{"id":9545,"date":"2022-03-11T13:54:16","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T21:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/?p=9545"},"modified":"2022-03-13T17:42:11","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T00:42:11","slug":"greenbrier-academy-for-girls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakingcodesilence.org\/greenbrier-academy-for-girls\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenbrier Academy for Girls"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greenbrier Academy for Girls<\/b> (2007-present) Pence Springs, WV<\/span><\/h1>\n

Therapeutic Boarding School<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

History and Background Information<\/b><\/h2>\n

Greenbrier Academy for Girls is a behavior-modification program that opened in 2007. It is marketed as a Therapeutic Boarding School for teenage girls (14-18) who struggle with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, drug abuse, adoption issues, ADHD\/ADD, ODD, etc. The program has a maximum enrollment of 54 girls, and the average length of stay is reported to be between 12 and 18 months. The tuition is reported to be around $42,000 per year. Greenbrier Academy for Girls has been a <\/span>NATSAP<\/span><\/a> member since 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program is located on a rural 140-acre campus at <\/span>158 Academy Lane, Rt. 3, Pence Springs, WV 24962<\/span><\/a>. The program’s main building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greenbrier Academy for Girls was opened by Lionel J. Mitchell in 2007 shortly before the closure of <\/span>Alldredge Academy<\/span><\/a>, which was a program that Lionel Mitchell had opened in 1999. Alldredge Academy was a similar behavior-modification program that closed in 2008 following the death of a student in 2001 and a subsequent lawsuit against the school which the parents won. Greenbrier Academy for Girls is believed to be the re-brand of Alldredge Academy, however, it caters only to female residents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Founders and Notable Staff<\/b><\/h2>\n

Lionel (\u201cL-Jay\u201d) Mitchell<\/b> is the Founder of the Greenbrier Academy for Girls. He began his career in the TTI by Co-Founding and Directing the <\/span>SUWS of Idaho<\/span><\/a> program from 1981 until 1994. He then left to create a new program, <\/span>Alldredge Academy<\/span><\/a> in 1999. He worked as the Director of this program until 2006. While at Alldredge Academy, he was indicted on charges of negligent child-abuse after a resident at the program committed suicide. He then founded Greenbrier Academy in 2007 and has worked as the Director\/Owner ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dennis Thompson<\/b> previously worked at <\/span>SUWS of Idaho<\/span><\/a> with L-Jay back in the 90s. He and his wife, Laura, ran the African Drumming Program, including the performance group. He and his wife Laura retired around 2015\/2016.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul Fowler<\/b> ran the “Village” retreat at Greenbrier. He previously worked at <\/span>Alldredge Academy<\/span><\/a>, like L-Jay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mark Dennison<\/b> worked as the Headmaster of Greenbrier until 2014. He left to open his own program for boys, but this project never came to fruition. His wife, Mary Dennison, also worked at the program as the study hall teacher and a homeroom teacher.<\/span><\/p>\n

Susie Blankenship<\/b> has worked as an Administrator at Greenbrier since 2011. Prior to this, she worked as an Administrator at Camelot Therapeutic Day Schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dinah Palmer<\/b> worked as an Nurse at Greenbrier. According to the <\/span>West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses<\/span><\/a>, Palmer is <\/span>not<\/b> a licensed RN in West Virginia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mike Beswick<\/b> worked as a Therapist at Greenbrier until 2020. He currently works in private practice. His prior employment is unknown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ginger Cooney (Cooley?)<\/b> worked as a Therapist at Greenbrier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eva \u201cShellie\u201d Beeker<\/b> worked as a Therapist at Greenbrier from 2012 until 2018. She began her career as a Field Instructor at an unnamed wilderness program. She then went on to work as a Student Life Supervisor at an unnamed therapeutic boarding school, before coming to Greenbrier. She currently works as a Counselor at the University of North Dakota in their Counseling Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

RuthAnn Ott<\/b> worked as a Therapist at Greenbrier.<\/span><\/p>\n

Program Structure<\/b><\/h2>\n

Like other behavior-modification programs, Greenbrier Academy for Girls uses a level-system consisting of 5 levels which are named after different virtues. The levels are reported to be:<\/span><\/p>\n