Promise Academy Accepting First Students Today

CALDWELL, Idaho (CBS2) — It's an exciting day for the Idaho Youth Ranch, as their first students arrive today at the Promise Academy. These students will live full time at the Idaho Youth Ranch's Residential Center for Healing and Resilience, a new facility that is the only of its' kind in the state. The goal of this facility is to keep local children with severe mental health issues and trauma in Idaho, instead of sending them out of state for treatment.

The Promise Academy will be accepting eight students a month until they hit their full capacity of 64 students. Based on their average length of stay, they estimate they'll be able to serve about 100 kids per year.

"Kids that have behavior problems, kids that have learning disabilities, they're fantastic kids," said Debbie Penor, Promise Academy Special Education Director. "Despite the issues that they're having, I can help them overcome those things and learn some strategies to be able to cope with that trauma."

Each instructor has their own method for ensuring every student gets the help they need. The goal is that the small classroom sizes, with gradual enrollment increases, will allow teachers to connect with their students one on one. One Promise Academy teacher, Chuck Rehdorf, says he is looking forward to being able to address each student's specific needs.

"We get to work closer with the students and we get to focus on the students," said Rehdorf. "It's going to be a much easier time focusing on the students individually."

Promise Academy classrooms are set up specifically for children with mental health struggles, with heavier desks that are harder to flip, chairs that rock and are not connected to anything so students don't feel trapped, and so on. The rooms are tailored to each instructor's unique teaching style and personal interests, with the hope that it will help them connect with their students on an even deeper level.

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