Commencement address was delivered by State Representative Andrew Farmer
Dandridge, Tenn. – Mountain View Academy recently celebrated 15 new graduates from its facility in Dandridge, Tennessee. The youth corrections center hosted a commencement ceremony to honor its summer graduates. Andrew Farmer, Tennessee State Representative for the 17th district, delivered the commencement address.
In his speech, Farmer encouraged the graduates to steadfastly hold on to the values instilled in them while they pursued their educations and urged them to continue down the path of success.
“These kids have come from different backgrounds, life circumstances and various hardships, and this ceremony is about their success in leaving all of that behind,” said Farmer. “This moment is theirs. They’ve earned it. My hope is that they will continue down the path to success and achieve the lives they were meant to live, beyond the shadows of their youth.”
“Our mission is to nurture, encourage and inspire each and every kid that comes into our care,” said Jason Crew, CEO of Wayne Halfway House/owner-operator of Mountain View Academy. “This graduation is a celebration of our residents overcoming the trials and tribulations of their youth and rising above their circumstances and past choices.”
Farmer chairs the House Civil Justice Committee in the Tennessee General Assembly and serves on several other committees and subcommittees related to criminal justice and to children and family issues. Crews serves as CEO of Wayne Halfway House, which has owned and operated Mountain View Academy since 2019.
The graduates, who have achieved a high school diploma or the equivalent, have overcome significant behavioral challenges and socioeconomic hurdles to further their educations.
Mountain View Academy follows a Step-Down model, which allows residents who have achieved behavioral standards and educational milestones to transition to a lower-security facility, enroll in work programs and continue their post-secondary educations. There are currently 10 residents participating in Step-Down, and 31 youth have successfully completed the program since its debut in 2020. Of those 31 graduates, eight are currently employed in full-time positions, and three are enrolled in post-secondary education.
Most youth who enter Mountain View have experienced extended periods of truancy or otherwise have a deficit of academic credits. The Step-Down program allows youth residents to reintegrate into their communities, get jobs and build up savings, all while continuing their educations. After residents step down to the Waynesboro facility, they can volunteer in the community, participating in service projects such as volunteering in assisted-living centers, nursing homes and community car washes. They are also assisted and encouraged to pursue job opportunities that can lead to permanent, full-time employment upon their return to the community.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN VIEW ACADEMY
Mountain View Academy is a hardware-secured youth corrections facility housing 92 residents. The academy is privately owned and licensed through the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Since 2019, it has graduated more than 150 residents.
ABOUT WAYNE HALFWAY HOUSE INC.
Wayne Halfway House, Inc. (WHH) began serving children in 1992 with a single 16-bed facility in Waynesboro, Tennessee. We now serve youth at six residential facilities in Tennessee and three in Florida, with a daily capacity of 440 youth in residential facilities and community settings. Our corporate management team brings more than 85 years’ experience in child welfare and juvenile justice. We provide strong corporate oversight to ensure consistent, high levels of service. ### Contact: Ann Marie Anderson
931-267-9700
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