News

Iowa Choice Charter School Pioneers AI-Powered Mental Wellness Support Through Groundbreaking Brightn Partnership

Carson Goodale
April 18, 2025
3 min read

Iowa Choice Charter School announces a first-of-its-kind partnership with Cedar Rapids-based mental wellness platform Brightn, introducing artificial intelligence-powered mental health support for its growing student population. This innovative collaboration marks a significant step forward in addressing the critical need for accessible mental health resources in educational settings.

The partnership will provide Iowa Choice Charter School's 308 students with personalized mental wellness tools powered by advanced AI technology, integrating seamlessly with the school's existing Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Initial rollout begins March 3rd, with full implementation planned to support an anticipated enrollment of 350 students by year-end.

"Today's students face unprecedented mental health challenges that directly impact their academic success and overall well-being," said Dr. Cynthia Knight, CEO and Founder of Iowa Choice Charter School. "By integrating Brightn's innovative platform with our existing support systems, we're empowering students with personalized tools that promote both emotional wellness and essential life skills."

The platform's comprehensive approach aligns with Iowa's state requirements for financial literacy education while addressing crucial mental health needs. Key features include:

  • Personalized AI-powered journaling with sentiment analysis
  • Real-time mood tracking and wellness insights
  • Interactive financial literacy modules
  • Secure progress monitoring and analytics
  • Customized resource recommendations

Jeffrey Johnston, CEO and Founder of Brightn, emphasized the platform's preventative approach: "Mental wellness should be as routine as physical education in our schools. Our partnership with Iowa Choice Charter School demonstrates how technology can make mental health support more accessible and engaging for students while providing educators with valuable insights to better support their students' needs."

Early data from Brightn's platform shows promising results, with users reporting significant improvements in mental well-being after 30 days of consistent engagement. The platform's emphasis on privacy and security ensures student data protection while providing aggregated insights to measure program effectiveness.

"This partnership represents a significant evolution in how schools can support student mental health," added Dr. Knight. "The combination of AI-powered tools and human support creates a comprehensive safety net for our students while providing valuable data to enhance our support systems."

About Iowa Choice Charter School

Iowa Choice Charter School leads the way in innovative, student-centered education that nurtures the whole child. With a growing student population and forward-thinking approach, the school continuously pioneers new methods to support student success and well-being. Learn more at https://choicecharterschool.org/.

About Brightn

Founded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Brightn transforms mental wellness support through AI-powered technology and personalized planning. The platform focuses on making mental wellness accessible and engaging, helping users achieve balance in health, wealth, and purpose. Visit www.brightn.app for more information.

Link to Official Press Release

Media Kit: Link to downloadable media assets

Instagram: @Brightn_App | @IowaChoiceCharterSchool

Latest posts

Expert Insights on mental health

S2E6: Leading with Love: Kenyon Murray on Grief, Growth, and Giving Back

In this episode of the Living Undeterred podcast, Jeff Johnston interviews former Iowa basketball standout and community leader Kenyon Murray about the intersection of sports, identity, mental wellness, and personal growth. Kenyon shares his journey from athlete to advocate, discussing how youth sports programs can foster long-term success by teaching financial literacy, emotional resilience, and career readiness. He opens up about the pressure kids face from NIL deals, social media, and perfectionism—and why helping young people develop self-awareness, balance, and purpose is more important than ever. The conversation touches on fatherhood, faith, setting boundaries, and how small daily choices lead to meaningful transformation. Whether you're a parent, coach, educator, or young adult, this episode offers actionable insights for building mental strength, community, and lasting impact.

S2E4: From Addiction to Advocacy: Dr. Nate Harold on Reforming Pharmacy and Restoring Purpose

In this eye-opening episode of Living Undeterred, Jeff Johnston sits down with Dr. Nate Harold, Chief Pharmacy Officer at MedOne, for a vulnerable and visionary conversation about family, faith, and the broken state of pharmaceutical care. What starts as a discussion about PBMs and prescription access quickly unfolds into a story of personal trauma, moral courage, and system-wide reform. Together, Jeff and Dr. Harold explore how their shared experiences with addiction and loss have fueled a mission to rethink mental wellness from the inside out.

Summer Stress Relief: 7 Evidence-Based Stress Relief Techniques for Gen Z

Summer isn’t stress-free for everyone—especially Gen Z. Between unstructured routines, financial pressure, FOMO, and social media burnout, summer break can trigger more anxiety than rest. This guide breaks down 7 evidence-based stress relief techniques to help Gen Z navigate the season with more ease, including mindfulness, movement, journaling, social connection, and smarter screen time. Learn how to build a healthy summer routine, boost emotional resilience, and use the Brightn app to stay grounded all season long.