At the Learning Futures & Tech Media Meeting, Shane Wickwire, Executive Director of Empower Academy, and Gina Wickwire, SPED/Instructional Leader, shared their vision for a student-centered approach at their charter school in Springs Public Schools. Their presentation emphasized personalized learning, community engagement, and fostering student self-awareness in education.
A Student-Centered Model
Shane Wickwire opened the discussion by explaining that while Empower Academy follows state standards and testing requirements, the school's primary focus is personalization.
"When we talk about personalization, we're really talking about training students to take control of their learning," he said. The goal is to help students track their growth, understand their learning styles, and set meaningful goals.
Drawing inspiration from Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, Empower Academy helps students and their families identify learning strengths and challenges. By recognizing whether they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners, students can develop strategies to become more well-rounded in their education.
Community and Choice
A key advantage of a small charter school model is the strong sense of community among students, parents, and educators. Shane emphasized that families at Empower Academy are actively choosing an alternative education model, which often leads to higher parental involvement and investment in student success.
He also acknowledged the challenges they face, particularly in supporting students with disabilities and families experiencing poverty. Many families seek out Empower Academy because they are looking for something different—an environment where their children feel both academically and personally successful.
"It’s not just about academics; it’s about making sure students feel successful at school," Shane explained.
The Reality of Personalized Learning
Gina Wickwire expanded on the practical side of personalized learning, acknowledging that while the concept is widely discussed in education, it is often misunderstood.
"If you Google personalization, it’s a very broad, holistic, constructivist approach," Gina said. However, at Empower Academy, it is structured and data-driven.
- Teachers use pacing guides and state standards to ensure students stay on track.
- Each student has a personalized learning plan, informed by data-driven assessments.
- Teachers hold one-on-one conferences with students to set individual learning goals.
- Students learn to articulate how they learn best and work on areas where they need improvement.
"Our students will say, ‘I’m a kinesthetic learner,’ or ‘I learn best by listening,’ but we also help them strengthen areas where they are less confident," Gina explained. The goal is to help students become adaptable and well-rounded learners.
A Work in Progress
While the personalized learning model is still evolving, the team at Empower Academy is committed to training teachers in this new approach.
"Our teachers are learning how to move away from traditional instruction and tailor learning to each student’s needs," Gina said.
The mission of Empower Academy is clear: to create a student-centered, supportive, and flexible learning environment that helps students take ownership of their education. By combining data-driven personalization with a strong community focus, the school is giving families a meaningful choice in education.
As Shane Wickwire concluded, "It’s all about making students feel successful—not just academically, but in their entire learning journey."
Tune in below for the full presentation.
