Facility profile Delaware

Cedars Academy

Closed Bridgeville, Delaware

At a glance

Address: Leadership Way, Bridgeville, DE 19933
Type: Transitional Living Program; source
Operated: 1989 to 2009
Serves: Ages 12 to 19; source
Capacity: 40; source
Operator: Aspen Education Group
Memberships: NATSAP (former member; member from 2001, last listed 2009)

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Cedars Academy was a transitional living program in Bridgeville, Delaware, operated by Aspen Education Group. It operated from 1989 to 2009.

5 incidents on record
47 staff members named

About Cedars Academy

It was described as a program for children diagnosed with ADHD, Asperger's Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorder.source It sat on 73 acres, believed to be on Leadership Way, Bridgeville, DE 19933.source It cost $6,200 per month plus $2,500 enrollment fee and $6,200 alumni fee.source It restructured in 2007 around the PEER Leadership Program.source

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation.source Licensing: Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families - Residential Child Care Facility.source It was a member of NATSAP from 2001 to 2009.source

Survivor testimony

What people who lived or worked here say happened. Survivors' own words are published with their permission; forum accounts are what was posted publicly and are reported as claims, not findings.

Reported on survivor forums

Timeline

From the records: who ran it and the deals that moved it, its names, and the deaths, incidents, inspection findings, lawsuits and news stories on file. Point at an event, or tap "More about this", for the details.

19892010

1989
1. Opened
  Opened in Bridgeville, Delaware
2. Incident
  License action
  In 1989 Cedars Academy was sued for operating without a license and was ordered to close temporarily in 1990; it reopened shortly after.
  License action
  source
1991
1. Incident
  Lawsuit
  In 1991 Cedars Academy faced another lawsuit over licensing violations.
  Lawsuit
  source
2009
1. IncidentAugust 2009
  Closure order
  In August 2009 Aspen Education Group announced Cedars Academy would close; the exact reason was not disclosed.
  Closure order August 2009
  source
2. Closed
  Closed
2010
1. Incident
  Lawsuit
  In 2010 a lawsuit against Aspen Education Group and Cedars Academy alleged a student was sexually assaulted and threatened by another student in 2007, claiming...
  Lawsuit
  In 2010 a lawsuit against Aspen Education Group and Cedars Academy alleged a student was sexually assaulted and threatened by another student in 2007, claiming negligence, gross negligence, recklessness and breach of contract.
  source

Incidents on record

1989 License action

In 1989 Cedars Academy was sued for operating without a license and was ordered to close temporarily in 1990; it reopened shortly after.source
1991 Lawsuit

In 1991 Cedars Academy faced another lawsuit over licensing violations.source
August 2009 Closure order

In August 2009 Aspen Education Group announced Cedars Academy would close; the exact reason was not disclosed.source
2010 Lawsuit

In 2010 a lawsuit against Aspen Education Group and Cedars Academy alleged a student was sexually assaulted and threatened by another student in 2007, claiming negligence, gross negligence, recklessness and breach of contract.source
Abuse

Survivors report emotional and psychological abuse, excessive isolation, extreme physical abuse, unqualified staff, sexual abuse and humiliation at Cedars Academy.source

Staff

Administration

John Singleton

Former Executive Director (2007-2009)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Aspen Education Group Staff
- Brandon Hall School President/Head of School
- Trails Carolina Director of Business Development
- Whetstone Academy Owner/CEO, Owner and CEO
- Pathway Family Center Board Member
- Maple Hall Academy Owner/CEO, Founder, CEO and Owner
- Stone Mountain School Program Director, Academic Director
- New Leaf Academy of North Carolina Staff, before 2009
- NATSAP board of directors
Michael Charnley

Former Program Director (2009-2021, r/troubledteens wiki)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- The Ridge New Hampshire Consultant, 2013
- Academy at Swift River Residential Staff and Counselor, Program Director, 2000-2009
- Excel Academy Manager of Program and Services and Counselor, Manager of Program and Services, Program Director, 2007-2008
- Eckerd Youth Alternatives Program Clinician, 2011
Robin Abel

Former Directorsource

Notable staff

Dottie Lank

Former Admissions Director (2009)source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Trails Carolina Former Admissions Director
Marsha B. Rubenstein

Former Educational Consultant and Author (2007)source
Neil Swartz

Former Co-Foundersource
Elsewhere in the industry
- Academy of New Horizons Director, before 2025
Mary Pauer

source
Elsewhere in the industry
- Academy of New Horizons Director, before 2025
Amy Rust

Former Counselorsource
Antoine Laguerre

Former Teachersource
Art Doakes

Former Therapistsource
Barbara Pusloskie

Former Admin Asst.source
Becky Scott

Former Residentialsource
Betsy Bradley

Former Teachersource
Carla Shockley

Former Residentialsource
Collette Camper

Former Residentialsource
Derrell Johnson

Former Residentialsource
Donell Winder

Former Residentialsource
Heather Holston

Former Residentialsource
Hilda Jackson

Former Residentialsource
Jackie Krech

Former Teachersource
Joyce Jenkins

Former Residentialsource
Elsewhere in the industry
- Stockley Center Staff
Juanita Weal

Former Residentialsource
Karinda Williams

Former Residentialsource
Laturicia Morris

Former Residentialsource
Linda Conway

Former Finance Mgr.source
Lori Wise

Former Residentialsource
Maurice Coverdale

Former Residentialsource
Melvona Holley

Former Food Servicessource
Elsewhere in the industry
- Pressley Ridge Staff
Michael Jackson

Former Residentialsource
Michael Sipes

Former Teachersource
Michael Williams

Former Residentialsource
Monica McMillan

Former Academic Directorsource
Nadine Sparks

Former Residentialsource
Neil Schwartz

Former Staffsource
Nicholas Lank

Former Residentialsource
Paula Kovarcik

Former Residentialsource
Samantha Lahman

Former Teachersource
Shannon Skrzat

Former Supervisorsource
Sharronda Whaley

Former Residentialsource
Stephanie Hartsoe

Former Coordinatorsource
Stephanie Smith

Former Teachersource
Elsewhere in the industry
- Open Sky Wilderness Therapy Admissions
Teresa Simms

Former Residentialsource
Terrence Brummell

Former Residentialsource
Thomas Anderson

Former Residentialsource
Venita Ross

Former Residentialsource
Walter Davis

Former Nursesource
William Griffith

Former Facilities Mgr.source

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Wiki entries

Cedars Academy Bridgeville, DE | 1989-2009

Materials and links

External links

A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.

heal-online.org (archived copy) live site

Survivor posts and discussion

Cedars Academy -Fornits Wiki

Advertising and marketing listings

Reporting this program

This program closed in 2009, so the state agency that licensed it can no longer act against it. Other channels may still be able to: the boards that license the people who worked here, law enforcement, and the civil courts.

The Delaware reporting channels list each one and what it can do. Time limits depend on the state, the kind of harm and the survivor's age, and many states have lengthened or removed them for child sexual abuse, so a program closing long ago does not by itself mean it is too late. Laws change, so the time limits we list were correct when we checked them but may have been updated since; a lawyer can tell you where things stand now.

Cedars Academy

About Cedars Academy