Program Description and Staff

Mission

• Provide a place for learning and development to give hope and a future.

Value

• Effort, quality, persistence

Beliefs

•  Small classes make a big difference
• Personalized programming can improve the educational process

Goals

• To promote success by offering a secure and supportive environment
• Meet the individual needs of students and families

Philosophy

• Balance requirements, capacity and needs in the educational, social and emotional arenas.

Students

• Kindergarten through twelfth grades are served

Approvals & Accreditations

• Texas Education Agency
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
• Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

Admissions

Year round admission is available. An admission meeting can be scheduled during normal business hours.

Hours of Operation

School hours are from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. The business office is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Location

ROA offers services at a beautifully situated campus at 10600 Richmond Avenue at Beltway 8 in the Westchase District of southwest Houston.

The 12,600 square foot facility offers comfortable classrooms and therapy offices, state-of-the-art computer lab, covered activity court, and a soccer field for recreation and physical activity. Staff, students and visitors enjoy the friendliness of the campus facility, where attractive furnishings and vibrant colors invite all to feel welcome.

Staff

The staff at River Oaks Academy have many years of experience providing educational and related services to students in the Houston area and abroad. River Oaks Academy teachers are trained and experienced in various academic areas and grade levels.

The program director is Dr. Luis Valdes. He received a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Houston in 1990. He has been the director of mental health services in the public and private sector in the Houston area for over 15 years. He specializes in services for children and families and system-wide integrated programming. He has international experience in program development and implementation of children’s mental health and educational services.

Program development is overseen by Dr. Brenda Gardner, she received a doctorate in education and curriculum from Texas A&M University. She is the former director of special education for a large Houston area school district and has served as the director of school programs at a local special needs school and treatment center. She has over 25 years experience teaching and administering in Texas Education Agency approved schools. She brings to River Oaks Academy a wealth of knowledge and expertise on curriculum, administration, and special education.

River Oaks Academy has a strong and well-credentialed teaching and service staff that includes:  Mr. Reginald Caldwell, a K-12 Special Education Certified teacher.  He specializes in serving elementary and middle school students.  Ms. Ann Lancaster, a K-12 Special Education Certified teacher.  She specializes in language arts and social studies.  Mr. Richard Wiseman, a K-12 Special Education Certified teacher who specializes in teaching math at all levels.  Ms. Joana Idakwo, who is Certified to teach high school level sciences will soon complete her Master's in Environmental Sciences.  Ms. Andrea Tran, also Certified to teach high school level sciences will soon complete her certification in K-12 Special Education.  Steve Garcia and Roland Gonzalez are ROA's teacher's aides.  Steve has over 5 years experience in working with children with learning and behavioral difficulties.  Roland is new to our staff and has quickly become a valuable member of our team, including his capcity to direct the students and his musical talent in co-teaching our music class.

Individualized Academic Program (IAP)

ROA is an accredited school that provides several select academic tracks. Programming begins with the development of an Individualized Academic Program (IAP). The IAP is designed with parents and guardians to meet the needs of each particular student. Specific needs and wants may include: scheduling alternatives, self-paced programs, co-op programs, supports to address learning difficulties, social skills or counseling. Intensive daily supports and therapies are available. Accommodations can be made for life situations that require educational alternatives.

Academic Programs

River Oaks Academy serves students from Kindergarten through twelfth (K-12) grades. The school is approved by the Texas Education Agency and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. These credentials indicate that our academic programs follow requirements of State rules, federal law and accreditation standards. We elect to be independently audited every three years in order to maintain the strength of the program. All tracks are offered in a small classroom environment. Consistent with this approach and these credentials the following academic programs are offered:

• Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) – This track offers the State of Texas required curriculum. The extensive knowledge elements at each grade level can be found on the Texas Education Agency website (www.tea.state.tx.us).
• College Prep – This track offers the State of Texas recommended curriculum for gaining entry into colleges and universities. The requirements of this track can be found in the Texas Education Code at Subchapter E §74.53. Recommended High School Program.
• Business and Vocational Prep – In addition to the TEKS, this track focuses on modern day business and job skills. Part of its focus is on computer applications and technological equipment.
• Life Skills – FACES program – This track offers life skills training for those with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, Mental Retardation, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

Summer Camp

River Oaks Academy offers a specialized Summer Camp for children/adolescents (ages 5 to 15) with academic, social and behavioral challenges. More information here.

Academic Support Programs

River Oaks Academy also offers specialized programming for those with learning differences, particular styles and behavioral health needs. These programs include the possibility for college admission or vocational training.

• Learning Differences. Some students require specific strategies to compensate for learning differences or learning disabilities. These problems typically affect reading, writing and arithmetic and therefore secondarily affect most other areas of academic learning. There is a wide and frustrating range of good and bad theories and approaches to helping students with learning differences. The one that fits your child may not be the one fits another. Our IAP approach seeks to find the strategies that work for each child. More information on this issue can be found at the Learning Disabilities of America web site at http://www.ldaamerica.org.
• Learning Styles. Some students have different learning styles that typically include visual, auditory, and multi-sensory learners. ROA carries or finds the curriculum that fits your child’s needs. We offer textbooks on tape, video series learning and on-line learning among others to enhance the teaching and learning opportunities.
• Social and Behavioral Supports. Some students have a need to develop social skills and emotional or behavioral control skills. These students may be diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder. ROA has licensed therapists and specialists who provide planned interventions and develop classroom strategies to help students develop ways of managing themselves and staying focused on their school work.

Evaluation and Treatment Services

Outpatient services. Some ROA students take advantage of confidential individual, group or family therapies to help their educational aspirations. Goals may include improvement in social functioning, communication skills, family and peer relationships, self-esteem and academic performance.

Day treatment services. ROA operates a JCAHO (Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) accredited day treatment and intensive outpatient (IOP) program for those in need of intensive therapy services. These services include psychiatric services, daily individual and group therapy and twice-weekly family therapy. Case management services help families find the community resources and transition services they need to be able to stabilize the home environment and engage their student in productive leisure time activities. Students often attend the school program while receiving these services in order to keep up with their schoolwork.