Josh Gardner (00:00):
Andrea, thanks for joining us on the Havenwood podcast today. To start off, if you'll just introduce yourself, what you do at Havenwood, and we'll go from there.

Andrea (00:08):
Yeah, I'm Andrea Morgan. I'm the assistant academic director. I run the school day-to-day, help with hiring excellent teachers and keeping everything on track.

Josh Gardner (00:18):
What made you think that working in treatment was a good fit for you?

Andrea (00:21):
I had a little bit of background with, some experience in RTC, mostly with my ex-husband working in a residential treatment facility, but for adults. and that was kind of my first little intro into what that might look like. didn't scare me off enough. So I went to go work at a public elementary school. and didn’t love the environment of having so many kids in the classroom. So Havenwood really spoke to my soul as far as being able to really make a difference in a student's life.

Josh Gardner (01:01):
So you had a stint in public education and then the opportunity Havenwood Academy came up to join as a teacher. Talk about what it's like being a teacher at Havenwood Academy. What's the day in the life like?

Andrea (01:18):
No two days are the same, thankfully. That's another reason I love it here. Having smaller class sizes is amazing. You can really see the light in the kids' faces when they understand something. It cuts the load for prepping and grading, allowing you to focus on teaching from a place of love.

Josh Gardner (02:30):
What were the internal transformations you experienced while working with teen girls in a therapeutic school setting?

Andrea (02:54):
It was hard at first to see these students struggling so much. I had to grow into being the kind of teacher who could see their struggle and move through a lesson. Over time, I learned to use their stories to guide my teaching.

Josh Gardner (04:31):
How has working with teens impacted your own parenting style, especially with your teenage daughter?

Andrea (04:47):
Recognizing trauma in my children and knowing how to address it early on has been crucial. Working at Havenwood has helped me respond better to my kids' struggles and teach them how to cope with their emotions.

Josh Gardner (06:10):
What does your team look like, and how do you collaborate with the therapeutic team?

Andrea (06:10):
We have an amazing team of teachers who are highly skilled. We collaborate closely with the therapeutic team, adjusting academics based on the students' emotional needs, and it's helped the students thrive.

Josh Gardner (08:05):
Can you share a specific student story that stands out to you?

Andrea (08:05):
One student, who was struggling academically, was able to move from not being able to write her name to writing pages with creative spelling. We’ve seen amazing growth in her that we didn’t expect.

Josh Gardner (09:34):
How do you overcome academic trauma for students who struggle with school?

Andrea (09:34):
We focus on their strengths, whether it's art, music, or physical education, and build from there. It helps them gain confidence, which spills over into other areas of their education.

Josh Gardner (11:04):
How has having a student council impacted the academic process?

Andrea (11:04):
The students have gained confidence and started taking ownership of their education. They suggest celebrations, hold their peers to higher standards, and see themselves as leaders.

Josh Gardner (12:27):
What improvements have you seen at Havenwood over the last couple of years?

Andrea (12:27):
The addition of special education services and sports teams has had a positive impact. We’re able to better support students with IEPs and keep them engaged through physical activities.

Josh Gardner (13:33):
Tell us more about the KC Toolkit and how it helps students prepare for adulthood.

Andrea (13:33):
The KC Toolkit assesses essential life skills, from emotional intelligence to practical tasks like insurance. It’s helping us better prepare students for life beyond Havenwood.

Josh Gardner (15:16):
Can you share some examples of the KC Toolkit questions?

Andrea (15:16):
It asks questions like: "Do you know what kind of insurance you need?" and "Can you identify household chemicals that should not be mixed?" It's designed to ensure students are ready for adulthood.

Josh Gardner (15:29):
What are your plans for the next few years in terms of continuous improvement at Havenwood?

Andrea (15:56):
I’m focused on improving processes and creating systems that make everything run more smoothly. I’m also working on making our accreditation process more efficient for the future.

Josh Gardner (17:35):
What incremental improvements have you made recently that you’re particularly proud of?

Andrea (17:35):
One small change I made was creating a note system for students to communicate with me. It allows me to stay on top of their needs without losing track of tasks, and it strengthens our relationship.

Josh Gardner (19:30):
How do your personal educational experiences shape your approach to teaching at Havenwood?

Andrea (19:30):
I believe everyone learns differently, and education should be personalized. That philosophy helps me tailor lessons to each student while maintaining the core standards we aim to meet.

Josh Gardner (22:08):
What advice would you give to parents or potential guests considering Havenwood?

Andrea (22:08):
It’s a big commitment, but we are here to love and support both the kids and their families. Our staff is dedicated, and we genuinely care about the students' success.