the works to remodel the existing buildings to a more modern, southwestern type appearance. The Academy is also increasing parental involvement by emphasizing more seminars, school visits and contacts with parents when they return home.
Don Vardell August 15 2007 letter August 15, 2007
To the Students, Families, Staff and Referring Professionals of Excel Academy:
As I complete my first week as the new Executive Director, I would like to share some of my thoughts and outline what I see as our immediate and on-going Goals and Priorities for Excel Academy of Texas.
First of all, words cannot express how impressed I have been with the students I have met. Their level of maturity and ability to articulate what they have learned, how they have grown during their time at Excel, and their commitment to their recovery is truly amazing. I have had some very good, candid conversations with many of our students where ideas for improving the "Excel Experience" have been discussed and some action items have been agreed to. I value the perspective of our students and will continue to seek their feedback on how we are doing.
Additionally, my conversations with parents and staff have been very enlightening and I appreciate all the candor, constructive feedback, support and patience. I feel there are some very clear things we can do to respond to the requests and ideas of our staff and families in the coming weeks and months. The leadership team and I will work to explore ways to implement these great ideas and suggestions.
As we go forward, I want to share what I think are our immediate and on-going goals and priorities for Excel Academy. Each of these items will have specific activities associated with them and people held accountable for ensuring that they are addressed. All allocations of resources, including time, will be tested against these goals and priorities. That is, if we cannot fit some activity or use of resource clearly into one of these areas, then we will be unable to do it.
Excel Academy's Goals and Priorities (August 2007):
* Continue the warmth, quality and effectiveness of the "Excel Experience"
* Focus on student and staff safety, security, and a healthy environment for growth and positive change
* Ensure responsive, timely and effective internal and external communication
* Enhance staff training and accountability
* Deliver responsive programming
These are the things that will guide our actions and for which we will collectively hold ourselves accountable. In the few short days that I have been on board, we have already identified and begun activities that fit squarely into each of these goals and priorities.
As a co-educational, recovery-focused college preparatory boarding school serving adolescents and their families from all over the world, we at Excel have a responsibility and are privileged to work with the students and families that make the tough decision to come to us. There is no doubt that we have made a positive impact on the lives of many adolescents and their families since our inception in 1997. Just as all organizations (and families) must grow and evolve, we too must look at what we are doing to make sure we are current in our programming and responding to the needs of those we serve.
Again, my family and I feel very honored to be a part of the Excel Team and to become "Texans" - if only adopted ones. We are beginning our transition to the Houston area and look forward to our time here.
Letter from Director of Excel Academy February 2008
February 06, 2008
As I begin my sixth full month in southeast Texas, proudly serving as the head of the new EXCEL Academy of Texas, I wanted to take a moment to update my friends, colleagues and referring professionals on the status of our transformation and some of the exciting things we have going on this spring.
Many of you know that my team and I have been hard at work refining the EXCEL program to update the services, ensure that we are being responsive to referral sources and families, and continue to serve students struggling with substance abuse and poor academic performance with a high quality and high value option. This past August, we embarked on a path to convert the programming and services from a classic Therapeutic Community modeled school with an 18 month minimum length of stay, to a more clinically based "positive community culture" model with an average stay of 12 months. Our unique blend of daily substance abuse programming and college prep academics have created what we call a "Sober Academy". The new EXCEL offers accredited academics with daily 12 step work and supportive clinical services to our adolescent population of 9th through 12th graders.
Since becoming part of Aspen Education Group in 2001 and then CRC Health Group in 2007, EXCEL has strived to maintain a program that compliments other components of our growing continuum as well as provide a unique option for families and referring professionals. I believe the latest changes are consistent with that goal and history.
Here are some key points that highlight the New EXCEL Academy of Texas:
1. We no longer have the orange jumpsuits or primarily utilize behaviorally based approaches. We have implemented and invested in clinically based, licensed and certified staff and we have adopted a more relational model.
2. Our target student population and profile must include substance abuse as a primary issue. We do not take youth with conduct disorders and we typically prefer to have a full range of testing prior to acceptance.
3. Most of our students will have completed a previous intervention including short term RTC, in-patient or residential drug/alcohol treatment, or wilderness program before enrolling.
4. Our flexible length of stay, targeted at 12 months, is designed to re-integrate our students with academic success and give them sober living skills based on the AA 12 steps, in order to be successful after EXCEL.
5. We now have a performance based level system that is grounded in the AA/NA 12 steps, the Stages of Change™, and concepts such as Positive Peer Culture as well as evidence-based practices that allow our students to be fully engaged with their recovery and afford opportunities for increased privileges, openness and reintegration into their home communities.
6. We are making substantial investment in renovating and improving the physical campus and facilities. We are taking advantage of the beautifully wooded 35 acres in the plush southeast area of Texas, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our ponds, rolling grounds and academic facilities. Our new library, parent conference center and dorm renovations are sure to impress.
7. Our purpose: program and staff are all focused on ensuring our students learn to make the right choices, develop and maintain healthy relationships, and learn the skills for a successful life in recovery. We are doing this without coercive techniques and in a transparent and family engaging way.
8. Our plans for 2008 include a Culinary Arts elective to add to our current Chinese elective and Debate Team/Club.
9. The SCUBA certification class will be back this summer session.
10. Our academic program is now organized in trimesters with two 16 week sessions and a 9 week summer session. We accept admissions year round and 7 days a week.
11. Our students are active in community service, which is tied to progression through our level system, and are participating in a variety of "giving back" activities.
