Education Program Staff and Leadership

Mission Statement: At Apt Academy, we provide a nurturing Christian environment that empowers students to discover their aptitudes, reach their potential, and pursue success in all areas of life.

A strong education program begins with the people guiding it.

At Apt Academy, our staff and leadership share a commitment to personalized learning, thoughtful instruction, and meeting students where they are—academically, socially, and developmentally. Our team combines professional teaching experience with a deep understanding of the individual needs of gifted, high-aptitude, and non-traditional learners.

Educational Philosophy

Apt Academy’s education program is grounded in the belief that learning should be responsive, not rigid.

We recognize that individual students develop at different rates across subjects, and predetermined educational structures should not determine how they advance nor create obstacles to their learning or advancement. Our philosophy prioritizes:

Ability over age when determining academic progress
Individualized instruction that adapts as students grow
Small learning environments that allow teachers to truly know each student
Respect for curiosity, depth, and critical thinking
Social connection alongside academic flexibility

Our education program is designed to evolve with each learner, providing challenges where appropriate and support when needed.

Founding Apt Academy

Founded on Faith, Values, and a Commitment to Do Education Differently

Apt Academy was founded on a simple but deeply held belief: education should reflect strong academics, strong values, and a commitment to preparing students for learning and for life.

Our approach is grounded in traditional Christian values, including:

Kindness and mutual respect
Personal responsibility and accountability
Discipline and self-governance
Honest communication
A safe, structured learning environment
Peer conflict resolution rooted in respect and understanding

Leaving public schools is a significant decision for families, and it’s often made when something deeper is no longer working. With the arrival of COVID-19, there was an opportunity to re-envision education for students whose needs were not being met by traditional educational settings.

Apt Academy aimed to reimagine what education could look like, not by recreating the public school model, but by building something far more intentional: a learning environment where education is the focus, structure supports success, and students are known, challenged, and guided in accordance with traditional Christian principles.

The vision also included an educational setting that could focus on meeting students where they are, so Apt Academy was designed to combine:

The flexibility of homeschooling
The structure and accountability of a classroom
A community of like-minded families

The result is an educational program that prioritizes meaningful learning, character development, and long-term success, without distractions that can take focus away from learning.

Why Our Staff Matters

Families choose Apt Academy not just for the model, but for the people who bring it to life daily.
Our education program staff shares a commitment to both academic excellence and values-based education. In fact, many of them left teaching in public schools because they share concerns similar to ours.

They also:

Understand homeschooling structures and requirements
Have experience working with advanced and non-traditional learners
Value clear communication and collaboration with families
Maintain structured and respectful classrooms where learning can thrive
Model accountability, responsibility, and mutual respect.
Believe education should be adaptive, respectful, and student-centered

Just as importantly, our teachers are able to focus on what matters most: teaching, mentoring, and guiding our students, without any competing priorities or distractions.

Together, our leadership and teachers create a learning environment where students are:

Supported in their individual learning paths
Challenged to grow academically and personally
Encouraged to take ownership of their education, behavior, and role in our community

This is what makes Apt Academy different. It’s not just how we teach, but what we prioritize, what we model, and what we expect from and for our students.

Administration

The program administrator oversees the daily operations of Apt Academy’s education program, ensuring academic alignment, homeschool compliance, and strong communication between teachers and families. This role supports both instructional quality and the overall student experience.

Mrs. Jacobsen

Program Administrator

Karen Jacobsen was born and raised in Sandy Utah. She has an older brother and a twin sister. In Highschool and college Karen was active in her church and was a camp and youth counselor for several years. Additionally, she went to Russia on two occasions to help run a two-week sport and bible camp for orphans in Yoshkar-Ola

Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Utah State University where she graduated in 2004. Shortly after graduating she moved to Oregon where she started her career in banking. When she left the banking industry in 2023, she was a compliance officer for a local credit union. She is now happily the Administrator for Apt Academy and is excited to help in the growth and development of the students.

Karen enjoys spending time with her children, who are students of the academy, her husband and their French Bulldog.

About Apt

Full Time Enrollment:

Apt Academy is a 501(c)3 non-profit that offers a superior education to students in PreK-8th Grade.

Apt Academy is not accredited and is not formally a ‘school.’ Rather, it is a group learning opportunity for homeschool students. Students of Apt Academy are registered as homeschool students. Apt families have hired Apt Academy to tutor their homeschool students in a group setting.

Once students have completed the state required curriculum, they will undergo the homeschool test (this is administered by Apt Academy). Upon successful completion of the test, the students then move to the next grade level.

At Apt, the class sizes are small, and grades are mixed. The teachers are able to tailor the material to the student and class. Your child(ren) will be learning at their pace. Students will advance as they are able; advancement is not determined by age, but by ability.

Tutoring Opportunities:

Apt Academy has options for families or students looking for one-on-one tutoring. Whether a student is working on reading or spelling, or they need help with history or geometry, Apt has skilled teachers to work with students one-on-one. Small group opportunities are also available.

Cost:

Curriculum & Registration Fee (non refundable): $250

Full Day: Pre-k through 8th grade tuition : $6300 ($630 monthly)

Individual class subject (Language arts, math, science, history) $250 per month per class.

Tutoring (per hour): $55

Multi-student family tuition:

1st student: $6,300

2nd student: $5,040

3rd or more students: $3,150 per student for each subsequent student

Our Mission

At Apt Academy, we provide a nurturing Christian environment that empowers students to discover their aptitudes, reach their potential, and pursue success in all areas of life.

Our Instructors

Meet the Apt Academy team!

A talented group of teachers who are setting a strong foundation for each student.

It is our sovereign responsibility as parents to ensure our children have an education they can rely upon.

Erin Walker

Education Program Staff and Leadership

Educational Philosophy

Founding Apt Academy

Founded on Faith, Values, and a Commitment to Do Education Differently

Why Our Staff Matters