Changes At Pinnacle Schools

Exciting changes are taking place at our company. What began as a single outdoor therapeutic program for "troubled teens" in 2005 has evolved and grown into four separate and distinct programs. Each program is designed to meet the individual needs of the teen and their family. We are excited to share our Fifth Anniversary with you and will be hosting a Open House soon.

In the past five years, we have treated more than 330 adolescents and added more buildings, counselors, academic staff and support people. We have grown from five employees to 50, one program to four and are currently expanding our day school from a 3,200 square foot building to a 6,700 square foot facility. The programs we now offer are Elk River Treatment Program - Therapeutic Intervention Program (8 weeks), Elk River Academy - Individualized Transitional Therapeutic School (flexible length of stay up to one year), Elk River Healthy Lifestyles -Teen Weight Management Program (8 weeks), and Pinnacle Academic Resource Center - A Private Year Round High School and College Resource Program in Huntsville, Alabama.

The staff of The Pinnacle Schools is proud to welcome the following new additions to our staff: Dr. Gagan Dhaliwal to the clinical team. Dr. Dhaliwal is a Child, Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist and Assistant Clinical Professor at the UAB School of Medicine in Huntsville. Paul Bakke is working in Progress Groups. He brings with him extensive experience in residential treatment therapy as well as a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration and Counseling Psychology from Alabama A&M University. Andrea Clayton joined the academic team. She attended UAHuntsville, earned a Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology with an Environmental Science Certification, and a minor in Chemistry, and earned a Master's Degree in Biology with a Secondary Education Certification from UAHuntsville. Sheila Toso has joined our medical team. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin. She also attended Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA and earned an A.S. Degree in Nursing. Sheila worked with troubled teens at inpatient treatment centers. She also has experience as a Child Care Health Consultant and she is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE). As a SANE, Sheila has been involved with Rape Response. Jodi Rose has accepted the position of Family Services Aide. Jodi earned her BA in Psychology from Maryville College in 2003.

The Mission of The Pinnacle Schools, Inc. is to develop adolescents who are self-directed, educated and contributing members of society. To support this mission, we resolve to provide an environment of respect, acceptance, skill development, and challenge which fosters the personal development and emotional growth of our students. We are one component of a continuum of growth for struggling teens and their families.