top of page

Wondering what we're all about?

Has your kid ever expressed hating school?

Maybe they are bored, or worse - bullied for being somehow different than their peers.

​

At Pride Learning Academy, they can be their full self, receive personalized curriculum tailored to their own learning style and special interests, and experience a school day where they are actually learning and growing to their fullest potential while having FUN!​

20250822_085356.jpg

Mission

To help kids find genuine self-love, confidence, and passion for learning through supporting their special interests and unique skills and assisting them in creating a caring educational community

Vision

A school kids actually want to come to  - teeming with color, kindness, art, music, warm-lighting, sensory accommodations, and a supportive community; parents connected with teachers to help children grow into their truest selves; inquiry-based curriculum with activities to build academic skills and grit while maintaining maximum engagement; joy and fun at the center of it all

20250819_140130.jpg

Mx. Leo Wilder

he / they

is the founder, director, and teacher at Pride Learning Academy. So far, it is a one-person show, but Leo hopes to grow and expand within the coming few years to be able to serve more and more local students by recruiting genuine, loving, understanding, inclusive educators, therapists, and community members to help support our continued growth. Leo has a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois at Springfield and around a decade of experience in K-12 public and private education. They are openly non-binary and are horrified by the current violence and mental health statistics with regard to LGBTQIA+ youth. Knowing that education can and should improve drastically in our country, Leo is setting out to work alongside their students in imagining and creating a better way to lead school, and ultimately a better way to lead our community, country, and world.

20251113_130220 (1).jpg

Our Parents Say:

20251113_111515.jpg

"Since attending Pride Learning Academy, his outlook on school has changed dramatically for the better. He actually enjoys going to school and has become more confident socially. He feels safe to express himself and knows that he is supported and respected at school. He is learning to play guitar and is researching politics in early 20th century Vietnam.  Where just a year ago I was fearful for his future, I now know he will have the support he needs to forge one for himself. I truly cannot say enough to express how much Pride Learning Academy has made a difference in not just my child’s life, but in my peace of mind as a parent."

Parent of a 15 year old student, currently enrolled

Q:   How much does this program cost?
​
A:  Tuition options are listed below and are comparable with private schools in our area. Mx. Wilder is searching for various funding sources to help create scholarships for students who cannot afford to pay private school tuition.
 
If you want to enroll in the program but cannot afford tuition,
please contact Mx. Wilder to be put on the scholarship waiting list.
​
Full time tuition: $8,000/year ($888/month for 9 months)
Half time tuition: $4,000/year ($444/month for 9 months)

What would an average day look like at Pride Learning Academy?

At Pride, there's no such thing as an "average day," because there's no such thing as an "average student." Each student is unique, and each student will take an active role in establishing their learning goals and their daily schedule. However, we do believe that routines and structure are important, and we want you to be able to have an idea of what a student's schedule could look like. See below for a few mock schedules to see some examples.

Sample schedule for 5-year-old with interests in:
Spongebob, Music, Legos, and Minecraft

8:30am

9am

9:30am

10:15am

10:30am

11am

11:30am

12:30pm

1pm

2pm

2:30pm

3pm
 

Arrival, Mindfulness Exercises

Student Choice Activity (music, legos, games)

Nature walk / Science topics

Break; Snack

Math-related lesson or center

Lunch 

​Reading activity/ learning game

​​Peer-helper (receiving help from an older peer with a learning goal)

Outside time​

STEAM Activity (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)

Play centers/ choice; clean up and prepare for dismissal​

Dismissal​

IMG_5150.JPG

Mx. Wilder hand-crafted this Krusty Krab center when teaching in Chicago for a student who spoke primarily in scripted lines from Spongebob!

Sample schedule for 14-year-old with interests in:
Science Fiction, Art, Cooking, & Architecture

8:30am

9am

9:30am

10:15am

11am

12pm

12:30pm

1pm

2pm

3pm
 

Arrival, Mindfulness Exercises; Journal

Student choice activity (painting, sculpting, reading)

Nature walk / Science topics

​Break; Snack

Cooking goal work + Lunch

Math goal work (Algebra + Geometry with Architecture focus)

​Peer-helper (assisting another peer with one of their goals)

​Reading + writing goal work (self-chosen novel and self-guided book report project)

Art goal work (self-chosen paint practice); Clean up

Dismissal

bottom of page