As the founder of Empowering Youths of Iowa, Inc., I'd like to introduce myself: My name is Sarah Swayze. When I began my career in education in 1991, I was a paraeducator at Cedar Rapids Washington High School in Iowa. At Mount Mercy University and Graceland University, I received my bachelor's degree as well as my master's degree. At Washington, I've worked with and taught disabled students for 30 years before announcing my retirement in March 2021 to begin my next venture, the establishment of EYI. The finest intentions and efforts of many pupils have gone unrecognized in my experience as a teacher. There had to be more that could be done to help students succeed, and I was saddened to see them go unaided.
Schools were unable to stay open because of Covid-19 and The Derecho (August 2020) in August. Inadequate learning was caused by the fact that many students were left unaccounted for. For example, EYI's vital value is highlighted by these and other sad incidents.
The rising level of crisis gave rise to Empowering Youths of Iowa, Inc. As a system, EYI is designed to offer children one-on-one attention and flexibility after school. This is to aid them in achieving whatever academic objectives they may have set for themselves.
With the great support of my friends, family, and the Cedar Rapids School District EYI opened its doors officially in June of 2021.