A traditional public school is not always an ideal setting for youth in challenging life circumstances. Students with certain learning disabilities or behavioral health challenges, for example, can sometimes struggle to succeed academically, especially if their needs are not met in a typical classroom. Some students need a more wraparound approach to their education in order to thrive. That’s where KVC Academy comes in. At KVC Academy, we provide an inclusive learning environment, embracing uniqueness and supporting all students as they transform into their full potential. Take an exclusive look inside what a week in the life at KVC Academy looks like.

What is KVC Academy?

KVC Academy is a K-12 therapeutic education program that provides an inclusive learning environment designed to cultivate the best in every student. Behavioral analysts, teachers and licensed clinical therapists partner at each of KVC Academy’s seven locations to strengthen families, provide therapeutic education, prevent child abuse and neglect and help people achieve mental wellness.

Children and teens attending KVC Academy work closely with therapists and, in many situations, case workers. But their main source of support comes from the educators who work with them every second of the day to make sure their social, emotional and academic needs are met.

KVC Academy educates over 400 children who struggle in a traditional school setting. Our schools operate in Boonville, Columbia, Kansas City, Lebanon, St. James, St. Louis/St. Louis County, and we partner with nearly 100 school districts across the state. KVC Academy is proudly accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). 

A KVC Academy classroom at the Lebanon location.

Why KVC Academy?

There are many misconceptions about education programs like KVC Academy. Kaysi Rinks, Special Education Director at KVC Academy in St. Louis, notes the misconception that these children and youth are sometimes labeled “bad kids” when on the outside looking in. “The kids that come here are not ‘bad kids,’” she says. “They’re just kids who unfortunately have been dealt a very different hand.”

Makayla Dawson started her career at KVC Academy Lebanon through the innovative GOCAPS program, a unique yearlong learning experience that allows high school juniors and seniors to test drive future career options. The experience helped Makayla find her passion in her work at KVC Academy, and now works at KVC Academy full-time! 

Makayla Dawson, Teacher, KVC Academy Lebanon

Makayla is often asked by her peers why she would choose to work at a place like KVC Academy in contrast to a traditional public school. “So many people just give up on these students,” says Dawson. “When I was job shadowing through GOCAPS, I really saw the difference that a school like this can make. I saw the passion behind everything that the teachers and teacher aides do. Even the smallest things, I saw the passion and the purpose they had.”

The Special Education Director at the Lebanon location, Chasity Finkemeier, began her teaching career in the public school system before working at KVC Academy alongside the program’s now Vice President, Dr. Pamela Dawson. What started as a single classroom with only six students and three staff has grown to 44 students and 19 staff members over the last seven years, and that’s just at the Lebanon location! Finkemeier says that she is so passionate about this program that she could never return to teaching in public schools.

Understanding KVC Academy Students

Students eligible to attend KVC Academy typically have some form of diagnosed disability with an IEP (Individual Education Plan) or 504 plan (a legal document created by a school to provide accommodations and support for a student who has a disability). These experiences may include ADHD, autism, Down syndrome, emotional disturbance or an OHI (Other Health Impairment). Most locations have a social/emotional program designed to encompass all of these experiences, but some locations (like St. Louis) offer an autism program to address the needs of students on the spectrum specifically.

On top of these learning challenges, many students at KVC Academy are also in foster care or experience housing or food instability. Some students live in other residential facilities. These challenges can add to the stress, inhibiting these children and youth from achieving success in life and academics.

A Day in the Life of a KVC Academy Educator

Every day at KVC Academy is built around meeting students where they are—academically, emotionally, and personally. While each campus operates slightly differently, the core experience remains the same: a safe, supportive environment where students receive individualized attention. With small class sizes—typically one lead teacher, two to four teacher aides, and nine to 11 students—educators can provide the close guidance and care these students need to thrive. But what does a typical day at KVC Academy really look like? Let’s take a closer look inside.

Meeting Basic Needs

Chasity Finkemeier, Director of Special Education, KVC Academy Lebanon

After educators and staff arrive and prepare the classroom for the day, students trickle in around 9 in the morning and have breakfast. Meeting basic needs like food and hygiene are essential at KVC Academy. “Many students come from a difficult home life,” explains Finkemeier, noting that some students may face food and housing insecurity.

