S i l v e r O a k A c a d e m y
2013 Annual
Message From the Director
The drive toward perfection is one that we continue to emphasize to everyone here at the Academy. To do everything that you do to the best of your ability should be how you approach every day. There is no excuse not to have perfection as your goal. Is it ever realized? Probably not. Does it always give you something to work for? YES.
In 2013, Silver Oak Academy students and staff made a strong push for perfection in several different ways.
Every year the Academy identifies a set of goals and objectives for the entire staff and student body to accomplish. One of our main objectives this year was to increase communication and production by each team. We instituted team development plans for each department created specific procedures to increase communication between all staff and students and increased membership of the advisory team. In our effort to be perfect we completed ten out of twelve objectives set for year 2013. We will continue to strive for perfection.
Kevin McLeod, Program Director
Community Advisory Board Members Betsy Baker Elizabeth Grant Nancy McCormick Larnell Simpson Delmas Wood Awards Received in 2013
Program Director Kevin McLeod was awarded Citizen of the Year by Taneytown Knights of Columbus. Community Advisory Board member Betsy Baker was named Philanthropist of the Year by Community Foundation of Carroll County.
Silver Oak Academy provides community service and restitution activities guided by restorative justice principles, which involves the needs of the victim, the community. and the youth. Through this approach, students learned accountability and gained a range of new skills.
In 2013, Silver Oak students provided over 4,947 hours of community service to worthwhile organizations such as: • Restoration of Taneytown Bakery
• Walk a Mile in Her Shoes to benefit the Rape Crisis Center
• Relay for Life
• Taneytown Fall Festival • Taneytown Wine Festival
Career Day
Silver Oak Academy’s annual Career Day included six guest speakers as well as an opportunity for an up-close view of the Maryland State Police helicopter and a Carroll County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit demonstration. Students watched as the helicopter landed on the football field, while a Maryland State Police officer provided information about the aircraft.
Community Engagement
“I like doing community service. Most of it is fun and has made me feel good about myself and what I did to help out others.”
School
Student Academic Achievements
• 18 High School diplomas awarded • 9 GED certificates awarded
• RIT gains of exiting students per semester: • Reading: 1.32
• Language Arts: 1.32 • Math: 2.29
• 5 students enrolled in community college
• 9 students awarded a scholarship from Passageway Scholarship Foundation, which assists ROP graduates who want to attend college or vocational trade school
• $7,413 awarded in Passageway scholarships for Silver Oak Academy students
School Highlights
An integral component of Silver Oak Academy is its on-site school, which equips students with a strong foundation for success through getting back on track for accumulating credits, or even by obtaining their high school diploma. SOA operates a nonpublic education program including Type 1 General Education, Type 1 full day and partial day Special Education and GED preparation.
• 100% audit score from the Maryland State Department of Education’s accreditation audit
• Silver Oak Academy offered ProStart Program, which is a national restaurant management and culinary arts program
• Partnered with Carroll County Public Schools to ensure complete Special Education evaluation and assessment of students
• Partnered with Glade Valley Nursing Home as a clinical site to train students in the Certified Nursing Assistant program
• Participated in the Writing to Live Initiative, led by author Joseph Getty, which explored the power of developing personal narratives that reflect their experiences
• SOA student invited by the Office of Youth Empowerment in Washington, DC to attend the 25th Annual All-Star Youth Recognition Ceremony for his academic accomplishments
Graduations Celebrated
With an on-site accredited high school, educational achievement has been at the forefront at Silver Oak Academy. Three times a year, Silver Oak hosts high school and program graduation ceremonies for its students.
A tradition of the school is to provide graduates with a key that states, “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.”
Student Government Association Created
The education department started its first Student Government Association. Aligned with public school requirements, the Association held a formal voting and election process on campus.
Career and Technical Education
In addition to the high school diplomas and GEDs issued, Silver Oak students received multiple CTE certifications at its on-site Workforce Development Center.
• 11 students certified in barbering • 17 students certified in construction • 34 students certified in culinary arts
• 4 students certified in environmental science • 16 students certified in first aid/CPR
• 10 students certified in OSHA
Exiting Students
It is the goal of Silver Oak Academy that all students leave with a plan to enroll in school, enlist in the military or be on track for employment. In 2013, an average of 87% of all students exiting the program were either enrolled, enlisted or employed.
“I have never attended a real high school, now when I leave I will be able to go back as a sophomore and someday attend college.”
Student Athlete Nicholas B.
11 17 34 4 16 10 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Barbering Construc8on Culinary Arts Environmental Science
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based practice that strengthens an individual’s own intrinsic motivation to change. Through collaboration with a Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) trainer, SOA staff embarked on a comprehensive training program that resulted in proficient MI trainers through:
• 16 hours of initial staff training
• Coded interviews using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Coding System (MITI) and mentor coaching to ensure proficiency • 16 hours of a second-round training of the Train for
Trainers (TFT) candidates
• Use of specially developed MI training manual to ensure fidelity
• Continued training support for TFT staff
Treatment
Family Engagement
While at Silver Oak Academy, family engagement plays a critical role in the students’ treatment progress and in their lives. The benefits of family engagement include improvement in academic outcomes, graduation rates and improved social skills. In 2013, family engagement included:
• 605 family visitors • 4,286 telephone contacts
• 79 hours of individual family therapy
10.3 8.0 7.9 7.6 7.8 7.5 8.8 7.4 7.2 6.7 7.2 6.6 0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Average Family Contacts
Evidence-Based Treatment
Research suggests that youth should have an appropriate “dosage” of intervention relative to their risk level. At SOA, the average student received over 250 hours of evidence-based treatment in core treatment groups. Annually, the number of hours of treatment provided includes:
Motivational Interviewing
In 2013, the average number of family contacts per student was approximately 93, or nearly 8 contacts per month.
10.7 1.2 22.9 4.6 260.2 5.4 0.3 Aggression Replacement Training
Effec>ve Prac>ces In Community Supervision Thinking for a Change Substance Abuse Treatment Group
Posi>ve Skill Development Groups
Restora>ve Solu>ons Posi>ve Organiza>onal Culture Community Groups Gang Treatment Group
Student Life
Highlights of 2013
Our approach to Positive Youth Development, a strengths-based view of adolescence, includes opportunities for our students to participate in clubs, athletics and extracurricular activities.
• Students participate in the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association in football, cross-country, basketball, wrestling, track and field and lacrosse
• Boys Varsity Basketball won the Maryland Independent Schools Basketball Championship
• Students participated in a Fox News 31 taping and studio hour • Tour and ride in Air Force Two
• Traveled to Alabama to walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge, site of Civil Rights March led by Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Career Day visits from local K-9 unit and MD State Police helicopter • Hosted first Breast Cancer Awareness Cure Access Research
Education Walk
• Flew to Arizona to participate in the ROP Winter Games Basketball Tournament
Operating Expenses
Filler Photo
“We take every opportunity to expose our students to positive community experiences that enhance their social skills and expand cultural awareness.”
-Program Director Kevin McLeod
At Silver Oak Academy, we are proud to dedicate the majority of funding to our personnel and direct student care.
“I feel like being a part of a football team at SOA has helped me learn to think about others and not just myself.”
- Student Athlete Danavon R.
67.9% 21.7%
0.3% 10.1%
Personnel Direct Student Care Direct Student Services Opera>ons
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MINDEN, NV PERMIT NO. 94Dedicated to improving the lives of youth
Silver Oak Academy
2013 Annual Performance Report
Rite of Passage
PO Box 250
999 Crouse Mill Road Keymar, MD 21757 Phone (410) 775-1745 Fax (410) 775-0242