Empowered Scholars was founded by a team of experienced educators and operations leaders who share a common mission: to build a safe, inclusive, and academically rigorous online learning space for students who have felt excluded by traditional homeschooling or religious-based programs — particularly LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
Our founders bring decades of experience across online education, curriculum development, educational leadership, student support, and operational excellence. Together, we’ve led programs serving thousands of students across multiple states, designed equity-driven curricula, scaled alternative education options, and built systems that support both academic success and emotional well-being.
Katie
Academic Director
Katie is a visionary educator and curriculum designer licensed in multiple subjects, including Language Arts, Social Studies, Visual Arts, and CTE. She has authored dozens of online courses and helped lead transformative programs that improved student confidence, academic success, and graduation rates. Katie’s passion for authentic, inclusive education drives much of the heart behind our teaching model.
Andrea
Administrative Director
Andrea brings 10+ years of unmatched strength in program operations, student support, and marketing strategy. Andrea designs the systems that keep things running — and looking — their best. Her skill in developing policies and managing compliance is enhanced by her talent for visual storytelling. From infographics to social media campaigns, she brings the brand of Empowered Scholars to life with clarity and creativity.
Jen
Director of Operations
Jen has over a decade of leadership experience in educational operations, systems management, and student services. With a background in counseling and a deep understanding of how to build strong, mission-aligned teams, she ensures the infrastructure behind Empowered Scholars is sound, scalable, and student-centered.
We are launching Empowered Scholars because we believe every student deserves access to affirming, high-quality education — especially those who have been marginalized or excluded by traditional models. Our school emphasizes live, teacher-led instruction to foster connection and community, even in an online space. We contract with educators who share our vision and empower them to bring their own curricula and creativity into the classroom.
We are also committed to keeping education accessible. We understand that cost is a concern for many families, and we are actively working to partner with states and pursue funding models, including voucher programs. Transparency is at the core of what we do — not only in operations but in how we build trust with families.
At Empowered Scholars, we’re not just offering an alternative — we’re building something new: a place where students are truly seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.