Spectrum: ‘Recovery is best in community’
RALEIGH, N.C. — Most people have heard of magnet schools and charter schools, but now the Triangle has its first ever recovery high school. Wake Monarch Academy will welcome its initial group of students in just a few weeks.
The school offers a unique approach to support students, between the ages of 13 and 21, who are struggling with substance abuse.
What You Need To Know
Wake Monarch Academy is the Triangle’s first ever recovery high school
The school is designed to support students, ages 13 to 21, who are struggling with substance abuse
The school’s founder was inspired to help other students after her son struggled with addiction
Wake Monarch Academy will welcome its first group of students on August 23
Leah Wright, the founder and executive director of Wake Monarch Academy, says this is a dream come true and one of the happiest moments in her life. She also says, five or ten years ago, opening a recovery high school was not on her list of things to do.
“I thought my purpose was to be a classroom teacher, and I love all my students and had 30 years in the classroom and loved that,” Wright said. “But through this process, I feel this is a greater purpose.”
“I want them to feel comfortable and feel accepted and feel comfortable when they have things that happen in their life,” Wright said.When designing the space, Wright put a lot of emphasis on making the school feel like a home. “I want them to feel comfortable and feel accepted and feel comfortable when they have things that happen in their life,” Wright said.
Wright is so passionate about helping change the stigma around addiction and providing resources for students because her son struggled with a heroin addiction when he was a teen. “When we reached out for help I was always asked, ‘how old is he?’ He was not 18 at the time so it was, ‘sorry we can’t help you,’” Wright said.
“Recovery is best in community. When you are able to openly share your stories and hear and realize there’s another person or another family that’s going though a similar walk as you then you feel like you’re not alone,” Wright said.
She never imagined she would be creating a space like this but now she feels like was part of the plan for her all along. “You can never lose hope. Many recovery stories I’ve heard , you just have to keep going. One day at a time. One day at a time,” Wright said.
Wake Monarch Academy will officially welcome students on August 23 with a maximum of 10 students the first year. The school is currently tuition based, but they are working on a scholarship program so that it is accessible to everyone. Interest forms are now available online.
