Springs Charter Schools breaks tradition to make learning fun and flexible

Close partnership with parents, communities and colleges gives students real-world education on their own terms

A study by CREDO (Center for Research on Education Outcomes) at Stanford University reports that charter schools have started to outperform traditional public schools, especially in math and reading. Charter schools’ excellent performance can be attributed to the passion and non-traditional mindset of institutions such as Springs Charter Schools.

When the publicly funded, tuition-free school was founded in 2000, it had only 17 students. Today, it has grown to teach more than 12,000 learners across seven schools in 21 locations. Parents have flocked to Springs Charter Schools because of its hybrid programs including homeschooling, genuine relationships with students, and plenty of opportunities for real-world experiences—all of which embody a non-traditional take on education.

“Nurturing a lifelong learner requires two things,” says Springs District Schools superintendent Dr. Kathleen Hermsmeyer, who has a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of the Pacific. “Firstly, the student has to be excited and curious about the world, an attitude typical schools sometimes don’t encourage. Secondly, students need to learn how to learn and not just wait for the teacher to teach something to them. We want the students to really own and have agency over their own learning.”

A Leader in Homeschooling

At the forefront of the homeschooling uptrend, Springs District Schools offers a fully virtual Montessori Homeschool Program and hybrid models that require students to come only on selected weekdays. Parents are thus the school’s fully invested partners in this endeavor as they guide their children’s education at home. The programs are complemented by traditional school activities such as field trips, science fairs, parent/student events, prom nights, and traditional graduation ceremonies.

“The five-day-a-week factory model of education is absolutely not the only way. The more flexible school environment works best for families and children, and people need to open their eyes to alternate possibilities of education,” says Dr. Hermsmeyer. “This is the right model and the way of the future; we believe we are the model of the future.”

Springs Charter Schools’ dominance in homeschooling should not come as a surprise, considering its expertise in online learning platforms. During the pandemic, the school received the “Above and Beyond” award from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools for giving the entire world free access to its online courses and live teachers, which were already available even before the health crisis.

Forging Deep Relationships

With a smaller student population than most other schools, everybody at Springs District Schools knows just about every other child’s name and circumstances. The school also ensures that the same children are together for at least two years to create a genuine bond among themselves.

“Ours is a personalized model giving every student what they need in many facets,” says Vivian Price, assistant superintendent of Springs District Schools. “We know their specific academic requirements but also their social and emotional needs. We really know the whole child.”

The CREDO at Stanford University study likewise noted Springs District Schools’ success in improving the academic performance of special student populations. This has resulted in closing the achievement gap normally observed in kids with disabilities, English learners and those from minority groups. This feat only proves how well the school knows and understands the situations and needs of every student.

Internships and a Taste of College

“Our mission is to make the community part of the classroom,” says Price. “For us, learning happens beyond the school building walls, and so, we have students who are not only completing internships and work experiences but also enrolling in college.”

• Springs District Schools requires students to take a college course before graduation. This is aimed at acquainting them with the upcoming new phase of their academic life and thus building self-esteem.
• Following its 21st center in Smyrna, Tennessee, the school is set to open more sites. Springs District Schools is also strengthening its real-world education. It has a school on an airport where students have hands-on learning experience focused on aviation. The institution is also in the process of opening a farm school in Georgia, which will offer a practical learning model.

Strengthening the Foundations

Springs District Schools wants to elevate the status of teachers to propel the school to new heights. To this end, it has developed its own teacher program in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Global, an accredited and consistently ranked online university.

“We want teachers to love their work, and so, we have committed our time and efforts to helping develop people who have a heart for teaching,” says Price, who has extensive work experience in traditional, charter and private schools.

“At Springs, we are focused on developing teachers who embrace our mission and vision and who believe in every student’s ability to achieve at high levels,” Dr. Hermsmeyer says. “This is the cornerstone of personalized learning. We believe that our model, which breaks from the traditional school model, will revolutionize education.”

Learn more about Springs Charter Schools at springscs.org.