Conversations with Katie Wells

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Wells.

Hi Katie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Kansas City Academy was founded in the summer of 1984 when the Loretto School closed. The six founders of KCA were Loretto teachers who shared a deep commitment to the Loretto philosophy of education and desired to continue the dream of creative, personalized, holistic, alternative education started in Kansas City by the Sisters of Loretto in 1901.

In 1984 The Loretto School decided to close in Kansas City. In response to this decision, six Loretto teachers founded the Kansas City Academy as the successor to Loretto. The school began at the Trinity United Methodist Church on Armour Boulevard. The school opened on September 4, 1984, with 39 students (grades 7-12) and a staff of nine. The school operated in this location for six years, growing in enrollment to 52 students, achieving fiscal stability, and deciding to expand to include sixth-grade beginning in the fall of 1990.

In the summer of 1991, KCA was able to purchase, renovate, and move to the former Finlay Engineering College at 7933 Main. Able, now, to look back upon this rich history, from the vantage of finally having a physical home, KCA is committed to continuing a warm, relaxed learning environment; mutual respect among students and teachers; religious, economic, and ethnic diversity; an emphasis on social responsibility and justice; and, a commitment to continuing the philosophy on which KCA was founded.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our primary obstacle is the ever changing nature of the educational environment.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At KCA, our student-centric education goes beyond a traditional school. We create an accepting, encouraging supportive, and nurturing community.
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Students are empowered to find their voices, encouraged to question, and prepared to shape the future. Students learn in collaboration with teachers who challenge them and treat them with mutual respect.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
KCA provides a learning environment that recognizes each student as a multi-faceted individual who deserves support in all aspects of their educational journey. Students are given opportunities to find their voice, encouraged to question, and provided the tools necessary to shape their future.
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We prepare our graduates to be active, responsible participants in a continually diverse world. Through authentic, engaging learning experiences, we equip our students with strategies to become thought leaders in their respective communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kcacademy.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kansascityacademy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KansasCityAcademy