Innovative Learning
Spotlight on Innovation
STA students have opportunities to experience other cultures and share their many talents through domestic and international travel and service opportunities that are closely aligned with STA’s mission and charism of unifying love and serving others.
2025 Discovering Leadership and Purpose: STA Students Witness the Wonder of Leatherback Turtle Conservation in Costa Rica.
Interim Week provides innovative experiences that introduces students to new ideas, experiences and environments. Many classes are taught through the shared leadership of teachers, student leaders and community partners, allowing students to learn from multiple perspectives. Courses are designed to spark passion, help students discover relationships among disciplines, and safely and boldly take risks for the sake of learning.
Interim Week occurs between semesters, with registration beginning in October.
Women’s Symposium offers a conference-style day of learning held on STA’s campus in the spring. Guest speakers present on various topics connected to our mission: Catholic Values, Critical Thinking and Empowered Voice. Students prioritize and self-select sessions based on personal interests.
Learn how the world works through internships and externships. STA has carefully cultivated relationships with professionals and leading companies in the community to hone students’ skills and help them learn about the myriad career options available. STA also partners with numerous local businesses to provide mentorship and career guidance to students.
We celebrate teachers as innovators! Our STAR Innovator program creates leadership opportunities for teachers to share their expertise and inspire others. Teachers selected for this program reflect confidence, creativity, motivation, resiliency, and passion for teaching.
Learn More About All Our Star Innovators at STA
Criteria
Willingness to share best practices and model innovative teaching for your peers which may include presenting 30-minute sharing sessions during late-start gatherings or other identified periods, and/or featured spotlights on our website.
Desire to learn more about the Learn, Do, Reflect, and Apply learning cycle through targeted professional development.
Benefits
- A leadership opportunity that celebrates your successes and allows you to empower others
- Participation in a targeted PD program that includes a one-hour collaboration session each semester
- A chance to be selected to attend the ISEEN Summer Institute in Boulder, CO
- $500 extra-duty stipend
STA is the first and only Kansas City-area high school to earn Missouri Green Schools (MGS) recognition. The Academy achieved “Sprout” status for its advances in sustainability efforts. STA is one of 18 schools statewide to be recognized by MGS in 2023. In 2024, the school elevated its status to “Seedling,” recognizing its continued work in sustainability initiatives as well as its comprehensive composting program.
Environmental stewardship is a key component of STA’s strategic plan, which includes Sustainability of a Vibrant Catholic Academy as one of its pillars. Green Team is a partnership among students, faculty, staff, parents, alumnae, community members, and organizations focused on environmental sustainability.
Student-led, campus-based initiatives include the Kansas City area’s first working, school-based apiary (collection of bee houses), a pollinator garden, the Environmental Club, and the Stars for Sustainability extracurricular group.
The St. Teresa’s Academy Capstone is an extended, self-guided research project in which students explore a question that is important to them. It builds on skills learned over four years – curiosity, research, problem solving and communication – and reinforces the capabilities and qualities outlined in the STA Portrait of a Graduate.
Students take the lead on their capstone projects, exploring topics from various perspectives such as historical, philosophical and scientific, and interviewing experts and community members to gain deeper insight. Many tackle real-world challenges, pursuing creative solutions even when they’re complex or unconventional, and some conduct fieldwork to see their ideas in action.
They share their findings in both academic and creative ways, blending quantitive and qualitative concepts. The experience culminates in a TED Talk-sytle symposium where students present to the STA community. More than just a research project, the STA Capstone inspires growth and prepares young women to become thoughtful, responsible leaders ready to make a significant impact.
View the 2026 Capstone Experience