The First 20 Years...

The following article was featured in our 20th Anniversary edition of the Knightly Knews. You can download a pdf version of the publication by clicking here. 

On July 10, 1995, the Woodward Academy opened as an all-male residential treatment facility for boys ages 12-18. The 1980’s and 1990’s saw a rise in juvenile crime across the country, and Governor Branstad wanted to address the problem. Woodward Academy was created in response to legislation passed by the Iowa Legislature calling for the establishment of rehabilitation programs for troubled youth. On that day, Woodward was one of two “boot camps” established in the state (the facility in Davenport no longer operates).

The four students and 13 staff members who started on that day had no idea that over the next two decades, Woodward Academy would become one of the best juvenile treatment facilities in the nation. Those humble beginnings have grown into a school that has a student population of 265 students and that employs 235 staff members. Every day, students receive the clinical services they deserve, are offered an educational curriculum from certified teachers, and are given opportunities to excel in high school athletics. Although Woodward Academy is labeled a treatment facility, it operates like a private prep school where students are proud to be Knights.

I Am Building Woodward Academy // Part 3 // Past Executive Directors

Mandy Moses and Bill Dean served as Executive Director for a decade from 2001-2012 and helped build Woodward Academy into what it is today. They now help build other facilities across the country as Chief Program Officer and Vice President of Operations for Sequel Youth & Family Services. They recently sat down and talked about their time on campus in the ongoing video series, I Am Building Woodward Academy.

Mandy Moses - Chief Program Officer, Sequel Youth and Family Services
Woodward Academy Executive Director 2001-2008


Bill Dean - Vice President of Operations, Sequel Youth and Family Services
Woodward Academy Executive Director 2008-2012

Open House 5K Run // July 9, 2015

The annual Open House took place on campus July 9, one day before our 20th anniversary. A 5K run in the morning has become tradition with the event and this year approximately 80 runners participated in the race. Some call it a "Fun Run," others the "Iron Man," but whatever the case, if you like running through wooded areas, in creeks, and up a 70 degree mud hill with the use of a rope, you would love it. You can check out a video of the race embedded above.

The Open House is a great opportunity to spend some time with students and staff on campus and really take in the Woodward Academy experience. Many guests received tours from students, checked out a monthly assembly, and even took in a varsity baseball game on campus.

In the afternoon, an impressive milestone was reached that went largely unnoticed by most people. Woodward Academy admitted its 5,000 student. Plan ahead and come attend our annual Open House in 2016.

Knightly Knews Vol. 34 is now online!

The latest edition of the Knightly Knews is now online and you can access it by clicking here. As a .pdf document, you can view or download the quarterly publication to your computer, iPad, or smartphone for easy reading. This 20th Anniversary edition includes:

- A 20 Year Look Back at Woodward Academy
- Expansion History Timeline
- Aerial Photography
- Class of 2015
- Powerlifting and Basketball Documentary Updates
- How Athletics Changed Everything
- Track & Field Season Recap
- Knight's Scholarship Golf Outing
- I Am Building WA Videos of 2 Past Executive Directors
- Staying Connected by the Numbers

We hope you have a chance to check it out and enjoy the read.

On this Day 20 Years Ago...

From Executive Director, Ryan Santi:

Twenty years ago today 4 students and 13 staff started our journey to where we are today.  Out of those four students, the first graduate is now a successful chiropractor, married and raising a family.  Yesterday afternoon we admitted our 5000^th student.  Truly an amazing feat we should all be proud of.  Especially in a day and time where most programs do not make it 5000 days let alone being able to admit 5000 students.

 

When I was a TCM in 1996 I wasn’t thinking about the impact I was having every day on our students’ decisions and ultimately their lives.  As I have grown in this company and seen the greatness we have achieved, that impact has become all the more important and a daily focus.  Please understand that every moment on this campus matters and you are trained and prepared to meet the demands of anything that comes your way.

 

Thank you for all you do for Woodward Academy and Sequel Youth and Family Services.  We are the best residential facility in this company and I believe the best in the nation at what we do.  I challenge each of you to make the next 20 years better than the first!