Essex Academy Overview
Essex Academy is a therapeutic school for students, grades 6 through 12, who have a documented history of psychiatric needs. Essex Academy is designed for students whose psychological disorders are deterring them from making effective progress within their regular school setting.
Students are provided individualized academic and therapeutic support services during the school day, with the ultimate goal of the student attaining a sufficient degree of mental and emotional health to allow a return to their respective school. However, students may remain at Essex Academy until high school graduation and will receive a diploma from the referring district.
Through structured academic, therapeutic and recreational activities, students are empowered to be active participants in meeting their educational, therapeutic, and life goals. Students receive academic instruction in a small, individualized classroom setting, in which each student's educational instruction is individualized based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. School credits are coordinated with each student's respective school, to ensure that each student remains on track for graduation.
Individual and group counseling is provided for students on a daily basis. The program goal for students receiving therapeutic services is to support the student in developing personal understanding and insight into factors that are impeding their academic and interpersonal growth. Group activities are structured to provide an open, therapeutic environment in which students can openly discuss issues related to self-esteem, socialization, anger management, conflict resolution, and future planning.
Essex Academy is committed to providing students with an individualized academic and therapeutic program that allows students to feel successful both in the classroom and in the community.
Entrance Criteria
- The student has a documented history of psychiatric needs.
- The student is invested in his/her academic and emotional health.
- The student possesses the ability to function in a restraint free environment.
- The student possesses average to above average intelligence.
Services Offered
- Individualized Academic Instruction
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- Academic and Achievement Assessments
- Crisis Intervention/Deescalation
- Restraint Free Environment
- 12-Month Program, including six summer weeks
- Safety Evaluations
- Functional Behavioral Assessments
- MCAS Preparation
Schedule
Essex Academy follows the Methuen Public Schools 180-day student schedule. All holidays, vacations, start dates, snow days, etc., are based on the Methuen Public Schools calendar. In addition to the 180-day public school calendar, there is a six-week summer program for all students enrolled in Essex Academy.
Essex Academy is open Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Student hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
From the Director
Essex Academy was founded in September of 2000 as part of the Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative (G.L.E.C.). At this time, parents and school district personnel identified that there was a lack of appropriate educational programming for students with emotional disabilities and who did not have significant behavioral issues. Additionally, these students were also identified as having the ability to succeed academically, if they had the appropriate mental health services available to them. Therefore, Essex Academy was developed to meet the academic and mental health needs of students with emotional disabilities.
Since its inception, Essex Academy has grown at a rapid pace. School systems are increasingly identifying students with strong academic abilities whose mental health issues are impeding their ability to be successful within the classroom.
Essex Academy has grown into a program known for its excellence in academic achievement, as well as the direct mental health services provided to students throughout the school day. Based on an ecological model of treatment involving the student, parents, outside clinicians, and the sending school district, students who were previously failing academically and struggling emotionally have found success at Essex Academy. This success has empowered students to more fully develop their intellectual, social, interpersonal and emotional abilities.
As a school, we feel privileged to provide a specialized academic setting whose primary focus is to provide individualized, student-centered care to adolescents with emotional disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every student who walks through the doors receives support, encouragement, guidance and care from each individual the student interacts with. It is through this goal that students are empowered to become invested in their academics and mental health, providing students with the necessary tools for a healthy and successful future.
Sincerely,
Sheila Tucke, LICSW
Essex Academy Director
Page Last modified: January 22 2010 23:31:20.