OPELAcademy.com

Welcome Message

Hi, Hello, and Welcome Everyone!

Education is at a crossroads. In the past, information was inconvenient and more limited: printed textbooks were often outdated, communication slower and restricted to our immediate surroundings, and the world was smaller and less international. Now, students have the world in their pocket: the latest, unfiltered information is just a click away, communication instant and borderless, and connections transcend borders based on personal interests. Yet, despite having access to the same tools, schools are struggling to keep up with the changes.

As educators recognizing the shift in how students learn, we started asking ourselves “How can we best engage students when everything around them is screaming and competing for their attention?” “How can we reignite student motivation to learn against a backdrop of student disinterest in traditional schooling and lesson plans?” The answer came over time. Put student’s in charge. They are the best experts on their favorite subjects, interests, goals, and, most of all, themselves. They are important voices that should also be part of the conversation about their future.

Dalena and I have been colleagues in multiple institutions in Taiwan, and while grabbing lunch asked each other what a dream school might look like for students, parents, and teachers with this understanding in mind. We found we had a lot to say and that excited conversation became the beginning of OPEL Academy.

OPEL Academy, as a result of these considerations, is intentionally and purposefully designed for the 21st century using best teaching practices to do two important things as a student centered institution.

First, we give students as many opportunities as possible to affect their own education. This guarantees each student a personalized education that delivers personal value to everyone engaging fully with the school systems.

Secondly, it allows us to measure success more holistically. This ensures our aims do not stop at making sure students get admitted to top university programs, but also how can we ensure they continue to personally grow and thrive now and into the future.

While such lofty aims may, at first, seem idealistic, we encourage you to read on and explore how we can help students grow and succeed well beyond their time at this proposed Jr. and Sr. High program. We are excited to answer your questions and, hopefully, earn your trust and encouragement.

It is our sincere hope that you find on these pages a spark of enthusiasm and motivation to join with us in whatever ways you can to help create the change we know is possible if we join hands and work together. Thank you for taking a bit of time out of your day to come see what OPEL Academy is all about, what we stand for, and, with your support, where we’re going.

Always looking forward,

Andrew Tripoli & Dalena Tran
OPEL Academy Founders