During my recent visit to Northwest Academy (NWA) in Naples, ID, the myth of the Phoenix came to mind...the ancient bird that self-destructs and then is re-born from its own ashes to live again.

For years, NWA held a unique position among parent choice schools -- catering to 17 year-old kids who were often far behind in school and needed to focus on their academics in order to earn a high school diploma, while also being completely immersed in a personal growth program designed to ready these students to become successful young adults. The mission at NWA today remains the same...but with a much higher level of clinical support, substance abuse treatment, teacher-led classroom instruction and an emphasis on special education for those who need it... all supported by a fine-tuned approach to character development.

In a way, the abrupt closure of NWA in 2005 as a result of the CEDU bankruptcy is like the self-destruction of the Phoenix...and its re-opening with the financial backing of Universal Health Services (UHS) in 2005 is certainly reminiscent of the re-birth of that mythical bird.

When the school re-opened, because of the age of the population it had always served, they had no former students to call back. In many ways, the re-birth of NWA was a genuine start-up...and the first couple of years were a bit rocky...not an uncommon experience for start-ups (or, if you will, for fledgling birds!)

It seems that NWA has now moved from that start-up phase to solid ground -- in large part through the efforts of the current leadership team -- a talented group of folks with a wide breadth of experience in this industry. Adam McLain, PsyD, is the Executive Director. Adam was the Clinical Director at Peninsula Village prior to joining NWA and brings a sophisticated clinical expertise to bear. Bruce Wilson, the Program Director, has spent his entire professional career in schools and programs -- from direct care staff in several CEDU schools to a founding director of Shortridge Academy in New Hampshire. Bruce brings experience and wisdom related to both the students and the program management. Devorah McIntosh, MEd, a former guidance counselor and school administrator in the public schools, is the Academic Director. Dan Tadlock, LCSW, Director of Family Services, is a former wilderness therapist who has also worked with families in a mental health hospital setting. Brandi Elliott, Admissions Director, brings her years of work at CEDU -- including as the Director of CEDU Middle School at Running Springs. She also brings her work in program development and marketing to bear in attracting students and works with the rest of the leadership team in charting the course for NWA.

Other key staff members include licensed therapists, a certified substance abuse counselor, credentialed teachers and experienced, knowledgeable mentors who assist students in developing and working through their personalized treatment and education plans.

I spent some time with students over the dinner hour. It was "dress-up night" so the boys were all sporting ties and the girls were in nice outfits. I was struck by their fresh faces, smiles and the way so many came up to introduce themselves to me, shaking my hand and telling me a bit about why they were there...or what they liked about the school. The kids were clearly at ease with staff -- including the leadership team -- yet respectful at the same time. Knowing that most of these kids were relatively new to NWA, I was especially impressed by what I saw.

The narrow age range -- 16 to 18 -- makes for a more mature milieu than that found at many schools. There were about 30 students there when I visited. I learned that about 50% of them had turned 18 since they had enrolled. Students must enroll prior to their 18th birthday. The fact that kids are staying when, legally, they could leave, was also impressive. It said to me that things were "working for them" at NWA -- perhaps for the first time in their high school career.

To understand why things are working well for students and their families at NWA, I looked at the classrooms, the therapy, the experiential workshops in the character development arena and their community involvement.

NWA offers an accelerated college-prep curriculum with real teachers in real classrooms. The staff is equipped to handle mild to moderate LD issues. NWA helps students with transcript repair, preparation for the ACT/SAT and, in concert with their educational consultant, also helps students research colleges. Over 80% of their graduates go on to higher levels of schooling.

There are weekly individual, group and family therapy sessions as well as a series of four experiential workshops that every student completes. For kids with addiction issues, NWA uses several tools -- including a 12-Step approach that includes meetings on and off campus, the Matrix Model (developed at the University of California at Los Angeles) and the Stages of Change Recovery Model (also known as SMART Recovery) based on the work of James Prochaska.

NWA involves students in community service and local athletics. In fact, last fall one of the NWA students was voted MVP by the other students on the Bonners Ferry football team. Some students have also had opportunities to visit local business people and even do some job-shadowing as they think about life after NWA. Online college classes are available, as is the opportunity to take classes at a satellite campus of North Idaho College.

Legend has it that the Phoenix lives for some 500 years. I'm not predicting anything like that for NWA but I will say that today's NWA is a viable, healthy and well-run program for that older kid who's hard to place. Go visit...they'd love to have you!