About

Our new name

Knoxville Innovation School (KiS), formerly known as Knoxville School of Progressive Education began doing business as Knoxville Innovation School in July 2022. The name change reflects our focus on student innovation and teaching techniques that draw upon childhood development and brain research as well as new teaching methodologies designed to celebrate and supercharge student learning.

Our history

Knoxville Innovation School (KiS) was formed in 2020 by a diverse group of parents living in Knox and Blount Counties. Driven by a belief that a progressive, student-centered education provides the best formation of long-term academic and critical thinking habits, the school was incorporated as a Category IV church-related school.

Our values

The core values at the heart of Knoxville Innovation School provide an enriched and meaningful environment for students to develop skills in critical thinking, civic engagement and creative problem solving. Our core values include the following:

• Safety of mind, body, and spirit
• Diverse community
• Lifelong and joyful learning
• Empowered independence
• Empathetic connection

At KiS, we embrace and celebrate the diversity of our world. Our differences —including those of culture, race, ethnicity, religion, age, family structure, sex and sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomics, learning style, and world view, among others — create the fabric of our community and provide opportunities for our children to appreciate and to connect with their fellow citizens. We oppose discrimination and promote the values of respect, equality, justice, peace, and personal responsibility. These values extend to our hiring practices, admission process, classroom composition, professional development, and community activities.

Church relationship

Knoxville Innovation School is sponsored by Church of Abiding Love, a nondenominational Christian church. The church’s pastor, Edward Francisco, serves as a spiritual liaison to the school’s board and advises the board on matters of aligning our values with our educational vision. Although KiS maintains a relationship with the church, it does not discriminate in regards to religious affiliation and is a non-denominational church-related school offering a secular curriculum underpinned by empathy, innovation, and diversity.

The only requirement is that families engage in the principles of love, kindness, and humility, and that in joining the school, the students and their families represent the principle of behaving in a manner that is above reproach.

Knoxville Innovation School (formerly Knoxville School of Progressive Education) is a nonprofit corporation in the State of Tennessee and a Category IV Church-related school under the umbrella of Tennessee Association of Church-Related Schools. Our IRS-designated EIN number is 85-2002126. We are awaiting final determination on our 501(c)3 status.