Willamette ESD

Emergency Messages as of 5:30 AM, Sun. Dec 14

No information currently posted.

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Willamette ESD.

Manage my existing Subscription

News Release

Discovery Academy And 4D Recovery Celebrate Opening Of Oregon’s First Co-Located Recovery High School And Youth Recovery Community Center - 08/26/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Contact: Sara Barger
sara.barger@4drecovery.org
503-960-0968
 

Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery Celebrate Opening of Oregon’s First Co-Located Recovery High School and Youth Recovery Community Center
 

Salem, OR — On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery will host a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 12:00–2:00 PM at their new joint location (3710 Portland Rd NE, Salem, OR 97301), celebrating the opening of Oregon’s first fully co-located recovery high school and behavioral health program.
 

This groundbreaking partnership offers adolescents with addiction and mental health challenges a supportive environment where they can thrive both academically and personally. Discovery Academy, operated by Willamette Education Service District, is open to Oregon students ages 14–21 and is currently serving youth from the Salem area. With a full academic program running September through June and a summer continuum of services, students receive structure, consistency, and a strong sense of belonging. The school day runs 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with Wednesdays dedicated to recovery-focused programming.
 

Principal Max Preminger explained that this integration is already transforming lives: “As Principal of Discovery Academy, I have seen powerful transformations in our students. The support level we provide has allowed students to show their true abilities, achieve academically, and recover. As we move into our first full school year, students now have a new resource under our roof. Having 4D Recovery in the same space means our students have educational, peer recovery, and clinical services right at their fingertips.”
 

That integration comes through 4D Recovery’s on-site presence. During the school day and throughout school breaks, 4D provides substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health treatment, recovery peer mentorship, and an adjacent recovery community center, giving students a safe place to connect, have fun, and build sober peer networks after school. “At 4D Recovery, we are passionate about supporting youth and families,” said Sara Barger, Director of Public Affairs & Relations at 4D Recovery. “We are working to expand adolescent services across Oregon and Washington. This is one more step toward that goal.”
 

“At the state level, the Oregon Department of Education sees this model as one to replicate. Kate Pattison, Director of School Choice, Option, and Recovery Education, framed the opening as a milestone: “The opening of Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery’s newest site marks a groundbreaking milestone for Oregon and the nation. As the first co-located recovery high school and youth recovery community center, this bold partnership with Willamette ESD and 4D Recovery ensures that students don’t have to choose between sobriety and school—they can have both. Recovery education is vital to whole-child success, and the Oregon Department of Education is committed to collaborating with partners statewide to expand opportunities that help young people heal, belong, and thrive.”
 

This partnership models an integrated continuum of care that fills a critical gap between treatment and education—reducing recurrence of use, increasing access to resources, and ensuring youth are surrounded by the care and community they need to succeed. In Oregon, where far too many young people lack recovery-centered supports that allow them to stay in school, the need for services like this has never been greater. By investing in programs that give adolescents both academic opportunity and recovery support, communities are not only addressing immediate challenges but also investing in the long-term health and future of Oregon’s children.
 

That future is supported by state policy. Senator Deb Patterson noted that the collaboration reflects legislative momentum: “Efforts like HB 2767 (2023) play a critical role in expanding educational opportunities that meet the unique needs of youth in recovery. By supporting integrated models that bring together academics, peer connection, and clinical support, Oregon is setting a standard for how communities can nurture resilience, support wellness, and create pathways to long-term success for our youth and families.”
 

For Dr. Joe Morelock, Superintendent of Willamette ESD, this partnership reflects the district’s deep commitment to innovation in education: “I’m proud that WESD is leading the way in the Mid-Willamette Valley with our Discovery Academy—a recovery high school that exemplifies our commitment to supporting students and families in building a strong foundation for their own success. This collaboration with 4D Recovery ensures an integrated experience with academics, peer connections, and behavioral health services. We believe this partnership will provide our students in recovery the support and opportunity they need to achieve graduation, build resilience, and light their path forward.”
 

The opening of Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery’s Salem site is not only a milestone for the Mid-Willamette Valley, but also a national model for how schools and recovery services can come together to change the lives of young people and families.
 

Pam Pearce, one of the founders of Oregon’s first recovery high schools—Harmony Academy—emphasized the unique value of this approach: “Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery are proof of what’s possible when education and prevention come together to support youth on their recovery journey. This is more than a school—it’s a lifeline, offering hope, structure, and opportunity for a brighter future.”

