Faculty/Staff:

The Academy has certified teachers with experience creating lesson plans, evaluating student skills, and supervising instruction. The Academy also offers a fully comprehensive learning environment committed to providing each child with the care and attention necessary for consistent behavioral and academic development. Providing an environment conducive to learning is important for student success. As such, great emphasis is centered on the instructional setting of the Academy.

All Academy staff receives specialized training in helping traumatized children learn, behavior modification and serving children with disabilities. Research shows that trauma can undermine children’s ability to learn, form relationships and function appropriately in the classroom (Helping Traumatized Children Learn, 2005). Without the much needed supports of a sensitive school environment, children will be unable to achieve their academic potential. Because children in the foster care system have been exposed to violence or are victims of abuse and/or neglect, a supportive school environment in which they can focus, behave appropriately and learn is essential. Similarly, non-foster children who live in poverty tend to perform worse in school than do children from more privileged backgrounds.

A Behavior Manager is onsite to assist teachers and administration in all areas of monitoring, discipline and upholding standards and Academy rules. The Behavior Manager is responsible for developing strategies for managing classroom behavior and is also in charge of de-escalation strategies to crisis situations. These specialized trainings and resources provide children with a supportive environment in which they can focus and behave appropriately. This also enables teachers to use their existing expertise more effectively and understand the many academic, social and behavioral problems of traumatized children or at-risk children.