12. As a "Sober Academy" based on a positive community culture, we offer daily 12 step meetings, specialty groups, individual counseling and special "sober fun" weekly programming to our students.
I invite all of you to come to the Houston area, visit our renewed program and meet our staff and students. Come by and watch our debate team or participate in our weekly equine therapy outings where our students help local children with developmental disabilities. We are proud of our work over the past six months and look forward to a great 2008.
Woodbury Reports March 2008
This really is The New EXCEL!
EXCEL bills itself as a "Sober Academy" and it is - in every way. EXCEL Academy of Texas no longer is the 'last chance academy.' The orange jumpsuits and flip-flops that were so noticeable during my first visit in April 2002 are long gone.
Don Vardell, Executive Director, has become the driving force behind the 'new' EXCEL. He arrived on the EXCEL scene in August 2007. At that time, EXCEL Academy had 110 students. From August 2007 to January 2008, through attrition, redirection to more appropriate programs, and a large graduation in December 2007, the enrollment shrank to 15 students. The restructuring of EXCEL Academy began in earnest in January 2008.
We arrived at EXCEL a little after 9:00 am. At 9:30, we were given a very thorough presentation of the Academy by Don Vardell, Barbara Potignano, Director of Admissions, Scott Spaw, Director of Program and Services, Duncan McGinnis, Academic Director, and Michael Charnley, Manager of Program and Services, who spoke on Student Life. Following the presentation, we had a one-hour campus tour followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
EXCEL Academy is located about one hour north of Houston, Texas, on a beautiful 35-acre campus in a retreat-like setting. The current mission statement - hammered out in January 2008 - is "to offer a college preparatory academic curriculum while providing support to develop skills for making right choices, maintaining and renewing healthy relationships, and living a life in recovery from drugs and alcohol." EXCEL is a co-ed sober academy and can be classified as a specialty therapeutic boarding school with integrated evidence-based clinical services. The students follow the traditional 12-Step philosophy and attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings both on and off campus. A great deal of emphasis is placed on transparency and communication, not only on campus but also with the entire family of each student. The length of stay is flexible, with a typical student attending between six and twelve months, though average length of stay currently is six months.
When we visited, there were 20 students registered at the Academy. The plan of the 'new' EXCEL is to increase enrollment to 35, and plans for the future have a maximum enrollment of 56 students. Since our visit corresponded with Spring Break at the Academy, several of the students were on pre-graduation home visits, while others were on a field trip in Houston. There were no academic classes being conducted.
The typical student must be compliant and demonstrate that he or she needs the EXCEL program. His/ Her primary issue is substance abuse and the student needs a year of sobriety in a structured environment to regain their academic potential. EXCEL Academy does not accept escorted students. The threshold IQ for academic acceptance is approximately 90, but this can be flexible based on the possibility the student might have been 'under the influence' at the time the testing took place. Other traits a typical EXCEL student manifests are: an unmotivated academic achiever, needs high school grades 9 through 12, has family relationship problems, has had previous short-term intervention and/or is college bound.
A majority of the EXCEL students come from wilderness or previous interventions such as 28- to 45-day drug and alcohol treatment programs, or more traditional schools that do not specialize in substance abuse. EXCEL is also able to work with students who come directly from home.
EXCEL Academy provides daily on-campus 12-Step meetings as well as off-campus meetings for students that have earned the privilege via their performance based level system. The treatment teams address co-occurring issues using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral therapy and reality therapy. Students are assigned to their primary therapist upon arrival and they meet one-on-one once a week. There are counseling facilitated group sessions and skill-building workshops where issues are addressed. The family program includes parent seminars, phone conferences (weekly) and a parent check-in website. Families are invited to visit once per month on campus after the student reaches Level Two. Off-campus and home visits are earned as the student progresses through the level system. Much of this family interaction is individualized.
EXCEL Academy is accredited by SACS - Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and CASI - Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation. This special purpose school academic credential allows students to transfer credits received at EXCEL to other secondary and post-secondary institutions.
Average class size is 10 students but in the 9th and 10th grades the classes are smaller than 10. The Academy does accept students with mild to moderate learning differences but provides for only minor accommodations. The academic calendar is divided into three 17-week trimesters.
Student life at EXCEL Academy is a balance of work, play (sober fun) and recovery related skill building. Choices are constantly provided, as EXCEL does not want to "program" their students too much. A flexible dress code stresses 'clean casuals'. Males are allowed to have some facial hair provided it is neatly trimmed.
The sports facilities are quite extensive. There is a fully equipped weight room, a small swimming pool for pleasure dips, a full football and baseball facility (batting practice was taking place when we toured), an athletics program, an outdoor basketball court and a large pond were the kids can fish from the shore. A mountain bike trail is currently under construction.
The residences that we toured were very clean and neat, and all had extensive and well-appointed common room areas.
I met two students while we were on tour. They were neatly dressed and very 'clean cut'. Both were enthusiastic and effervescent about how the EXCEL program had helped with their recovery. They were very proud of their sobriety. I asked them what, in their opinion, was the best part of the program. One said he really liked finally getting his academics on track, and now, he has the possibility of going to a college of his choice. The other student told me that leading an on campus AA meeting was one of his best experiences. He went on to say that he was turning 18 in a couple of weeks and would be staying at EXCEL until he had completed all his credits for his Senior High School graduation.
EXCEL Academy has very strong leadership, a dedicated faculty and a very strong clinical team and program. I highly recommend it for a teenager with substance abuse that has come to a position in their life that they want to go down the road to recovery.
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