Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubree Hazard.
Hi Aubree, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always been passionate about not only learning, but about education. How we learn, what we learn, and why we learn it. I was a great student in school, I approached school like a game and I enjoyed winning; 4.0, teacher’s pet. It wasn’t until I graduated with my degree in Biological Engineering that I realized that the pursuit of academic success hadn’t led me to become the person I wanted to be. I had cared so deeply about getting success at the end of my academic career that I had forgotten to learn, enjoy, and transform along the journey.
Right at the time I was graduating with that long sought after degree, I was welcoming my second daughter into the world and my oldest daughter was getting ready to begin kindergarten. It was fascinating for me to watch her, she was so creative, persistent, curious, and passionate. All character traits I longed to have for myself, but had somehow lost through my academic journey. I realized that my daughter may be served much better by protecting & nurturing those vary traits that I had lost. So my journey into alternative education had begun, with a determined pursuit to find something more for my own children.
I love creating environments where children feel free to make choices, to experience risk and reward, and to explore the natural world and their role within it. I love to inspire curiosity and pursuit in children and to respect them as whole beings by nurturing and helping to grow all of the unique parts of them.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been easy. We are pushing against the grain, many people don’t believe there is much more for our children in terms of education. “It worked for me so it should work for them” is a constant refrain we hear. It’s hard to expand the horizons and show that there are more efficient, respectful, and delightful ways of learning and that putting in the effort to encourage creativity, growth, and joy in the younger years is worth it to develop well balanced, motivated, young people.
Last year, we were the only private school in Cache Valley, a one of a kind place, it was really hard to break into an industry that no one but the children knew they needed. Many children do great in public schools, but many are crying out for help daily, it’s so important to give those families more options and greater opportunities for success, it’s been challenging to be at the forefront of that effort.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a small private school offering preschool – 6th grade education. We do things differently at Acton by radically trusting the learners with their own education journeys. We are known for thriving learners who actively seek out challenges and growth on their own terms and move mountains while they do it. We are most proud of the fact that our heroes love to come to school and they make progress while they’re here. We call all of our learners “heroes” because we strongly believe, and constantly reinforce the idea that they are capable, resilient, incredible humans who have a destiny of finding their specific unique gifts and using them to change the world!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If your just beginning to re-evaluate the education you or your child is receiving, it’s crucial to be brave. Fear is never a good enough reason to do anything, it will never sustain you through the hardships. What I mean is, if you are worried, or scarred about the educational path your family is on, you can not simply jump ship just because you would like to avoid scarry, dark, or hard things you see lurking down the path. You must always check yourself, make sure you are motivated by a deep desire to multiply, you want to be someone who adds more to your child’s life and to their experiences not simply shield them and protect them from things to keep them safe.
Pricing:
- $8,000 annual tuition
Contact Info:
- Website: https://actonacademycachevalley.com
- Instagram: actonacademy_cachevalley
