What if children are far more capable than we imagine?
Empowered Minds is an innovative, non-profit, learner-driven school serving ages 3-11 in the heart of Durham, NC
Our Mission:
We believe each person who enters our doors deserves to find a calling and change the world.
Established 2016
We provide an open, flexible learning environment that fosters collaboration and exploration among learners.
A Transformative Experience
At Empowered Minds, we move beyond the conventional tools of lectures, homework, high-stakes tests, and grades. Our learners collaborate in mixed-age studios. This flexible approach challenges each learner with their individualized learning plan, coupled with real-world projects and experiences.
Above all else, OUR MISSION is that each child that enters our doors begins a journey to discover their unique gifts and passions, and how they can be used to serve others and find a calling that will change the world.
We're proud to be an Acton!
Empowered Minds is one of 300+ Acton Academies around the world.
This proven model allows learners to practice and develop the skills they really need: critical thinking, group collaboration, conflict resolution, decision-making, and problem-solving. These, along with “soft skills” like self-discipline, emotion regulation, self-awareness, and grit, position our children to tackle anything.
It’s an innovative approach to education that celebrates personal responsibility, creative freedom, and the pursuit of one’s life purpose.
What makes Empowered Minds UNIQUE?
Empowered Minds is unique from our Fellow Actons because we add the following statement to our educational philosophy:
We believe that by un/dis-covering, reclaiming, and reconnecting with our truth – “Sankofa” – we will better understand who we were, who we are, and who we must be.
What makes
Empowered Minds different?
Conventional Schools
Grades measure success
Teachers are the authority
Everyone learns the same information
at the same time
Teacher-led lectures
Teachers assign homework
Like a factory with bells, shifts,
one-size-fits-all
Rote memorization for test-taking
Same age classroom
Single-level learning
Empowered Minds
Learners earn points for effort
and badges of mastery
Learners solve their own problems
and learn to self-govern
Learners do challenging work
at their own pace
Learners teach themselves and each other
No assigned homework
Learning is a journey with adventure, fellow travelers, mentors, and challenges
Important discussions about becoming a good friend, being a hero, and changing the world
Multi-age studios
Individual learning plans for EVERY learner
OUR PROMISES
- Begin a Hero’s Journey
- Learn to be a curious, independent, lifelong learner
- Develop a deep respect for economic, political, and religious freedoms
- Cherish the arts, wonders of the physical world, and the mysteries of life on earth
- Discover their most precious gifts and learn to use them to solve difficult problems
OUR PROMISES
Is Empowered Minds a "good fit" for my family?
EMA is for families like the following:
- People who believe the conventional school system no longer works to prepare children for the modern world
- People who believe habits, mindsets, and skills are more important than content knowledge
- Entrepreneurial thinkers who value risk and the lessons that come with them
- Creators, creatives, and out-of-the-box thinkers
- People who want the benefits of child-directed learning without having to make a full-time commitment to homeschooling
- People who need flexible attendance for travel and family obligations (We operate on an 11-month calendar with 4-7 week sessions and breaks in-between)
- Children who want additional time to pursue their passions beyond “after-school” hours
- People who want to maximize their family time
- Families who value their freedom and want their children to develop a love of learning
Recommended Books
We encourage you to dive deeper into these books created by passionate thought leaders ushering in a new wave in education.
