Teen Education
About Laura Kennerson, MA, IMFT
Newport Academy places great emphasis on our residents’ personal development and academic growth. The education program at Newport Academy is led by our Director of Educational Services, Laura Kennerson, MA, IMFT. Laura is not only a credentialed teacher, but is also a Marriage and Family intern. She has been consistently recognized for her parenting education groups and outreach in the community and has also been included in the Who’s Who among American Teachers, an organization that recognizes the top 5 percent of American teachers, for the past four years.
Academics at Newport Academy
While in treatment, Girls at Newport Academy continue their education in a tailored and structured academic program that consists of class room instruction for 4 hours each day mirroring their educational program at their home school. Our full-time, credentialed teachers work collaboratively with the resident's home school in developing an Education Plan tailored to meet the girls' specific academic needs. This individually tailored Education Plan is aligned with age appropriate State standards.
Collaborative efforts between the student, Newport Academy's teacher and tutors, home school teachers and school district, parents and therapists help insure that girls at Newport Academy excel academically and keep current with their home school curriculum.
Gender-Specific Environment
Newport Academy's gender-specific treatment strives to create an environment that invites a feeling of safety and freedom to participate, take positive risks, develop healthy peer interactions, and establish supportive relationships while in a trusting and safe learning environment. One way we accomplish this objective is our small classrooms (typically one educator for every three girls) in order to optimize the academic environment. Newport Academy's teachers are educated and sensitive to gender-specific developmental issues that influence the learning process.
A common misconception with teen substance abusers is that they lack academic potential. In our experience this is without merit. Many adolescent substance abusers tend to be extremely bright, however once they become habitual substance abusers, concentration diminishes, and poor academic performance is inevitable. Newport Academy's goal is to identify learning strengths, assist with learning weaknesses, and help residents reach their academic potential.
