MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Springs Empower Academy, a K-8 tuition-free public charter school focused on individualized learning, announced that during its October 5, 2023, meeting, the Town of Smyrna Planning and Zoning Commission approved the building and site design for its new facility in Rutherford County. Springs Empower Academy anticipates opening in the fall of 2024. The plans include efforts to purchase land in Smyrna on Enon Springs Road to build a state-of-the-art facility that will accommodate 480 students, grades K-5.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Town of Smyrna for this opportunity,” said Springs Empower Academy executive director Jared McLeod. “We appreciate Mayor [Mary Esther] Reed, her team, and the Planning Department staff for their collaboration and support throughout this process. As the first public charter school to receive approval, we are humbled by the opportunity to serve families and be a partner in the community.”
Through hands-on, interest-driven, project-based learning, students at Springs Empower Academy will acquire knowledge and develop critical skills such as problem-solving, initiative, collaboration, and creativity. Students and families will benefit from the personalized learning model and Montessori-aligned approaches that foster students' innate curiosity, hands-on learning, and smaller adult-to-student ratios for more engagement between students and teachers.
Springs Empower Academy has engaged Manuel Zeitlin Architects and D.F. Chase Inc. to design a facility that, when complete, will serve students in grades K-8. Empower Academy’s design is intended to meet students' complete developmental needs. The approved site plans include a full-size soccer field, gymnasium, art and music rooms, and state-of-the-art technology. Each ground-floor classroom will have an outdoor learning space and garden to connect academic concepts and practical experiences. The facility has been designed with community needs in mind, such as indoor and outdoor recreational spaces that other youth programs and community organizations may utilize.
“Our goal is to open with Phase 1 while we continue to construct the remaining phases that will allow us to ultimately serve 800 students in grades K-8. We want to do this right and invest in a facility that will serve families and students and provide an exceptional educational environment that truly meets the community’s standards and needs,” McLeod said.
Click here to see renderings of the new Empower Academy facility.
“Rutherford County is growing, and with that comes families looking for quality educational opportunities,” said Empower Academy board member Patty Short. “Empower Academy’s approach to innovative teaching strategies and creating an environment where students can unlock their full potential is what parents and students seek.”
If you would like to learn more about Empower Academy and the upcoming open enrollment period, there will be a parent interest meeting on Monday, October 16, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at the Smyrna Public Library.
To learn more about Springs Charter Schools and Empower Academy, visit Springspstn.org.
ABOUT SPRINGS EMPOWER ACADEMY - Springs Empower Academy is a tuition-free, public school of choice serving kindergarten- 5th-grade students coming to Rutherford County in the fall of 2024. It is guided by the ideals of authentic hands-on, meaningful activities, teacher-facilitated self-directed learning, and Montessori principles. To learn more and to join our email list, visit https://springspstn.org/. Connect with Empower Academy on Facebook and Instagram @SpringsPublicSchoolsTN.
