2020
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Award Winners

NBRS Badge for Poder Academy

Poder Academy - Cheyenne, WY

Students participating in PODER Academy

Students participating in PODER Academy's Science Club

PODER Academy is a K-5 elementary school with a focus on college prep. It is the first charter school in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and one of five in the state. The school was started in 2012 with the goal of closing the achievement gap by boosting academic growth and proficiency. The school offers a standards-driven curriculum with an emphasis on the core areas of reading, writing, and math, and incorporates teaching strategies that support intellectual growth, connectivity to the wider world, and productive classroom environments. As CEO and Founder Marcos Martinez says, "At PODER we truly believe, deep inside, that every student is hungry for knowledge and is capable of exceptional growth."

PODER is one of the few to offer an extended day program where students are dismissed at 4:00 p.m., and where tutoring then takes place until 5:00 p.m. The extra hour each day provides for more instructional time over the course of an academic year, and also provides a structured environment for students between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., which is a common window of unsupervised time for kids with working parents.

Within the school, there is a consistent and unrelenting focus on everything from student posture, to classwork completeness, to professionalism, all with the goal of preparing students for the professional mindset. Every aspect of the day is well structured in order to maximize efficiency, while teachers and staff are trained to 'sweat the small stuff' in order to rectify any disruptive behavior at its root.

2020 Awardee

Poder Academy

2201 Morrie Avenue
Cheyenne, WY, 82001-4097

(307) 632-2248

Principal at time of Nomination:
Mr. Colton St. Peter

Charter School

Laramie County School District #1

Rural or small city/town

School Website

School Facebook

School YouTube

School Social Media

Mission

To prepare students for college and beyond, through rigorous academic and athletic programs.

Student Demographics

  • Asian: 1%
  • Black/African American: 1%
  • Hispanic: 31%
  • White: 58%
  • Two or more races: 8%
  • Application