Our Story
Our journey began five years ago, when we were searching for a Kindergarten program for our oldest daughter. I enrolled her in an excellent public school, one that I myself attended more than twenty years before. I quickly became involved as a classroom parent and as vice president of the PTA, but what had happened to public school in the decades since I moved away left me dissatisfied. Art, music, character education, and field trips were increasingly scaled back to make way for more standardized tests. The one-size-fits-all model brought only stress and anxiety to my bright little girl. I saw loving teachers and staff, but a broken public school system. I found solace in the pages of books about progressive education, and once I started reading, I couldn’t stop! I began to envision what my dream school would look like, beyond a world of bureaucracy, budget cuts, crowded classrooms, and one annual field trip. What followed was one year of homeschooling and two years as the assistant director of a private school in La Mesa. Now we are preparing for our third year at The Treehouse Academy, with campuses in San Diego and Carlsbad.
“The Treehouse Academy incorporates many things we know to be true about education, but that traditional schools have been too slow to implement.”
The Treehouse Academy incorporates many things we know to be true about education, but that traditional schools have been too slow to implement. Multi-age classrooms promote leadership, mentorship, and responsibility. Students work through curriculum at their own pace, challenging themselves to set and accomplish personal goals. We cherish character development education and celebrate heroes whose examples we can choose to follow. Outdoor education provides connection to the natural world through meditation and exploration, and time spent with animals invokes feelings of empathy and compassion. A school without tests, homework, and lectures allows students to replace rote-memorization with critical thinking and deep understanding. At The Treehouse Academy, we recognize that art and music education is essential for growing, creative minds. Above all, we believe that learning should be joyful! If our children find joy in learning, their potential is limitless.
I have come to the conclusion that if I have the skills, knowledge, and passion to bring this kind of education to our community, how could I not share it? If you have questions about The Treehouse Academy, contact me here. And if you’re ready to start your family’s journey with us, apply now.