A Follow Up To The Warren C. Watson, Jr. Scholarship Winner
When Charlie Smith first walked through the doors of HopeTree Academy, doubt clouded his mind. He didn’t want to be there, and graduating felt impossible. Convinced that this school would be just like the others, he couldn’t see that he was taking the first step toward a brighter future. As a reluctant teenager, how could he have known that this unfamiliar environment, far removed from the friends and teachers he once knew, would lead him to become the inaugural recipient of the Warren C. Watson, Jr. Scholarship?
Charlie enrolled in HopeTree Academy in 2022 after facing expulsion from his previous public school. He recognized that his actions, such as skipping class and neglecting his studies, had forced his family to seek a change. When it was time to explore new options, Charlie’s mother, Kimberly Miller, took a closer look at HopeTree Academy. After discovering that this private day school offers tailored approaches for students with unique educational and behavioral needs, she thought, “The curriculum and smaller class sizes would be a better fit for his education.”
Charlie didn’t agree. “I was pretty mad,” he recalls. “Not having my phone and not being able to go to the bathroom when I wanted; it felt like I was being treated like a child.” Everything began to change when Charlie started to build relationships with the positive role models at the academy.
“When Charlie first came to us, he was very defensive in the classroom,” recalls Dr. Laurie McCracken, Director of Education at HopeTree Academy. “We saw small changes over time as he realized he could trust us. Once he learned that, we saw a huge difference in him and a lot of progress.”
Dr. McCracken emphasizes the importance of establishing relationships with students to ensure their success, which is why academic staff use Trust-Based Relational Intervention strategies. These strategies are designed to help students understand that the staff is here to support them and their goals. With support from Charlie’s parents, the team determined and implemented the best approach to help him learn, develop new communication skills, and identify the next steps for his future.
“He became prouder of himself,” Kimberly shares. “He was getting A’s and B’s, which was totally different from the past.”
The Warren C. Watson, Jr. scholarship honors Warren C. Watson, Jr. The scholarship recognizes academic achievement while celebrating character and community involvement. To be eligible, graduating seniors must be nominated by an educator or staff member.
As Charlie thrived academically and behaviorally, the Watson family was working with HopeTree Family Services to establish a scholarship fund honoring Warren C. Watson, Jr. This scholarship, available to a graduating high school student involved in any
agency program, recognizes academic achievement while celebrating character and community involvement. To be eligible, students must be nominated by an educator or staff member.
Charlie, who once doubted he would even graduate, became the first student nominated and selected to receive the $5,000 scholarship. “As soon as we heard about the opportunity, we immediately thought of how much progress he had made since coming here,” said Dr. McCracken. “He made us all proud.” Charlie graduated from HopeTree Academy in 2024. He currently studies electrical wiring at Virginia Western Community College, where his tuition, fees, and books are covered by the Warren C. Watson, Jr. Scholarship Fund. In fact, he only had to buy a calculator during his first semester!
“Thank you for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” Charlie expressed. “I will carry the values I learned here throughout my life.” His final message to current HopeTree Academy students? “Even when you feel like you’re out of options, never give up.”
