Philip Hassler President at McKinney ISD | Official website
Attorney and author Brian Cuban provided the keynote address at the second annual Serenity High fundraiser breakfast on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Allie Long, the Dean of Students at Serenity High, also spoke at the event which was attended by some 160 guests. The fundraiser brought in $36,000 for the school.
Neil Sperry, who played an instrumental role in the founding of Serenity High, spoke at the event as well. The school is located on the campus of McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas. It is one of the only public recovery high schools in the country and opened its doors on October 11, 1999. Its mission is to give students who have successfully completed a recovery program—and their parents—hope by offering a path to a Texas high school diploma in a safe and sober educational environment.
Since its inception, more than 300 students have completed their academic journey and crossed the graduation stage—students who might have never done so if not for Serenity High.
“I believe that this school changes the trajectory of high schoolers who have had their education derailed from substance misuse,” said Serenity High Advisory Board President Angie Rogers. “Serenity High gives these students a second chance at rebuilding their lives, in addition to completing their high school education, in a sober, safe and supportive environment.”
Rogers and other members of the Serenity High board spearheaded the effort that culminated in the second annual Serenity High Breakfast. The aim was to raise funds in support of the ongoing mission of the school.
Attendees heard from Neil Sperry and McKinney Mayor George Fuller who spoke candidly about his own child's journey. A former student shared her story about how Serenity High impacted her life significantly while attorney and author Brian Cuban offered his own experiences with addiction recovery.
The breakfast served as an avenue for business partners and community members to support Serenity High. The event raised $36,000 for the school and also increased awareness about the life-changing impact of this quiet, unassuming school on the campus of McKinney North High School.
Alerts Sign-up