The Empowerment Collaborative Impact in West Virginia
Students across West Virginia are taking ownership of real-world challenges through projects focused on economic development, tourism, highways and infrastructure, entrepreneurship, ecology, and improving their own schools and communities. Through Empowerment Learning, students are not just learning about these issues—they are actively creating solutions, building leadership skills, and making a lasting impact in their schools, communities, and beyond.
5
Schools
2,759
Students
174
Teachers
West Virginia Empowerment School Spotlights
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Fayetteville PK-8 Hosts Student Leadership Summit
On September 29-30, 2025, Students at Fayetteville PK-8 School recently stepped into their roles as emerging leaders during the school’s first-level leadership summit, an event designed to strengthen student voice and community impact. The conference brought together youth leaders from across grade levels, including members of the school’s Student Leadership Board. Students shared their motivation…
“Our students are excited to be the first to build our Empowerment program at Calhoun County Middle,” said Calhoun County Superintendent Kelli Whytsell. “It gives them true ownership of their learning which is something they may not have experienced in the past. Most importantly, they can apply their learning to these projects as they explore and solve real-world scenarios. That is powerful.”
Kelli Whytsell
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Calhoun County Superintendent
“West Virginia is full of incredibly talented young people,” said Empowerment Collaborative Project Director, Dr. Kathy D’Antoni. “This initiative gives our students the opportunity to reach their full potential.”
Kathy D’Antoni
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Empowerment Collaborative Project Director
Fayetteville PK-8 School
Empowerment School
Valley PK-8 School
Empowerment School
Midland Trail High School
Empowerment School
Oak Hill Middle School
Empowerment School
Meadow Bridge Regional School
Empowerment School
Pat Gray
West Virginia State Systems Coach
Interested in Becoming Part of the Empowerment Collaborative in West Virginia?
Schools, districts, educators, and community partners interested in learning more about the Empowerment Collaborative in West Virginia are encouraged to connect with our West Virginia State Systems Coach. Whether you are exploring student-led learning for the first time or looking to expand Empowerment initiatives within your school system, we would love to start the conversation.
Interested in learning more or becoming an Empowerment school?
Reach out to Pat Gray to learn more about implementation opportunities, partnerships, and how your school or district can become part of the growing Empowerment Collaborative network in West Virginia.