Silverado Academy - Core Principles

Core Principles

Silverado Academy offers a unique curriculum that balances emotional growth with purposeful work projects and physical challenges. The program addresses the student’s presenting problem behaviors as well as the underlying causes of these behaviors. Self-confidence and self-esteem increase in the caring and highly structured environment. Students learn to take responsibility for their behavior; they gain new insight, improve their communication skills, and begin to contribute positively to their families and to society. Silverado Academy, through its innovative program, setting, and staff, gives adolescents a chance they might not otherwise have to succeed in school, at home, and in the community. It begins with the core principles of our program. These three principles, outlined below, are the cornerstones and the design of Dr. Kreg Gillman, Executive Director and Owner of Silverado Academy. In Kreg’s words:

Student Working

Work: As human beings, we have an innate need to make a contribution, to be productive, to build something, and to leave our "mark" on the world. Unlike their parents, today's teenagers have little opportunity to be proud of the day's work. As a child, I experienced first-hand a feeling of satisfaction for a full barn after a week of bailing, hauling, and stacking hay. I experienced pleasure in helping my grandfather, on a daily basis, to feed and water the livestock. Although often involved in challenging projects, there was great pride and contentment as we finished planting a garden, building a fence, or chopping enough wood for the winter.

In the various treatment programs I have both operated and visited, I have seen the great value of work. I have witnessed young men and women boast to their parents (during visits) of having climbed Mount Timpanogos (12,000 feet), of having remodeled a home, of having built a fence or a beautiful gazebo. I have seen the sense of self-esteem that comes from having done something with one's own hands, and the pride and contentment that comes from having contributed to the "greater good".

At Silverado, school is integral to "work". Students are expected to do their schoolwork, do it well, and do it on time. School is a privilege, and boys are expected to complete all school assignments in order to qualify for level bonuses, rewards, and advancement.

Teacher with Students
Love: Love, at Silverado, is defined as how we build and nurture relationships. Research comparing various therapeutic models has shown that regardless of the underlying model, the most healing aspect of therapy is the therapist-client relationship. I have stated many times, both privately and publicly, that "theories, books, and assessments do not heal; relationships heal". It is the relationship the child has with his staff that ultimately makes the difference. At Silverado Academy, we focus on building positive relationships with others; on improving relationships with parents and siblings; on modeling healthy relationships among staff and with students; on being honest and on showing integrity with others; and on improving and practicing effective communication.

Girl's Basketball
Play: In today's world, both youngsters and adults seem to have forgotten how to "play". At Silverado, play is defined as how we nurture ourselves. In order for us to have healthy and positive relationships and effectively love others, we must first know how to take care of ourselves. We cannot be running on an emotionally empty gas tank and then expect to effectively help and serve others. Play constitutes our opportunity to "refuel". Regrettably, many adolescents seek out self-destructive methods of play through drug and alcohol abuse and other high risk behaviors. These attempts at self-nurture are merely temporary and lead to additional guilt, self-destruction, and low self-esteem. At Siverado Academy, we believe in extensive activity and in the development of each student’s hobbies, talents, and activity skills. Healthy recreational activities form the foundation of SIlverado's daily routine.

Above all, the staff at Silverado are committed to providing a positive environment and teaching adolescent's to effectively work, love, and play. We believe through that process boys and girls will become respectful, responsible, and resilient young men and young women.