Kinetic Bridges Academy offers hands-on learning, structure

Kinetic Bridges Academy started as a pilot program in 2021 with just 30 students and $100 in the bank. It has grown to serve 70 students in K-12 with a capacity of 108. 

Amanda Nichols, the head of school, founded the Kinetic Bridges Academy to serve students with a wide range of learning styles and needs, including those with low to moderate neurodivergence. 

The longtime teacher said students who struggled in traditional classroom settings benefit from structure, routine and high expectations.  

“I basically tried out all of these things God had laid on my heart for a classroom. I’d been using them in my classroom,” Nichols said during a June 16 interview. “I saw a huge amount of student success, lots of confidence.” 

The academy at 5500 S. Southwood Road – roughly 10,000 square feet in the back of The Springs Church – emphasizes small class sizes, hands-on learning and a tailored approach based on the needs of each student.  

It also accepts students with special needs, including those with a formal Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan, which outline steps the school will take to educate or remove barriers for students. 

“Our students learn best by doing, seeing, hearing and getting in and pulling something apart and putting it back together and really understanding how it works,” Nichols said. “It builds problem-solving in them and logical thinking, but it also creates some ability to handle failure because they have to try again.”  

Nichols said the academy initially leased a small space at The Springs Church for $5 a year and now occupies a large section of the building that includes 11 classrooms, a gym and kitchen for nearly $28,000 a year. 

“Our typical student is needing a more focused, intentional education. We have really small classes on purpose, just one of the commitments we made as a school, and that is challenging on the business side,” she said. “However, it produces the kind of education that we want.” 

She added: “If a student has ADHD or dyslexia, we are able to take their courseload and modify it.” 

Nichols said the academy employs certified teachers, and many have a background in special education. 

The academy offers in-person learning five days a week during the school year, but parents can opt for a hybrid model where they are in class Monday, Wednesday and Friday and learn at home – using school assignments – Tuesday and Thursday. 

“It gives good flexibility to families,” Nichols said.  

Tuition ranges from $6,145 to $8,405 annually based on the grade level and type of in-person schedule. The first day of class this year is Aug. 12. 

Nichols said the academy has largely operated under the radar, relying on parent referrals instead of advertising, but is now ready to grow. 

She encouraged parents who are interested in the nondenominational Christian school to call and set up a time for a tour. In addition to academics, she said the school focuses heavily on character, social skills and faith.  

The academy has been through training offered by the Stanley M. Herzog Foundation, which aims to expand access to private schools in Missouri, and students can now apply for financial aid through the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, known as MOScholars. 

“We have several that have received that scholarship for this coming year,” Nichols said. 

Through a partnership with Evangel University, students receive a discount on dual credit courses and tuition breaks if they pursue a degree there after graduation. 

Nichols said the school is developing student clubs and looking to partner with another private school to provide athletic options. 

Board president Alex Clark said his 14-year-old son previously attended public and private schools but struggled to find the right fit until the academy. 

Clark said the academy partners with the Springfield Center for Dyslexia and Learning to bring in more resources for his son, who struggles with reading. 

“It’s been an awesome fit. That’s why I am involved with the school,” he said in an interview. “We don’t see another option for him.” 

Clark said parents do not have to settle for the status quo if it is not meeting the needs of their children. 

“If something is not working, we may not be the answer, but we hope we are. We might fit that need that somebody has because of our uniqueness, our adaptability, our difference. We feel like we’ve hit a niche,” he said. “Our focus is to be there for families.”