FERRIS OFFERS A BOLD NEW VISION FOR EDUCATION

FERRIS – It was a first-of-its-kind when Leaders at Heart Academy recently proposed a pioneering public municipal charter school in Texas. 

The school is set to offer a transformative educational experience that will combine language immersion, career readiness, and college credit pathways from the earliest grade levels. 

The charter school’s mark is, “Individually Tailored and Intentionally Unique,” thereby presenting an educational model that the school hopes will be designed to meet the needs of 21st-century students and to set a new benchmark for public education in Texas.

“Our vision with Leaders at Heart Academy is to transform public education by focusing on what matters most: students’ success and future readiness,” said a school representative. “This model prioritizes classroom investment and student-centered programs, allowing us to drive more funding directly into what impacts students most – engaging curriculum, skilled teachers, and innovative learning experiences.”

This K-12 institution will open initially serving students in grades K-3, ensuring continuity in learning and growth as each grade level is added year by year.

From Kindergarten, students will be immersed in dual languages – Spanish and English – in a fully immersive language environment, giving them the skills to thrive in an increasingly global society. Students will progress through a unique curriculum designed to provide not only a bilingual education but also career readiness and college credits by the time they reach high school. 

Leaders at Heart Academy’s approach to education aligns with the Texas Education Agency and State Board of Education standards, setting high expectations for student achievement and community impact.

Through a well-rounded and rigorous pathway, students will have the opportunity to complete over 60 hours of dual credit, leading to an associates degree, and earn valuable industry certifications in fields such as computer science, veterinary technology, fire and EMS, aviation, and more.

Also setting Leaders at Heart Academy apart is its funding structure, utilizing shared efficiencies with municipal functions. This model reduces administrative overhead and directs resources back to the classroom, maximizing each educational dollar to create a superior learning environment. 

Leaders will operate solely on state base allotment funding – meaning no local funds are required, and every dollar from the state is used to directly benefit students. This approach is especially timely for Texas’s rapidly growing communities, where capacity issues in traditional school districts and limited resources pose challenges for families seeking high-quality education options.

A huge win for not only Ferris but Ellis County overall, Leaders at Heart Academy also plans to address critical challenges facing traditional school districts not only by using the state base allotment funding model, but also answering the overcrowding situation and excessive costs in traditional districts. 

Leaders at Heart Academy believes their model rethinks traditional public education in ways that other communities across Texas might adopt, especially as the state grows and requires adaptable solutions to meet diverse educational needs. 

And as a pioneer in municipal charter schools in Texas, Leaders at Heart Academy stands to change the landscape of public education by showing how municipalities can partner with schools to reduce costs, enhance services, and focus every dollar on student achievement.

By opening Leaders at Heart Academy, Ferris aims to provide local families with a new public-school option that meets the demands of today’s educational landscape without requiring tax increases or costly bonds. 

This proposed school is an answer to the critical need for educational pathways that prepare students for college, career, and beyond – all within a sustainable and community-supported framework.

Leaders at Heart Academy is currently working through the Texas Education Agency’s charter authorization process with the application due next month and the TEA/SBOE authorization announcement in June 2025, paving the way for an official opening in August 2026.

For more information, go to www.leadersatheart.education.