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Posted: Aug 16, 2007 08:34

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Excel Academy of Texas

A Letter From Don Vardell



Contact:
Don Vardell
Executive Director
800-260-9178
dvardell@excelacademytx.com
www.excelacademy.com

August 15, 2007

To the Students, Families, Staff and Referring Professionals of Excel Academy:

As I complete my first week as the new Executive Director, I would like to share some of my thoughts and outline what I see as our immediate and on-going Goals and Priorities for Excel Academy of Texas.

First of all, words cannot express how impressed I have been with the students I have met. Their level of maturity and ability to articulate what they have learned, how they have grown during their time at Excel, and their commitment to their recovery is truly amazing. I have had some very good, candid conversations with many of our students where ideas for improving the "Excel Experience" have been discussed and some action items have been agreed to. I value the perspective of our students and will continue to seek their feedback on how we are doing.

Additionally, my conversations with parents and staff have been very enlightening and I appreciate all the candor, constructive feedback, support and patience. I feel there are some very clear things we can do to respond to the requests and ideas of our staff and families in the coming weeks and months. The leadership team and I will work to explore ways to implement these great ideas and suggestions.

As we go forward, I want to share what I think are our immediate and on-going goals and priorities for Excel Academy. Each of these items will have specific activities associated with them and people held accountable for ensuring that they are addressed. All allocations of resources, including time, will be tested against these goals and priorities. That is, if we cannot fit some activity or use of resource clearly into one of these areas, then we will be unable to do it.

Excel Academy's Goals and Priorities (August 2007):

  • Continue the warmth, quality and effectiveness of the "Excel Experience"

  • Focus on student and staff safety, security, and a healthy environment for growth and positive change

  • Ensure responsive, timely and effective internal and external communication

  • Enhance staff training and accountability

  • Deliver responsive programming


These are the things that will guide our actions and for which we will collectively hold ourselves accountable. In the few short days that I have been on board, we have already identified and begun activities that fit squarely into each of these goals and priorities.

As a co-educational, recovery-focused college preparatory boarding school serving adolescents and their families from all over the world, we at Excel have a responsibility and are privileged to work with the students and families that make the tough decision to come to us. There is no doubt that we have made a positive impact on the lives of many adolescents and their families since our inception in 1997. Just as all organizations (and families) must grow and evolve, we too must look at what we are doing to make sure we are current in our programming and responding to the needs of those we serve.

Again, my family and I feel very honored to be a part of the Excel Team and to become "Texans" - if only adopted ones. We are beginning our transition to the Houston area and look forward to our time here.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at 936.447.4617 ext. 106, or at dvardell@excelacademytx.com with any questions, ideas or comments.



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