Who are we?
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 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.
Teacher Bios
Katie White
Social Studies, ELA, Art
I have been teaching in one way or another my entire life (sometimes whether my siblings liked it or not), but I have been a professional educator since 2012. I received my Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Evansville in 2014, and my Master’s in Education from Seattle Pacific University in 2020. As you can see above in the “founder” section, I’ve got an eclectic set of credentials – partly because I see all types of learning as interrelated, and partly because I have stepped up when it was needed to fill in faculty gaps. Social studies is my one true love, though, because humans are endlessly fascinating. I see relationship-building and individualization as foundational to learning. Each of my courses is guided by student voice. Even when covering the same topics, no two classes should be the same, because no two people are the same. Everything we do in classes should have an authentic impact. Part of why I love online teaching is that so many tools are built in naturally. Barriers are removed, so individuals can thrive. I look forward to learning alongside you!
Melissa Brown
ELA, Speech and Debate, Drama, Test Prep
Melissa Brown has been teaching since 2002 and brings experience in English language arts, British literature, speech, drama, debate, ESL/EFL, intervention, test preparation, creative writing, and adult education. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University, where she has also completed graduate coursework. Much of her career has focused on helping students develop confidence as readers, writers, speakers, performers, and critical thinkers. In addition to classroom teaching, Melissa has spent more than ten years with the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival as both a performer and educator, teaching interactive performance, improvisation, character development, and audience engagement.
Melissa is passionate about inclusion, representation, history, literature, and the power of stories to help people better understand themselves and each other. As a neurodivergent educator and member of the LGBTQ+ community, she values the opportunity to model authenticity, resilience, creativity, and success for students who may not always see themselves reflected in traditional learning spaces. She is especially excited to join Empowered Scholars because of its commitment to creating an affirming, student-centered environment where learners can feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow. She believes Empowered Scholars is special because it gives students space to be fully themselves while building the communication, creativity, and confidence they need to thrive.
Sarah Zenger
Creative Writing
I became passionate about education when I was only sixteen and had read A.S. Neill’s book Summerhill. It was in this book that I learned that education could look different and that young people’s voices mattered. I’ve worked in many different areas of education for the last thirty years including as a teacher’s assistant, homeschooling educator, para educator, substitute teacher, and lead teacher. I got my BA in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and returned later to school to get my Master in Teaching from the Evergreen College in Washington where I became certified in secondary English Language Arts.
What Summerhill taught me is what I still believe: there are so many ways to learn and all voices matter. I love being able to support young people (and all people!) in exploring their voices and stories. Empowered Scholars offers that unique space for all learners, where exploration is encouraged and authentic expression is supported.
Yesenia Contreras
Math
From an early age, I have discovered a deep joy in working with children. Growing up as an older sister, I naturally stepped into teaching my siblings, which helped me develop the patience to meet young learners where they are. My ultimate goal as an educator is to ensure every student feels seen, valued, and encouraged to pursue their highest aspirations. Having spent eight years serving economically vulnerable communities, I have gained invaluable, firsthand experience in supporting and connecting with a diverse range of students.
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a focus on Secondary Education from Washington State University and am currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. I believe students need to understand why mathematics is important and how it is applied in the real world in order to fully engage with and appreciate the subject. This belief is one of the primary reasons I became an educator.
I am a firm believer in the growth mindset philosophy—that anyone can learn when given the opportunity, support, and the right learning environment. This principle is the foundation of my teaching and continues to guide my classroom practices. I believe students learn best not through memorization or repetitive drills, but by developing a deep understanding of mathematical patterns, problem-solving strategies, and real-world applications. My goal is to help students see mathematics not only as a subject to study, but as a powerful tool for understanding and navigating the world around them
More coming soon!
Founders’ Statement:
Empowered Scholars was founded by three professional women who bring together 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.
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.
Interested in Joining Us?
Do you believe in transformative, human-led education? Are you frustrated with models that don’t let you serve all students? Empowered Scholars seeks to give high-quality teachers the chance to do what they do best again. If you are interested in joining our team, please reach out by clicking here!