Our mission at Change Makers Academy is to foster joyful, personalized, and transformative learning, where students grow in confidence, develop life skills, and thrive at their own pace.
Meet Our Founder
Ariel, founder of Change Makers Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, has over eight years of experience teaching students across diverse learning environments. As a licensed K-6 teacher, she has taught 1st-3rd grade science at a project-based charter school, homeschooled neurodiverse students, and served as a 6th-grade science and social studies teacher, a math/reading interventionist, and a K-6 microschool leader during COVID.
Her mission is simple: create joyful learning experiences, build essential life skills, and provide a safe space where students can flourish at their own pace. After seeing too many students lose their natural curiosity and love for learning in traditional education settings, she knew there had to be a better way. She believes the worst thing you can do in education is erase a child’s love for learning—and she’s committed to ensuring that never happens.
She and her husband live in Nashville with their Pomeranian puppy and love exploring the city’s hidden gems. When she’s not teaching, you can find her trying new coffee shops, playing cozy games, or enjoying an evening with a good book. You can also find Ariel at Zeal Church, her home church community, where she serves on the prayer team.
My Teaching Journey
Academic Proficiency Growth Per Year
The above chart includes neurodiverse students and scholars with diverse racial backgrounds, such as Hispanic, Latinx, and African American, as well as students from underserved communities, with most receiving free or reduced lunch.
Data from my time at a formerly bottom 5% Tennessee school.
Increased student proficiency rates in Science from 6% to 24% within 7 months.
Increased student proficiency rates in Social Studies from 9% to 27% within 7 months.
Achieved Level 5 TVAAS growth (2023-24)
A teacher whose students have demonstrated the highest level of academic growth compared to their peers.
Students significantly exceeded expected growth according to the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) which measures student progress over time.
This is the highest growth ranking a teacher can achieve in Tennessee.
Data at a Glance
B.S. in Elementary Education
Licensed Educator in Idaho, Virginia, and Tennessee
Certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED
Certified in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention
Experienced with neurodiverse learners, including autism, dyslexia, and ADHD
“Humans are born with a natural curiosity and a deep desire to learn. The worst thing we can do to a student is crush their love for learning. At Change Makers Academy, we protect that spark and help it grow.”
-A. Vaughan