All of the stress and worry over meeting their own basic needs is what KVC Academy calls “Carry-In.” The burdens these students “carry in” with them add extra complexity and can make academics more of an obstacle. Before a student is ready to learn, they must first feel clean, fed and comfortable. KVC Academy is meant to be a safe place where children know they will receive food, can wash their clothes and have a teacher ready to listen and help with their needs.

Meeting Social and Emotional Needs

Another vital component before students are ready to learn is ensuring their social and emotional needs are met. “We’ve learned the academics won’t occur unless the emotional component is regulated within them,” says Rinks.

Educators start and end the day by having students identify their Zone of Regulation, a way to help them understand how their students are feeling. There are four zones, each represented by a different color:

A regulation area at the St. James location.

• Green Zone: The student is happy, excited or content
• Yellow Zone: The student is upset, worried or anxious
• Blue Zone: The student is sad, tired or overwhelmed
• Red Zone: The student is angry and feeling very on edge

If a student is in a difficult zone and struggling emotionally, educators step in to help them regulate and navigate their feelings, guiding them toward a calmer headspace. This support goes beyond the classroom—each student also receives 30 minutes of individual therapy and 30 minutes of classroom therapy each week from a licensed clinical therapist on staff.

After this emotional check-in, the morning routine continues with P.E. or recess, giving students a chance to release energy before transitioning into a Social Skills lesson. These lessons are designed to help students better understand their emotions, develop self-regulation strategies, and build essential interpersonal skills.

Meeting Academic Needs

At some KVC Academy locations, additional academic and social/emotional programs are available, including Music Therapy, Art, occupational therapy and speech therapy services.

Students’ art project at KVC Academy Edgewood – St. Louis.

Even during Curriculum time, educators are always attentive to their students’ mental state and behaviors. “If a student isn’t doing their work during Curriculum time, there’s something underneath that,” Dawson explains. “We get on their level, sympathize with them and do whatever we can to help them. Once their need is met, more times than not, that’s when things start to click academically.”

Preparing for Home Life

The school day ends at 2 pm with another Zone of Regulation check to ensure students are equipped and emotionally regulated before going home. In some cases, the transition home can be stressful. Our teachers seek to minimize stress as much as possible by providing support to students and their families. For example, on Fridays at the Lebanon location, a Backpack Program sends students home with a backpack full of food to sustain them over the weekend.

While every student’s home life is different, teachers strive to partner with parents and caregivers as much as possible to empower children toward success. Caregivers receive a Daily Zone Sheet that summarizes the student’s day and outlines the services they received. Teachers actively participate in IEP meetings and team meetings for students receiving child welfare services.

Building Relationships and Establishing Trust: A Teacher’s Top Goal

While the daily schedule may appear to be a stable routine, no two days are the same! Flexibility and patience are paramount for KVC Academy teachers, especially when supporting newer students who have not yet adapted. Having experienced adults giving up on them before, building trust can be challenging in a new setting.

The Jewell Wood Courtyard at the St. Louis location.

When a new student arrives at KVC Academy, educators introduce themselves in a soft, quiet tone. They establish clear boundaries from the first connection, fostering safety, security and strong relationships.

“It takes a long time to build that relational component,” says Rinks. “It might take three, four or five months before they really start trusting us. Staying patient through that can be difficult, but we also know we can’t rush that process.”

Success Stories: Thriving because of KVC Academy

Kaysi Rinks, Director of Special Education, KVC Academy Edgewood

He even formed a special bond with a kindergarten student on the autism spectrum, showing his gentle and caring side that no one had seen before. After graduating, he is continuing his education in a trade school program. “It’s a reminder of what happens when we give opportunities to students who otherwise wouldn’t have them,” said Rinks.

Interested in KVC Academy?

KVC Academy is an impactful experience for students and educators alike! It is an opportunity for students who otherwise might not graduate high school to find success academically and personally, recognizing the importance of emotional intelligence alongside education.

Have an Eligible Student?

If you believe a child in your care might be a good fit for a KVC Academy program near you, learn more about the program and call us at (844) 424-3577 to learn more about the enrollment process.

Interested in Teaching at KVC Academy?

If you’re ready to ignite your own journey by joining the team at a KVC Academy location, view our current openings or contact a KVC Academy location near you to ask about potential opportunities.