An Interview Featuring Darryl Brown – Educator, Recovery Coach, and Mentor
What is 5280 High School in your own words?
5280 High School is the largest recovery high school in the nation. At our peak, we’ve served over 100 students—currently around 95. What makes us unique is that we support students dealing not only with substance use disorders but also with co-occurring challenges like disordered eating and mental health issues.
We’re a charter high school within Denver Public Schools, completely free to attend. We offer a full high school diploma and use a project-based learning model, which encourages student voice and real-world application. Whether a student’s path leads to college, trade school, or the workforce, we help them prepare for life after high school in a way that’s deeply personal and empowering.
What brought you personally into working at 5280?
I was working as an intake coordinator at Sobriety House when Keith Hayes, our Director of Recovery, asked if I was interested in teaching again. I wasn’t sure I could—life had taken some turns, and I thought my days of holding a teaching credential were behind me.
But 5280, being a charter school, gave me a second chance. I started teaching again, returning to something I’ve always loved. I’d been an elementary and middle school teacher back in the ’90s, and that experience helped open the door.
There was a need for a man in long-term recovery who had teaching experience—and that’s how I got here.
How has this role shaped you personally and professionally?
My joy and passion is recovery. I got sober at 50, and it feels like I’ve been given a second life. Every day is new. Every year of sobriety is uncharted territory. I’ve never been eight years sober before—so what does that look like? That’s exciting.
Professionally, I started here as a humanities teacher. I taught English and history, but more recently, the school created a hybrid role just for me. Now I also teach social-emotional learning and serve as a peer recovery specialist. I help students manage themselves in school, at home, in recovery, and out in the world.
It’s been transformative. I’ve become the longest-tenured teacher at 5280, and while I might not have the most years in education, I’ve built deep experience with our students. That gives my voice weight, especially when shaping policy and culture here.
What impact has this had on your ability to show up for others—and yourself?
Whew—this one gets me emotional. I’ve got freshmen who are about to graduate. Some of them used to nod off on fentanyl in my classroom. Now they’re working jobs or taking classes at CCD, Metro, CU, DU—you name it.
To watch that transformation, to be a part of it? There’s nothing like it. It’s the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. When a student says, “Thank you, Mr. Brown, for pushing me, for not judging me, for being there,” it hits deep.
You can’t buy this kind of high.
What does recovery mean to you today?
For me, recovery isn’t a program—it’s a lifestyle. Sure, I attend three meetings a week, meet with my sponsor, and work with sponsees—but it’s deeper than that. It’s how I live. It’s community. It’s friendship. It’s choosing life over death.
I’ve recovered from that hopeless state of mind and body. I’ve done the work to feel at peace with who I am. And most importantly, I’ve learned this life isn’t about me anymore—it’s about how I can serve others.
So when someone says, “Hey Daryl, can you do this for me?”—recovery says yes.
How do you maintain boundaries and balance within this kind of work?
This is one of the hardest parts. Compassion fatigue is real. The emotional weight of carrying student stories, struggles, and successes is heavy. That’s why we now have four recovery coaches, each with a caseload of about 20–25 students.
But I have to take care of myself, too. That means using mental health days, not taking work home every night, and making time for my wife and my life outside these walls. My wife reminds me to log off, to rest, to be present.
I’m still learning. I’m not great at taking days off. But I’ve built in self-care: massages, manicures, pedicures—non-negotiables. Retail therapy helps too. I’m from New York—I love to shop. It’s all part of the balance.
What advice would you give to someone entering the recovery field?
Learn how to find balance, and don’t take things personally.
It’s easy to burn out if you pour yourself into others without checking in on yourself. I almost walked away a month into this job. Keith had to pull me aside and say, “Hey man, don’t take this so personally.” That saved me.
Recovery work is powerful—but if you don’t figure out how to separate yourself emotionally, it’ll consume you. So take care of your own recovery first, or you won’t be able to sustain helping others.
How has your experience been working with Soulful Recovery?
Phenomenal. Whether by phone or email, the communication has been responsive, timely, and professional. You’ve made the process clear, and you include us in it. That means a lot.
When other programs don’t quite fit a student—Soulful is my first call. Whether someone needs virtual support, a different schedule, or a new environment, you’ve always had something that works. It’s been an incredibly positive partnership, and I’m grateful.
Final Thoughts: A Plug for 5280
If anyone’s interested in having their student attend 5280 High School, reach out to Keith Hayes at:
📧 keith.hayes@5280highschool.org
📞 720-692-1362
We’re a free Denver Public School offering a full high school diploma—not a GED. Open enrollment year-round. Come check out the magic.