On April 24, 2003 Wright School kicked off their 40th anniversary year celebration with a staff only celebration at beautiful Camp Eason on Lake Butner. Staff enjoyed a spectactular pot-luck luncheon and soaked in the sun by the Lake.

Wright School is the longest continuously operating Re-ED program in the world. Opened in January, 1963, as the sister program to Cumberland House in Nashville, TN, Wright School was one of the two original Project Re-ED grant sites. Since the end of the grant, the state of North Carolina has continued to fund residential treatment services at the original location in Durham, NC.

Dr. Judy Green, Director of Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs (SECEP), a cooperative of special education services in the Norfolk, Virginia area, provided the keynote speech and reviewed the history of Re-ED, the history of Wright School and kicked off a staff tribute to long time Director, Debbie Simmers. Floral arrangements from the AREA board and member agencies added to the festive celebration.

Program staff plan to continue the celebration with a variety of public activities for children and families as well as former trainees, employees and long time supporters in the fall of 2003.