Get to know Mia Coffing, the Founder and Principal of Prospect Academy, a new charter school in Arvada, Colorado, and find out about what sets Prospect apart.

Mia Coffing - Founder and Principal of Prospect Academy

How did your experience as an educator lead you to the creation and design of Prospect Academy?

Coffing: I’ve spent my career as an educator teaching and supporting students across all different diagnoses and skill sets. In all of those roles, I’ve always thought, how can this be better? Every student has taught me something different. One student I worked with, “T,” had a rare neurological disorder called Rett syndrome. I saw so much potential in them. I believed that they could learn to communicate through simple responses. T and I were told no and that it would be impossible. We kept practicing and developing their communication skills and after a few months, they did it and began communicating.

I will never forget the joy in T’s parent’s eyes when they saw them playing and communicating with a friend at school. There are so many more students, like T, who are told no every day, and whose families are told that it is impossible, and those students are left behind. I believe that with the right experience and determination, families and educators can work in partnership to help these students succeed.

I have traveled across the country in search of different programming, both within schools and in specialized learning environments and centers to pull the best of what currently exists into Prospect’s model. My hope is that Prospect will ensure that this generation of students that we work with will not have their diagnosis be their destiny.

What makes Prospect unique?

Coffing: Prospect Academy is a school whose mission is to educate students who learn differently or have struggled in traditional school environments and have them feel safe physically, mentally, and emotionally. We want to change the way students experience school and learning environments, and have our school and learning experiences evoke positive, “can-do” feelings amongst and between our students instead of frustration, sadness, fear, or anger.

We believe that all students can reach their potential with the right programming and support. We serve all students, including general education students, and specialize in serving students with level 1 and 2 autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or similar learning profiles as well as struggling learners without a diagnosis who are not successful in a traditional school setting. We believe that a diagnosis does not preclude students from engaging in college-track academics. Social-emotional learning and support are a cornerstone of our school and are integrated into everything we do.

You recently opened the doors of Prospect for the start of the 22-23 School Year. What has the journey been like to get to this moment?

Coffing: The idea of Prospect Academy started five years ago with a group of parents, educators, and community members that were determined to change the educational narrative for children with learning differences. It has been a lot of late nights and hard work from our founding team. When we submitted our charter application in 2020 to Jefferson County Schools, we had received intent to enroll forms for 129 potential students, 100% of whom have a diagnosed disability; 83% of these students have autism spectrum disorder, often coupled with ADHD and other diagnoses. We knew that families were deeply in need of a school, especially at the secondary level, where their children feel seen for who they are and have a sense of belonging. Although the journey has been long, the excitement we witnessed from these families and students on the first day of school has made it all the more worthwhile. We are so incredibly grateful for all the support we have received from our volunteers and community members in order to open Prospect and to the 65 families that have put their trust in us by enrolling their children.

If you would like to learn more about Prospect Academy please visit their website at www.prospectacademyco.org

Prospect is enrolling new students until October 1st, 2022 for the 22-23 school year. You can find more information on how to enroll at www.prospectacademyco.org/enrollment-information

A Place for All Learners: Prospect Academy

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