Will Smeltzer is a new Peer Recovery Coach here at Hope Academy. He just started last month and is a Certified Peer Recovery Coach who grew up in Indianapolis and attended Lawrence Central High School. Prior to coming to Hope, he operated his own landscaping business. 

In his role, Will will help guide Hope Academy students through their own teenage experience.

“Being a teen is an interesting adventure with many different variables that can prove difficult to navigate,” said Will. “Due to the nature of my life experience and certain barriers that I had to learn to identify and remove, it has always been a dream of mine to work with young adults. My aim is to aid students in improving the quality of their life and be a living example that recovery is possible.” 

Will was drawn to Hope Academy because he is able to interact and help teens in a non-clinical environment. He feels that Hope Academy allows him, “to have genuine interactions with students as opposed to hospital or treatment settings where the level of engagement tends to be more sterile.” 

Will appreciates that Hope Academy is a high school offering peer recovery coaching to students while they simultaneously work to get an education. 

His goal at Hope Academy is “to guide students at their own pace to the place within themselves where change, opportunity and hope is possible.”

In his free time, Will likes to play and write music, hike, read and spend time with his friends and family. We are so happy to welcome Will to the team and look forward to witnessing the impact he will have here.