About us

It all began

In 1997, Janelle Neil, one of the three founders of the school, was working in the public school system. It was during this time that she encountered a child, who we’ll call Chuck for anonymity, who was struggling. He had long hair, which he would twirl while working on assignments. This habit eventually led him to pull his hair out in chunks. When Janelle asked him why, he explained, “When I twirl my hair, it keeps my feet still, and I stop fidgeting, and my teacher is happy.”This experience was a turning point for Janelle.

It was this moment that sparked a revolution in Janelle’s mind. She realized that children, like Chuck, deserve an environment that respects their individual needs and learning styles. This understanding led her to believe in a student-centered approach to education. After all, if adults struggle to sit still for seven hours straight, how can we expect children to do so? This belief became the cornerstone of the Academy schools.

She went on to open Academy schools, where, over twenty years later, she has helped hundreds of children like Chuck receive an education. The unique student-centered approach she developed has transformed the lives of these children, inspiring hope and a brighter future.

What makes us different?

We Are ‘Tuned-In’ To Every Student

We have quickly realized that the standard ‘One-Style-Fits-All’ academic model only works for some students. This is particularly true for students who learn differently and those who are neuro-diverse. As a small school with small class sizes, we have the benefit of assessing each student’s learning style and tuning our instructional model to match that style.

We Meet Each Child Where They Are

We expect to modify our instructional practices and provide accommodations for different learners. We do not ‘teach to the middle’ but intentionally design our instruction to meet the needs and interests of students in our class. Class size allows for this personalization, and our class culture intentionally supports the concept that everyone needs things a little differently, and it’s our job to help each child have what they need. 

We Model Healthy Relationships and Mental Health Practices

This requires that we work on ourselves. Our students are learning to accept that people are imperfect—them, their peers, their parents. We have an opportunity and a responsibility to teach them healthy ways to interact and grow.

We strive to be self-aware. We recognize our strengths and areas for growth and continually look for opportunities for self-improvement.

We Are Honest and Take Ownership of Learning From Our Mistakes 

We model the exact expectations that we have for students. We do not use our power of authority to invalidate a child’s feelings or experiences or to avoid accountability for our actions.