For nine years, Extreme Learning has taught 6th- and 7th-grade students
Published in the November 11-24, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
Extreme Learning CEO Katie Smith launched a new school in Morgan Hill this fall called the Extreme Academy & Learning Center. The school is focused on 6th and 7th-grade students who Smith said receive a “personal touch” to help them succeed in school and beyond.
Morgan Hill Life asked the academy’s founder about what makes her private school unique.
After more than a decade as a tutoring service for local students, why did Extreme Learning decide to create this new school?
We believe that every student has a unique story. Extreme Academy was founded with a mission to ignite passion for learning through offering student-centered education and personalized learning to positively impact student lives.
Throughout Extreme Learning Center’s 13-year presence in Morgan Hill and surrounding communities, we have been a part of many student stories in which the traditional classroom settings and teaching methods of a “one-size-fits-all” approach simply does not work. As a result, some students fall through the cracks, get discouraged about the learning process and disengage all together. We wanted to respond to this need with a solution by creating a school in which the student came first and pacing was individualized to their needs, creating an engaging educational experience.
What makes Extreme Academy unique in comparison to Morgan Hill’s public or other private schools?
You may have heard of the term micro-schooling. Micro-schools consist of small class sizes, blended learning and project-based activities that serve to cultivate an environment dedicated to ensuring individual understanding of the subjects being taught. Extreme Academy can be likened to a micro-school, which is a unique differentiator that sets us apart from other schools in the area, public or private.
We are a small, student-centered environment where pacing and content are driven by the needs of the students. Additionally, we offer both remedial and advanced offerings, data driven targeted intervention services, and a wide scope of core and elective curriculum that maximize student engagement and interest.
Describe some of the components of the school such as number of students you serve, career background of your teachers, and the type of curriculum and course you instruct.
Extreme Academy appeals to the 21st-century student and offers components that prepare students for real life success. In addition to the elements already mentioned including a student-centered environment and personalized pacing, project-based learning is a foundational element of our academy.
Our PBL model allows learning across multiple subject areas, collaboration with other students, and the development of critical thinking skills that are necessary for 21st century skill development.
Engaging and rigorous instruction is provided by caring and dedicated teaching staff who have worked at Extreme Learning Center for a combined total of more than 30 years. We utilize award-winning curriculum including Compass Learning, Middlebury Interactive Languages, and TCI to teach core content, ten elective courses, and five different foreign languages.
What is your own background in education and why are you personally excited about your new school?
Extreme Academy is essentially my story. The concept was birthed out of my own passion for learning and deeply personal education experiences that closely mimic those of Extreme Academy.
I was educated in private schools my entire K-12 career and found that the small, personal environments were key to my success.
In addition, learning in non-traditional ways, such as through project-based learning and unconventional teaching strategies, allowed me to learn at my pace in my own way and ultimately, take personal ownership and pride in my education journey.
We strive to engage our students in a way that will provide a dynamic framework to ignite passion for learning, allowing them to be successful in and connected to their learning environments.
What has been the response of parents and students since you recently opened Extreme Academy?
We have received an overwhelmingly positive response from parents and students since the launch of the academy. One parent said that “Extreme Academy is the best kept secret in town” and that she is telling everyone she knows about the program so that they can benefit from our school the way her son has. Also, a 7th-grade student recently shared with me that “Extreme Academy is great because it’s an awesome place to learn. I feel great when I am here and comfortable to ask questions and just be myself.”
