Strategy for Wonder Lab Academy (Financial Literacy Action Research Center)

Mission Statement: To cultivate generational wealth in diverse communities by equipping students with the financial fluency, entrepreneurial agency, and cultural affirmation necessary to create and sustain long-term economic mobility.

Executive Summary

Wonder Lab Academy is a pilot educational initiative designed to close the intergenerational wealth gap in the Kansas City metro area. Serving an inaugural class of 12 learners ages 7-13 from underserved, mid- to lower-socioeconomic backgrounds, our center operates at the intersection of culturally responsive literacy and active financial engagement. We employ a rigorous action research framework to measure the impact of a curriculum rooted in cultural affirmation and real-world financial application—delivered by a diverse staff of artists, entrepreneurs, and professionals—on student agency, financial decision-making, and long-term economic mobility.

Developed by Dr. Dana Jackson, our model prioritizes individualized instruction and educator professional development to create a scalable blueprint for financial equity. 

Research Informed Educational Innovation

This initiative was developed by Dr. Dana Jackson, who holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, a Master of Arts in Teaching, a Master of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction, and a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Creative Writing. Her doctoral dissertation, "Deconstructing Teacher-Student Interactions in Culturally Diverse Urban Low-Achieving Elementary Classrooms," provided critical insights into how communication and relationships impact student success. Complementing her academic background with a certification in Female Entrepreneurship, an English as a Second Language Certification, and a LETRS certification, Dr. Jackson brings 17 years of dedicated experience in education. Drawing on this research and her extensive expertise, the center embraces a research-driven, individualized learning model that centers culturally responsive practices and meaningful engagement between action researchers and students.

Operational Model & Ratios

To ensure that instructional opportunities meet the diverse needs of all learners, each location is capped at 48 7-13-year-olds, supported by a high-dosage staffing ratio of one action researcher to and one action researcher apprentice per 12 students. Wonder Lab Academy utilizes a "Knowledge in Action" pedagogical framework, embedding financial literacy within a research-driven, individualized environment. As an action research hub, our facility will evaluate whether early, active financial engagement (grades 3–8) yields measurable improvements in long-term financial decision-making and credit literacy by the end of 8th grade.

Culturally Responsive Literacy

The center integrates a literacy curriculum focused on cultural affirmation, ensuring that candidates see their lived experiences and histories reflected in the texts they study. This approach specifically highlights the financial contributions, economic resilience, and entrepreneurial legacies of African American, Hispanic, Indigenous American, and Asian Pacific American cultures. By centering these narratives, the center aims to restore voice and agency to students from historically marginalized communities.

Upon validation of our data through rigorous action research at each facility, this curriculum will be shared as a scalable model to enhance instruction in both public and private educational settings, ensuring that high-quality, culturally responsive financial literacy is accessible to all students. Additionally, we will invite public and private school students to our centers for hands-on financial literacy field trips. By choosing Wonder Lab Academy, you are not merely supporting a learning experience; you are scaling a proven blueprint for financial equity that can redefine the economic trajectory of students across our nation.

Wonder Lab Academy is where individuality and culture are celebrated.