 

Discovery Academy And 4D Recovery Celebrate Opening Of Oregon’s First Co-Located Recovery High School And Youth Recovery Community Center - 08/26/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Contact: Sara Barger
sara.barger@4drecovery.org
503-960-0968
 

Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery Celebrate Opening of Oregon’s First Co-Located Recovery High School and Youth Recovery Community Center
 

Salem, OR — On Thursday, August 28, 2025, Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery will host a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 12:00–2:00 PM at their new joint location (3710 Portland Rd NE, Salem, OR 97301), celebrating the opening of Oregon’s first fully co-located recovery high school and behavioral health program.
 

This groundbreaking partnership offers adolescents with addiction and mental health challenges a supportive environment where they can thrive both academically and personally. Discovery Academy, operated by Willamette Education Service District, is open to Oregon students ages 14–21 and is currently serving youth from the Salem area. With a full academic program running September through June and a summer continuum of services, students receive structure, consistency, and a strong sense of belonging. The school day runs 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with Wednesdays dedicated to recovery-focused programming.
 

Principal Max Preminger explained that this integration is already transforming lives: “As Principal of Discovery Academy, I have seen powerful transformations in our students. The support level we provide has allowed students to show their true abilities, achieve academically, and recover. As we move into our first full school year, students now have a new resource under our roof. Having 4D Recovery in the same space means our students have educational, peer recovery, and clinical services right at their fingertips.”
 

That integration comes through 4D Recovery’s on-site presence. During the school day and throughout school breaks, 4D provides substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health treatment, recovery peer mentorship, and an adjacent recovery community center, giving students a safe place to connect, have fun, and build sober peer networks after school. “At 4D Recovery, we are passionate about supporting youth and families,” said Sara Barger, Director of Public Affairs & Relations at 4D Recovery. “We are working to expand adolescent services across Oregon and Washington. This is one more step toward that goal.”
 

“At the state level, the Oregon Department of Education sees this model as one to replicate. Kate Pattison, Director of School Choice, Option, and Recovery Education, framed the opening as a milestone: “The opening of Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery’s newest site marks a groundbreaking milestone for Oregon and the nation. As the first co-located recovery high school and youth recovery community center, this bold partnership with Willamette ESD and 4D Recovery ensures that students don’t have to choose between sobriety and school—they can have both. Recovery education is vital to whole-child success, and the Oregon Department of Education is committed to collaborating with partners statewide to expand opportunities that help young people heal, belong, and thrive.”
 

This partnership models an integrated continuum of care that fills a critical gap between treatment and education—reducing recurrence of use, increasing access to resources, and ensuring youth are surrounded by the care and community they need to succeed. In Oregon, where far too many young people lack recovery-centered supports that allow them to stay in school, the need for services like this has never been greater. By investing in programs that give adolescents both academic opportunity and recovery support, communities are not only addressing immediate challenges but also investing in the long-term health and future of Oregon’s children.
 

That future is supported by state policy. Senator Deb Patterson noted that the collaboration reflects legislative momentum: “Efforts like HB 2767 (2023) play a critical role in expanding educational opportunities that meet the unique needs of youth in recovery. By supporting integrated models that bring together academics, peer connection, and clinical support, Oregon is setting a standard for how communities can nurture resilience, support wellness, and create pathways to long-term success for our youth and families.”
 

For Dr. Joe Morelock, Superintendent of Willamette ESD, this partnership reflects the district’s deep commitment to innovation in education: “I’m proud that WESD is leading the way in the Mid-Willamette Valley with our Discovery Academy—a recovery high school that exemplifies our commitment to supporting students and families in building a strong foundation for their own success. This collaboration with 4D Recovery ensures an integrated experience with academics, peer connections, and behavioral health services. We believe this partnership will provide our students in recovery the support and opportunity they need to achieve graduation, build resilience, and light their path forward.”
 

The opening of Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery’s Salem site is not only a milestone for the Mid-Willamette Valley, but also a national model for how schools and recovery services can come together to change the lives of young people and families.
 

Pam Pearce, one of the founders of Oregon’s first recovery high schools—Harmony Academy—emphasized the unique value of this approach: “Discovery Academy and 4D Recovery are proof of what’s possible when education and prevention come together to support youth on their recovery journey. This is more than a school—it’s a lifeline, offering hope, structure, and opportunity for a brighter future.”