For high school students, flexibility has always been one of the hallmarks of Wisdom Ridge Academy. Now, students have even more ways to combine the flexibility of alternative learning with face-to-face instruction, personalized academic support and hands-on career exploration.
As part of Wisdom Ridge Academy’s continued growth, the school has expanded its high school offerings for the 2026-27 school year, including new site-based math courses, dedicated counseling support and a hands-on Career and Technical Education program.
The additions are designed to give students more choices while maintaining the flexibility that draws families to Ridgefield School District’s Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program.
A new approach to high school math
Math teacher Quincy VanderMolen joined Wisdom Ridge to provide site-based Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 courses, including honors options.
VanderMolen uses a “flipped classroom” model. Instead of spending class time primarily listening to lectures, students have access to VanderMolen’s recorded instruction at home. When they come to campus, they can spend that time working through problems, completing tasks and assessments and receiving individualized help.
“The idea is to get kids on campus so they can get the help that they need in the moment,” VanderMolen said. “They get more feedback, direct feedback.”
Students can work through recorded lessons at home at their own pace, while their time with VanderMolen focuses on the places where they need additional support.
The model can be particularly helpful for families as students progress into more advanced mathematics.
VanderMolen previously spent 11 years working in another ALE program and said high school math is often an area where parents are eager to have additional instructional support.
Parents can still play an active role in their student's education, she said, without having to relearn Algebra or Geometry themselves.
“They can still engage with their student at home, help support them without actually directly teaching them math,” VanderMolen said. “They can still be part of that educational process without being the math teacher.”
Wisdom Ridge has also adjusted its schedule to accommodate students who split their time between Wisdom Ridge and Ridgefield High School, including Friday time slots that provide additional opportunities for students to receive in-person math support.
Helping students navigate high school and beyond
Wisdom Ridge has also added another resource that becomes increasingly important as students approach graduation: a dedicated school counselor.
Jessica Ambrose serves as Wisdom Ridge’s part-time K-12 counselor, supporting students with academic planning, career exploration, post-secondary planning, crisis response and connections to resources.
For high school students in particular, Ambrose helps families navigate Washington's graduation requirements and makes sure students remain on track for graduation.
“Our goal is for our students to graduate on time and to be able to know what they want to do after high school,” Ambrose said.
Principal Susan Smith said adding a counselor has allowed Wisdom Ridge to provide a level of support that wasn't previously available.
“We’re meeting the needs of those families in a way that we’ve never been able to do before,” Smith said. “Plus, I have a counselor now helping support my high schoolers, make sure they’re on track for graduation.”
Connecting learning to careers
Ambrose is also bringing another expanded opportunity to Wisdom Ridge as a Career and Technical Education teacher.
She teaches a business and marketing course through CAPS, a professional learning-based program that connects students with businesses and professionals throughout Clark County. Students receive hands-on learning while exploring the roles, responsibilities and career opportunities found in real-world workplaces.
Rather than teaching careers only through textbooks and classroom examples, Ambrose wants students to hear directly from professionals working in fields that interest them.
The program can also adapt to the interests of individual students. Ambrose said that could mean connecting coursework to everything from veterinary medicine and automotive careers to programming and mechanical engineering.
“Everything has a purpose in what we’re learning,” she said.
The CTE course provides another important benefit: it can help students meet graduation pathway requirements through hands-on learning.
Ambrose said that creates another option for students who may demonstrate their knowledge more successfully through applied learning than through traditional testing.
“Having activities that is relatable to kids, something that they will be interested in and something that they can use outside of the high school is so beneficial for students,” Ambrose said.
Together, the new offerings give Wisdom Ridge high school students more ways to build an educational experience around their individual needs—whether that means receiving face-to-face help in Algebra, navigating graduation requirements with a counselor or discovering a potential career alongside professionals in the community.
And for Wisdom Ridge, they represent another step in the school's evolution: maintaining the flexibility of alternative learning while creating more opportunities for students to connect, receive personalized support and prepare for what comes next.