Senior Spotlight: Charlotte Davis | Innovation High School, Spokane

Jun 18, 2025 | Student Spotlights

Charlotte built a couch in class this year with her friends at Innovation High School in Spokane. “I loved it a lot!” she said in her senior spotlight interview. Before high school, Charlotte had been considering medicine as a career path, but after entering the construction program at Innovation, she found her calling.  “I knew this is what I wanted to do. I didn’t even think about shop classes at other schools, but it’s almost required here and I really enjoyed it.”

Finding a Place

As one of nine siblings, Charlotte has learned to appreciate school as a place to find a little peace and quiet. After her older brother started at Innovation Charter High School, Charlotte also enrolled. “I didn’t like it at first because I had a hard time making friends,” she explained. She ended up leaving after struggling during the beginning of freshman year. But her mom helped get back on track and back in school. “It was best for me,” she said. “I made new friends and I met good people.”

“It’s a lot different than a standard high school,” Charlotte explains. “The teachers actually know what your name is and we call the teachers by their names. It’s a personal relationship. Before, I couldn’t get the hands-on learning I needed. Now, I feel encouraged to do my work and I try to recommend it to as many people as I can.” She credits Innovation with supporting her along the way: “I wouldn’t have made it through high school if I hadn’t been here,” she said.

A Creative Community

Thanks to smaller class sizes, Charlotte has been able to really explore her interests and bond with teachers at Innovation. “The teachers can get around to all the students, and I ask a lot of questions,” she said. Innovation’s mission of fostering a “dynamic learning environment where creativity flourishes” really shines through in the curriculum. “It’s a lot more projects, not just packets and essays. Everything is creative and artistic here.”

The diversity of the student body at Innovation is part of what has helped Charlotte feel so at home there. “We have a lot of students with mental and physical disabilities here, and it’s one of the most beautiful aspects of our school,” she said. “I’m really sad to leave. I have so many friends in every grade.” She describes herself as a natural leader who loves to be around people. “I would love to go back to teach there some day.”

For new students coming to Innovation for the first time, Charlotte advises that they move through their fear and reach out. “Don’t be scared to ask for help,” she said. “Go at it full force. I remember when I first started, I was scared to participate. Throw yourself out there and jump into everything to figure out what you want to do.”

Discovering Her Future

Although science and medicine had seemed like they might hold potential for a career when Charlotte first started high school, it was when she learned to build bridges in a science class that something shifted into place. “It was really intriguing, so I decided to join the construction program and then it set off a spark in my brain.”

Although she wasn’t sure at first where her interests would lead her, she felt supported on her journey by Innovation’s investment in college and career readiness. “Our school has a lot of opportunities for colleges to come talk to us and we went to a lot of college fairs. They would give us help: we would say what we were interested in and then the school would invite other colleges to visit us.”

Eventually, after building that couch, Charlotte found her way. This fall she’ll be heading off to attend the University of Idaho, where she was awarded multiple grants and scholarships. She’ll be pursuing a Dual Major in Business and Economics and Interior Architectural Design. She credits Innovation for exposure to a college and career path that was informed by school projects and college fairs. “I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing for college if I hadn’t gone to this school.”

We celebrate your talent and determination to go at it “full force,” Charlotte! Your dedication and enthusiasm will be missed, but your leadership will leave a mark. Thank you for all you contributed to our school, and our community, and for inspiring us all to follow our dreams.