Student Positivity

Beating Negativity with Incentives

Educators Who Want More For Kids

True power couples are a force with which to be reckoned. Kenneth and Traciellya Nelson left successful public-school careers to start E.P.I.C. Academy in Sallis, Mississippi in the Fall of 2022. Their goal was to stoke student positivity and reach young people in a small, rural area – helping them understand that their contributions in life can truly impact them and their community.

Using their own faith as a base (E.P.I.C. stands for Empowered, Preparatory, Independent, and Christian), the Nelsons began building out their strategy and resources. We were thrilled to meet them in the summer of 2022. While preparing for their second academic year, the couple attended an Empowered training event in Jackson, Mississippi and felt they found what they were missing.

The Nelsons decided, in the moment, to use Empowered resources and concepts their learning foundation. They found our approach, including Foundational Principles and strategies giving students greater ownership of their educational choices and outcomes and incentivizing and rewarding contribution aligned. That we, like they, valued life-readiness as an educational priority was exciting. Experiencing the Empowered classroom – as any teacher that comes to our events will – sealed the deal.

Tools That Help Teachers Help Students

“It was off the chain from the start,” said Kenneth. “It’s not your normal conference. You’re not just sitting there, you’re up and moving and learning things you can learn in your classroom. And they were doing these ‘bucks’ – Empowered Currency – where you got a few dollars for participating in a discussion and you would get hooked up for helping with an activity and volunteering to present for your group, etc. Then we could give them to each other or use them at these auctions – it got me really excited.”

Currency and bonds, both available to any Empowered Educator, are ways to incentivize student engagement and participation, reward meaningful contributions, and to acknowledge Principled behavior and positive impact created. Students see a direct connection between this fiat system and being paid for good work later in life. E.P.I.C. Academy students, like most Empowered learners, were all in. “It was the most profound thing I have seen in my life,” said Kenneth – who calls the paper currency in his school “E.P.I.C. Bucks”.

“Students are lighting up like Christmas trees – they are learning in a way where, suddenly, they understand the value of making the decision to do the right thing instead of being told to do the right thing.”

Kenneth Nelson

E.P.I.C. Academy

Engaging Students in Different Ways

Kenneth and Traciellya believe incentives are what power learning and even culture at their new academy. According to Traciellya, a “traditional” school system – with merit and demerits – doesn’t grab all students. She says the merits rarely have direct, tangible benefits. The demerits, however, are felt in negative and immediate ways. For some kids that may be enough to not do “wrong” but the Nelsons wanted to do more – they wanted to incentivize the positive so the negative became obsolete.

The effects were immediate, according to Kenneth. “They, suddenly, see the immediate and real benefits of making the right decisions and doing the right things,” he said. He shared that kids spent so much time helping each other, getting involved in class, meeting deadlines, etc. that they no longer have time to make trouble.

On a recent rainy morning, the school’s main hallway was wet. Students slipped and shoes squeaked during arrival. Then one student, unprompted, grabbed a mop and started drying the floors – specifically mentioning he didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Other students stopped to help steer kids dry paths while the work was still being done. They said they wanted to be helpful.

“That kid took control,” said Kenneth. “He saw something he could do, a problem he could solve, a thing he could do for others. He jumped at that opportunity.”

Traciellya explained their system of positivity saying, “We don’t have rules, we just have expectations.” And the students and parents are learning and responding. Kenneth shared that parents are telling them that, “These E.P.I.C. bucks are all kids are talking about when they get home. They are proud of their kids for earning these dollars and thrilled to hear how much more positive and excited kids are when talking about their days and what they experienced.”

Continuing the Journey

With one school-wide auction and a Fall Fest Market Day under their belt, excitement is palpable in Mississippi. E.P.I.C. students were able to use their currency to bid on snacks, experiences like sitting in the teacher’s chair for the day, and perks like cell phone access during a free period. They could also keep the proceeds from their market day sales.

“They are super-duper excited about that market day,” said Kenneth. “We had some students with truly great business ideas that we’re helping get LLCs. Real excitement and positivity around these opportunities.”

“In a normal classroom, students are not prepared to be productive citizens,” said Traciellya. “They don’t budget. They spend more than they bring in. Empowered helps them see that they must avoid a surplus of bills with a certain amount of income.”

Kenneth agrees. “We’re teaching them to be future leaders. In fact, we call our students ‘future leaders’ while in the classroom.”

As for the future of E.P.I.C. Academy’s Empowered classrooms, this couple has big and achievable goals.

“I want the kids to embrace the Win-Win Focus,” said Kenneth. “I want them to continue to look at creative ways to put themselves in a Win-Win situation every time.”

Both Kenneth and Traciellya believe the Empowered curriculum, printed materials, and online resources inspire them and help them be their best.

“It makes me a better and more productive educator,” said Kenneth. “It gives me a keen sense of a vision for positivity. We make a big deal out of everything that is positive.”

Kenneth continues, “I’m an advocate of keeping the light bulb lit and throwing away the lamp shade because Empowered students result in transformative leaders.”

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