EnCompass Academy

We’ve been celebrating a lot lately.

A new home at First & Calvary in the heart of Missouri State’s campus. More room to grow. More opportunities for students. More Wayfinders.

But there is another number that means a lot to our team.

This year, we ended the school year with 100% student retention.

Every student who finished the school year at EnCompass Academy is returning for the 2026–2027 school year.

For a school, that’s a big deal.

Not because of the number itself, but because of what it represents.

It represents families who trust us with what matters most to them.

It represents students who found a place where they can be challenged, supported, and celebrated for who they are.

It represents teachers and staff who show up every day believing in kids and refusing to give up on them.

We know families have choices. The fact that every family who finished the year with us chose to continue their journey at EnCompass is something we don’t take lightly.

To our students, families, staff, board members, donors, and community partners, thank you.

Thank you for believing in this mission.

Thank you for helping us create a place where students can grow, build confidence, develop grit, and discover strengths they may not have known they had.

As we celebrate the families who chose to stay, we’re also excited to welcome new Wayfinders into our expanded space this fall. Thanks to our new home at First & Calvary, we’ll be able to serve even more students and families in the year ahead.

Buildings matter. Programs matter. Growth matters.

But people will always matter most.

Here’s to another year of learning, growth, and helping students discover who they are and what they’re capable of.

More Room. More Opportunities. More Wayfinders.

For the first time in several years, we have room to grow.

Thanks to our new home at First & Calvary, EnCompass Academy is now enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year and has 20+ openings across age groups, with some immediate openings available.

While many families find us because their child has unique learning needs, we believe fit matters more than labels. EnCompass is often a great fit for students who benefit from small class sizes, relationship-based support, flexible pacing, individualized learning, and a strengths-focused approach.

Our students include learners with a wide variety of strengths, interests, and goals. We believe every student deserves to be known, challenged, supported, and held to high expectations.

If your child is not thriving in their current educational setting, we would love to have a conversation.

Join the wait-list using the QR code below. Our Family Support Specialist is actively reaching out to families and will contact you to schedule a phone intake call when an opening that aligns with your student’s needs becomes available.

We are incredibly grateful to First & Calvary Presbyterian Church, our staff, families, donors, and community partners for helping make this next chapter possible.

Ages 4–21

You asked, and we delivered.

We’re excited to officially expand our PreK–1 classroom at EnCompass Academy!

We currently have open spots available for learners ages 4–6 who thrive in play-based learning and are building a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

We are also thrilled to share that this classroom will be led by a Certified Birth–Kindergarten teacher with experience in child development and early learning.

At EA, we believe strong foundations matter. Small classes, meaningful connection, and high expectations can make a lifelong impact.

If you’re interested in learning more, join the list through the QR code below and our enrollment specialist will reach out soon!

Please feel free to share with families who may benefit.

As EnCompass Academy prepares for our next chapter, our current space will soon be available for another organization to call home.

We are incredibly grateful to The Venues for the role they played supporting us to build our foundation and grow our impact. Having a space where our students, families, and staff could learn, connect, and grow has meant more than we can adequately express.

This building and the people has held so many meaningful moments for our community, and we will always look back on this chapter with gratitude.

If your organization is looking for a welcoming space with supportive people behind it, we truly appreciate the care and flexibility we experienced during our time here.

Thank you for being part of the EnCompass Academy story. We are excited for what is ahead, both for EA and for whoever calls this space home next. 💙💚

Big news… we’re GROWING!

EnCompass Academy is stepping into an exciting next phase as we continue to serve more students and families in our community. With that growth, we are preparing for a transition into a new space for the upcoming school year. While the space may be changing, our focus is not. Stay tuned for more news to come!

As we grow, we are committed to building a sustainable model that supports both students and staff long-term. We are a private school with a public purpose, grounded in strong relationships, high expectations, and supporting the whole child.

We know many teachers are coming from systems that feel stretched thin. At EnCompass, we intentionally build systems and boundaries so support doesn’t get stretched thin so teachers can focus on teaching. We also continue to share what works with schools and organizations across our community.

And because of this growth, we’re hiring.

We are currently looking for:

• Middle School / High School Teacher
• Special Education Teacher or educator with extensive SPED experience
• Program Support (Paraprofessional)

At EnCompass, we invest deeply in our team through ongoing professional development, leadership opportunities, and meaningful input into how our school grows. We prioritize internal professional development and intentionally train our team in the EA Way. Our small, collaborative environment allows teachers to truly know their students and share responsibility with a supportive team.

This is a place for people who:

• Value relationships and structure
• Hold high expectations for all learners
• Want to be part of something meaningful and growing

If that sounds like you, we would love to connect.

To apply, please email your resume, cover letter, and a list of four professional references to [email protected]

Check out the pictures for job descriptions.

If someone comes to mind who would be a great fit for this work, feel free to tag them or pass this along.

We’re excited to share that our Superintendent and Founder, Dr. Nacy Ryerson, has been named to SBJ 40 Under 40.

If you ask her, she’ll tell you this belongs to a lot of people.

-Students finding their voice in ways the world didn’t expect
-Families who trust and partner with us
-Educators who lead with both connection and high expectations
-A community that believes every child can learn and succeed

Because this school year, the EA community has:

-Trained hundreds of local partners in trauma informed practices through a grant with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks
-Created space for students across all abilities to grow and lead
-Built something bigger than just a school, we are a private school with a public purpose where people feel seen, supported, and capable

In the acceptance video, you’ll see one of our Wayfinders who reflects what’s possible when people are seen, supported, and believed in. That moment says everything.

We’re grateful to Springfield Business Journal for the recognition, and even more grateful for the people who make this work matter every day.

Check out the article below, and be sure to watch the acceptance video in the comments!

2026 40 Under 40: Nacy Tai Ryerson - Springfield Business Journal A stint as a special education teacher laid a foundation for Nacy Tai Ryerson, 39.

We’re excited to share that our End of Year Campaign raised over $12,000 to support the work happening at EnCompass Academy.

Our students even got in on the fun with a friendly competition between the classrooms. While the teachers technically took the win, we couldn’t ignore the handful of students who went above and beyond to help make the campaign a success. Their enthusiasm, creativity, and willingness to jump in made a real difference.

So we’re celebrating them with something special… Happy YES Day!

These select students earned a day where they get to make a few school-approved requests (pajamas, favorite activities, special treats, etc.), and we’re excited to celebrate their leadership and heart for our school community. Yes Day assignments will be sent home to students who won!

Thank you to everyone who donated, shared, and supported this campaign. Your generosity helps us continue our mission as a private school with a public purpose, serving students and families in meaningful ways.

We’re grateful for this community!

The EnCompass Impact: Building a Home for Healing, Learning, and Community Transformation A private school serving a public purpose—partnering with educators, families, and schools across the Ozarks.

We’re Hiring: Special Education Teacher Position

EnCompass Academy is growing, and we are adding to our team.

At EA, you get to do what you went into special education to do.

Know your students deeply.
Design learning that actually fits.
Partner closely with families.
Celebrate growth that matters.

We believe in high expectations, strong relationships, and creating environments where students feel safe, capable, and seen.

We are a private school with a public purpose, and we are building something special.

If you love creative problem-solving, meaningful collaboration, and watching students thrive, we would love to connect.

Special Education Teacher - Springfield, MO 65804 - Indeed.com EnCompass Academy