John Dewey Academy
Great Barrington, MA

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John Dewey Academy Flourishing

In the wake of the news of the closing of Elan School and the consolidation of programs in the Aspen Group, we feel the shock of our entire industry. Of course, many factors are at play here: the economy, the increasing presence of the Internet, and the corrosive influence of the rumor mill as well as misconceptions about programs fostered by gossip and false information. The relative youth and rapid evolution of the "troubled teen" industry have perhaps exacerbated the negative power of rumors and innuendo, and the speed of the Information Age has resulted in the widespread propagation-for all programs-of misinformation.

As our community adjusts to the closing of these programs, we at John Dewey Academy are writing to let you know that-contrary to rumors!-JDA is not only still here, we are moving into an exciting new era. We have strengthened our already top-notch faculty with the hiring of two new university-level teachers in the past several years.

This year, founder and owner Tom Bratter named Ken Steiner, longtime Dean of JDA, Head of School. Ken took over in November and has maintained JDA's mission of combining excellent academics with a comprehensive therapeutic approach involving emotional and moral development. JDA continues to be housed in historic Searles Castle in Great Barrington Massachusetts.

JDA is a college preparatory therapeutic boarding school now in its 26th year, with a 100% record of placing graduates in excellent four-year colleges. More importantly, our graduates are impressive young men and women who have put their troubled pasts firmly behind them: they go on to succeed in college and in life. High expectations based in a belief in our students' potential, caring confrontation, and the empowerment of a positive peer culture which fosters student investment, result in an environment in which hope, success, and self-respect replace cynicism, alienation, and escapism.

We remain dedicated to our mission, and to the ideals and approaches which gave rise to the therapeutic school community in the first place. Our staff is focused on perpetuating and strengthening JDA for generations to come. Our recently revised website (www.jda.org) provides more detail about our program, and we look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia this May. To arrange a visit, contact our Intake Coordinator (Dr. Lisa Sinsheimer) at 917-597-7814, or Ken Steiner or Andrea Esperat, Dean of Students, at 413-528-9800.

John Dewey Academy is a year-round college preparatory therapeutic boarding school for troubled teens serving ages 15 - 21 in grades 10 - 12 and postgraduate. We provide an individualized and comprehensive education in a non-traditional therapeutic boarding school setting. Our peer-based approach leads students to high levels of achievement and inspires them to develop in ways that promote self-respect, maturity, and respect for others.