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.
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.
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.
Teacher Bios
Katie White
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!
More coming soon!
Our Founders :
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.
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!