With the first word of her email subject line, Julie McElrath – on behalf of the Association of Recovery Schools Board of Directors – recently delivered great news to Fortis Academy Principal Travita Godfrey and the community.
“Congratulations,” she wrote.
On June 25, Fortis Academy was officially approved for accreditation by the Association of Recovery Schools (ARS). The prestigious mark – Fortis becomes the 11th school nationwide with the accreditation – sets the school apart and ensures the educational and recovery support systems offered are high quality and have been evaluated by industry experts.
“We are honored to welcome Fortis Academy into the national network of accredited recovery high schools and commend your dedication to excellence in both academics and recovery support,” wrote McElrath, ARS board member and the president and chief cause officer of the CLEAN Cause Foundation. “Your team’s passion, professionalism and perseverance are evident and inspiring.”
Fortis’ accreditation preparation began in September, as staff worked with multiple Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) divisions to collect documentation and evaluate the school’s performance.
The ARS site team visited Fortis in May, observing school arrival and dismissal procedures, and classroom instructions. The team also met with parents, community partners, school district partners and Special Schools division leadership. Fortis met each standard, receiving an overall rating of 95%, and was recommended for ARS accreditation.