MBA History 1988-1989 The Pioneers: In 1987, educator Linda Houghton was approached by Barry Weiss, of College Health Enterprises, who, owning several health facilities, understood that adolescents in crisis were often unsuccessful in making lasting life changes in traditional treatment centers. They agreed to create a learning environment, which would educate the whole person, academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually. With continued support from CHE, Linda Houghton brought her vision of education, excellent dedication, and a team of committed pioneers: Dennis Crowell, Academy Director; Jeannie Crowell, Dean of Academics; Jane Stewart, Director of Admissions; Steve Houghton, Wilderness and History Teacher; Alexandru Bitz, Theatre Arts Teacher ; Pat Brown, Science and Math Teacher; Cec DeClerk, Teacher; Kathy Carter, Executive Assistant; Judy Burgen, Bookkeeper. All were mentors, drivers, cooks, builders; wilderness scouts and in a word - pioneers. After a few difficulties with permits and the local community of Powell Butte, Linda Houghton decided to build at Mark's Creek Lodge in the Ochoco National Forest. Skilled workers like Clint and Jodi Brooks, Brook Hilton and others began dismantling the old hunting lodge and commenced the process of building classrooms, kitchen, dining room and dorms. With the arrival of our first student, Tori Clark, others soon followed in time for our first Summer Leadership Intensive, which included: Theatre, Biology, Wilderness, English Composition and more. Under the direction of Linda Houghton, Executive Director, the founding members established the fundamentals of MBA: Mission, classes, schedules, the first emotional growth workshops (Lifesteps), rules and agreements, etc. Educational Consultants like Alice Jackson, Virginia Reiss, Miriam Bodin, Anita Targan, Martha Kolbe, Diane Albrecht, Teri Solochek, Ann Carol Price, Paula Feldman and others were of tremendous help with visits, advice and referrals. With the Summer Intensive Graduation, parent workshops, five high school graduates, new staff joining the school, first edition of The Looking Glass, more referrals and visits from professionals, new buildings completed and many other historical firsts, Mt. Bachelor Academy was established. The long exciting hours of work, the commitment and talents of staff members and the forming of a strong student peer group culture resulted in a warm and close-knit community where learning and personal growth flourished. 1990-1993 The Builders: This period of MBA's evolution was characterized by the continuous building on campus, a metaphor for the development of the Emotional Growth Curriculum which occurred simultaneously. This process of readjusting, reevaluating and establishing and identity was constant. Linda Houghton and Alex Bitz (Academy Director) were the team behind the creation of one of MBA's very unique aspects the second year of the Emotional Growth Curriculum Lifesteps. These workshops are specifically created to provide opportunities for students to apply their skills and knowledge outside of the MBA campus and to assist them in understanding their role and generalizing their skills to the larger community. These intensives focus on each student's responsibility for the present and preparation for his or her future. The Academy graduated its first class in December 1990. In the three years from 1990-1993, people like Jane Stewart, Jeannie Crowell, Jeff Johnson, Sarah Koalkin (Persha), Bill Hoffman, Sharon Hunter (Bitz), and Janine Riehl (LePere) were also instrumental in refining and maintaining the quality of the Emotional Growth Curriculum. The Academics Department grew under the supervision of Jeannie Crowell. Teachers like Jeem Peterson, Science and Math; David Miller, Political Science and general studies; Terilynn, English and Drama; Harold Brasington, English; Steve Houghton and Dave LePere, Wilderness; and others brought creativity and a higher level of integrity to experiential academics. All of this expansion was supported by the people who fed the machine: Naty Zamora, Kitchen Manager; Alvin Jones, Maintenance Manager, Susie Carroll, JoDee Welty (Fitzgerald), Kelli Hoffman, and so many others dedicated to the service of children's needs. 1993-1997 The Keepers: Until 1997,under the leadership of Tim Brace, Executive Director, who joined MBA in 1993, the school became  a dynamically functioning program. We sailed through our accreditation process, developed training for staff members and refined procedures for how things should be done in all areas to ensure the safety of students and staff members. 1997- NOW The Learners:  In May, 1997, Sharon Bitz became Executive Director and for the past 11 years our commitment has been to continually enrich our curricula and services through reassessment and the infusion of evidence based practices.  In 1998, with the active involvement of the President, Elliot Sainer, our parent company College Health Enterprises formed a separate company, Aspen Youth Services (whose name was changed to Aspen Education Group), which has provided us with a partnership of support and services for adolescents, families and educators. While we continuously strive for the school to remain vital and dynamic and to evolve where it is warranted, we never lose sight of the need to hold fast to the original vision, philosophy and mission of this school community. In recent years, Mount Bachelor Academy has emerged as a leader in two important areas:  Serving adolescents with adoption and/or attachment spectrum issues; and simultaneously answering the needs of students with special learning needs and chemical dependency issues. We have developed “Alumni Services” which is a full year of transition support for the families of adolescents who graduate.  We provide a transition program, “The Graduate Residence” for students who graduate the personal growth curriculum but have less than a year of high school left. With full time clinical oversight on campus and a certified chemical dependency counselor, our nine master’s level counselors round out a skilled therapeutic team.  On the academic side, two certified learning needs specialists, and a masters level guidance counselor add depth of support to our masters and certified teachers.   We continue to raise the standard in care and services that we provide.  The field of Neuroscience has taught us that mindfulness can stimulate growth in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, assist with executive function and focus, and help with moderating moods.  MBA offers four yoga classes each day and brief meditation at the beginning of class and group sessions. As its stated on the front door of the school, we remain committed to “Dynamic Education For a Changing World”.   We will continually learn and evolve to best provide for our students and their families.

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Mount Bachelor Academy
33051 N.E. Ochoco Hwy.
Prineville, OR 97754
Phone: 1.800.462.3404
FAX 541.462.3430