Every child deserves a school where they feel connected, safe, supported and empowered to succeed. For students who face significant academic, emotional or behavioral challenges, finding that environment can make all the difference.

That’s exactly what KVC Missouri is creating with the opening of its new KVC Academy campus in Lee’s Summit. Designed specifically for students who benefit from a therapeutic educational setting, the new campus provides expanded opportunities for healing, learning and growth in a space built around each child’s unique needs.

We’re taking you inside the new campus to share what makes KVC Academy different, how this therapeutic education model helps students thrive — and what this exciting milestone means for families across Lee’s Summit and the surrounding communities.

Dr. Pamela Dawson, Vice President of Education

“It’s more than just a change of address,” says Dr. Pam Dawson, Vice President of Education for KVC Missouri. “This new space is a commitment to enhance our care. This milestone signifies the growth of our therapeutic education model for students.”

What is KVC Academy?

KVC Academy is a therapeutic K-12 school choice for students experiencing significant academic, emotional or behavioral challenges. Students may have developmental delays, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder or other behavioral and emotional challenges.

KVC Academy has been a leader in therapeutic education throughout Missouri for nearly five years now, with roots stretching back to the 1800s, providing resources and educational support for students and families who need a specialized alternative to the traditional school setting.

Yahna Gibson, Director of Special Education

“Our mission is to provide a therapeutic environment for students that may struggle with behavioral issues or academic issues in a way that teaches and nurtures them, but also helps them to learn to change how they think and respond to things,” explains Yahna Gibson, KVC Missouri’s Director of Special Education.

Most of the students who come to KVC Academy are referred to us by their local school, typically assessed by an IEPT (Individualized Education Program Team). They may have behavioral challenges or learning disabilities that make it difficult for them to learn and thrive in a traditional classroom. 

The Therapeutic Education Model

At the core of what we do at KVC Academy is the unique therapeutic education model, made possible by smaller class sizes and a specialized care and education team. Each classroom has no more than 10 students and is supported by a full clinical staff, including:

• A qualified teacher
• A teacher’s assistant
• A regulation coach
• Licensed clinical therapists

Through this model, we can provide trauma-informed care alongside a high-quality education designed to help students of all backgrounds and challenges thrive. Gibson emphasizes the importance of helping students feel safe and seen through this model. “If they’re safe and they feel supported, then they can learn,” she explains. Each student participates in at least one individual therapy session each week, along with regular group therapy and expressive therapies, to help create an environment of support.

Testimonial from a KVC Academy Parent

Ultimately, our hope at KVC Academy is to create a place where no one feels different or other. One parent shares just how much KVC Academy made a difference for her elementary-aged son.

“My child always struggled in a traditional educational setting. He felt different and was always in trouble because he didn’t know how to express his frustrations. Since joining KVC Academy, it’s like a light has been turned on. For the first time, he’s not the ‘bad kid,’ he’s just a student who needed a different kind of support.”

Today, this student actually looks forward to going to school, can regulate his emotions and looks to the future with newfound hope and excitement.

Inside the New Campus

The Lee’s Summit KVC Academy campus is the new home for our school that was previously located on Blue Parkway. This original location was always meant to be temporary until we could better ascertain the needs of the families we serve and find a more permanent location. The new location in Lee’s Summit is fully owned by KVC, allowing us to really invest in remodeling it into a beautiful school setting designed to be bright, airy, safe and built to meet the needs of our students.

The new campus is KVC Missouri’s ninth facility in the state serving youth with special needs. This state-of-the-art environment at 501 Northeast Missouri Road has convenient highway access for families without sacrificing safety and security. With five classrooms, a large multipurpose cafeteria and gym space, a large art room and plenty of green space, this school is a place where students will feel valued and a setting where healing and learning can happen.

“A lot of our students never get to enjoy a space like this,” says Gibson. “They tend to be sent to a space that feels prison-ish. They’re worthy of a great place to be in. They deserve to be in a space that they enjoy.”

Here are a few of the amenities students will be able to experience at this new campus:

• A regulation/sensory room for students who need a quiet, private space to self-regulate and feel safe. Each classroom will also have a designated regulation space.
• Modern, interactive spaces designed for hands-on learning and vocational exploration.
• A full-sized kitchen for learning life skills like cooking, cleaning and even laundry.
• A home-like environment where students can feel supported.
• Safety features like a keycard system to ensure students remain safely secured inside the building and a tornado shelter within the building for weather-related emergencies.
• Beautiful green spaces for exploring and enjoying class outside on nice days. There are also plans in place for a raised garden bed that students can work with.

A Place for All Students to Belong 

As we open a new KVC Academy campus in Lee’s Summit, this represents more than a new building. It represents an opportunity for us to reach even more students and families, meeting their needs in a more modern and intentional learning environment — and in a community setting too. Through this new campus, we will not only be able to provide cost-effective, trauma-informed care closer to the families’ local communities, but also provide support beyond graduation to help our students transition into occupational success.

KVC Academy brings a breadth of expertise to students who need that additional support, creating a therapeutic setting where learning can thrive. Sometimes, this change of scenery is exactly what a student needs to break out of difficult patterns and begin to thrive. “A child could be entirely out of order in one place, but when they come to a different setting where there’s nurturing, love, support, accountability and boundaries, you don’t get the same child,” explains Gibson.

“Ultimately, we’re excited for everyone to feel the sense of connection that drives KVC’s mission,” adds Dr. Dawson, “ensuring every person who enters the building knows that they’re part of a strong, healthy and supportive community.”

Experience the Difference at KVC Academy

Students, teachers, therapists and community members are all invaluable members of the community we’re building in Lee’s Summit! “Our vision for the Lee’s Summit campus is to become a beacon of hope and a model for therapeutic education that can be replicated and shared across the region for years to come,” says Dr. Dawson.

Here’s how you can get involved with KVC Academy’s mission:

• Parent or caregiver of an eligible student? Contact your home school district to ask about a referral.
• Interested in a career with KVC Academy? Visit our Careers Page for current openings. We are always looking for passionate teachers, assistants, therapists and behavioral health technicians!
• Want to support our mission? Donate to KVC Missouri and note in the comments that you would like to support KVC Academy with your monetary donation, or contact our campus to find out what tangible items we may need for students, including clothes, school supplies or hygiene products.