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Former student and recovery‑school founder urge county support for recovery high schools and mental‑health services
Summary
A graduate and a founder of Victory High School described how recovery‑focused alternative schools helped students overcome addiction and mental‑health crises and urged county attention to service gaps for youth.
During the citizens-to-be-heard portion of the June 17 meeting, a former student and the founder of Victory High School told commissioners the county needs more recovery‑focused alternatives for adolescents with co‑occurring disorders.
James Garen, who said he graduated from Victory High School with a 3.98 GPA and a 100% attendance rate, attributed his academic and personal recovery to the school’s model. “Coming to Victory High School is really the only reason I ended up surviving or graduating,” Garen said, recounting childhood struggles with addiction, multiple psychiatric holds and unstable home conditions.
Tina Miller, founder and executive director of Florida Recovery Schools of Tampa Bay, told the board she has opened three Victory High programs across the region and that the schools rely on donations and grants to operate. Miller said the systems have championed appropriations in Tallahassee and that the schools provide individual and group therapy, recovery supports and education to students ages 14 to 19 with co‑occurring disorders.
Miller said Pinellas County has the only increase in teen suicide rates in the state, a trend she called a crisis and an argument for expanding recovery‑centered school options. She invited county staff to refer students to Victory High and advised residents of the referral website.
Commissioners thanked the speakers and said county efforts are underway to address youth mental‑health gaps; staff later noted the county has new programs but declined to provide immediate operational specifics during the public comments period.
Ending: Commissioners acknowledged the remarks and staff followed up to obtain contact information from the school; officials said they are continuing to develop programs to reach youth across the county.
