EmpowerEd – EmpowerEd Scholarships
When Tyson joined our program in 2024, his family was thoroughly frustrated with his educational journey and did not know where to turn. He had been struggling for nearly a decade in the public school system, a target of frequent harassment which led to a steady decline in his mental health. Due to his anxiety and the bullying that faced him at school, he was often choosing not to attend. This choice was leading to academic and legal concerns for the family, who feared the repercussions of truancy. Despite his negative school experiences, Tyson was willing to give EmpowerEd a try. As a transgender and multi-ethnic child, it was immediately meaningful to him to know that his culture would be respected. He also knew that he would be called by his chosen name and would be allowed to share his personal pronouns with the staff and learners. The overarching themes of welcome, inclusion, and respect that EmpowerEd has fostered within our learning community made Tyson feel at home right away. Our staff saw a significant change in his attitude toward academics, attendance, and social engagement. His family saw a life-saving improvement in mental health and reconnection to the world outside his home. Not only is this student incredibly bright, but he is also a creative and magnetic force in our school. Tyson can often be found helping younger children learn to draw during recess and lunch. He has taken the lead on numerous school projects with great enthusiasm, which has fed the positive energy of the class around him. His excitement about school from both academic and social standpoints has caused positive ripples throughout our community. Not only has he displayed caring leadership qualities on a regular basis, but he has also developed a wonderful peer group of friends who are supportive and respectful of him. Tyson is now more socially confident and has developed an aptitude for talking through challenges with trusted friends and adults. His willingness to work with staff has been a night and day difference from what his parents recall in his other school settings. Prior to attending EmpowerEd, his frequent response to teachers was a shrug, an eyeroll, or he would place noise-canceling headphones over his ears to avoid the expectation of a response. Since he began his journey with EmpowerEd, he has been helpful, expressive, social, considerate, and consistent. When potential new families tour our school, he even tells those children all the great reasons why they should go to school at EmpowerEd. We love to see the incredible growth that he has experienced in our creative learning community and look forward to our next school year together when he will, again, join us through a financial aid opportunity.