I absolutely struggled in public education. I studied and worked hard for every average grade I received. I became frustrated with trying to adapt my way of learning to a rigid, standardized system. There had to be a better way…

 

Wanting to help other struggling individuals and eventually understanding that there’s nothing standardized about each person’s unique understanding, I became a teacher because I KNEW there had to be a better way. 

 

I thrived as an educator, adapting the direct instruction traditional curriculum as best I could to help individualize my teaching approach. At the same time I became exhausted trying to meet every student’s needs with extremely limited resources and very little help. There had to be a better way…

 

Then I had my son and my struggles in education boiled to the surface. As a parent, you want what’s best for your child, you feel the need to help ease them from some of the same turmoils you went through growing up.  You want to SHOW them a better way. 

 

I dove into researching educational methods, used my own past educational and educator experiences as well as observed a different approach with my own son. 

 

I came out of it all with an understanding of a better way… a way to meet each child’s needs, help them RISE to their potential with the support and resources that are necessary for a lifelong, quality education. An approach that would help create entrepreneurs and innovators, creative thinkers and leaders. 

 

THIS is that way. 

​

Melissa Ray

Director of Rising Heights Academy