- Will you consider this?

While it's been around for over two decades, it's still a well kept secret in Central Illinois.

I'm Christine Zak-Edmonds.

Stay right here to find out more about this educational institution.

(light music) It's their creed that the greatest gift we can give our children is an excellent education.

Peoria Academy was founded in 2000, the only private school accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States.

Head of School, Chris Wilson, and parent volunteer extraordinaire, Heidi de Haas, now join me to share the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding Peoria Academy, or PA for short.

Welcome.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

Thanks for having us.

- Let's start out with how Peoria Academy came about.

I know you're new here, 2 1/2 years, but you've got the whole history down, right?

- I do.

I do.

Peoria Academy was founded, as you said, 22 years ago by a group of parents and volunteers who saw the need for an inclusive, diverse, independent school serving students from all over the Peoria region.

And they came together with this dream and vision of founding this independent school.

And here we are today with students representing 10 different countries and 12 different towns and cities in the region.

- And so the enrollment was very small to begin with.

And do you know what it was and what is it today?

- Well, I know we started with just a very small number representing only a few grade levels, and here today we have almost 130 students in Pre-K through eighth grade.

- That's awesome.

Awesome.

Now, tell me, well, and you're a mom, and you've relocated here because you're from... - I'm from Holland.

- Holland.

All right.

But your kids go to school there.

Why did you choose that over any of the other schools available?

- Well, we came six years ago from Switzerland.

We came here, and my kids didn't speak any English.

So we were looking for small school that would welcome them, make them not feel special so that they would just easily be part of the whole culture and everything.

And we did a tour at different schools.

But as soon as we, and our Peoria Academy, felt like a family.

And the classes are really small, which helps both kids just go in, not speaking the language, but easily pick it up, easily to make friends.

There were a lot of other families who didn't speak, or English was not the first language, so it makes them feel welcomed and not special, although they're very special to me.

Oh, of course.

You would be remiss if you said anything differently.

And and that is that class size is very intimate.

So it's what, 8 to 12 kids per class generally?

- Generally speaking, yes.

We have a 12 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio throughout the school.

So our class sizes allow faculty to really focus on the individual needs of students.

And while we also focus on the building blocks and really provide a rigorous education in the traditional sense, we also address all of the needs of students, from their social-emotional growth to the kinds of values that we hope animate the community in terms of building each other up to make ourselves stronger.

Athletics, music, arts, we really run the gamut in our curriculum.

And I think that's a hallmark of the Peoria Academy experience ever since the school was founded.

- Who developed that curriculum?

Or is that part of the independent school?

- Many independent schools, particularly in the ISACS association that you referenced have a holistic approach to education.

And what that really means simply is that we don't just focus on grades and test scores.

Our students do fabulously well on those measures, but we really focus on what I call the top of the pyramid, which is how do we create a better world?

How do we think about our obligation to community and society?

And how can we draw on what we learn in art and music and history and science, and put it all together to solve the future problems of the world.

- And your kids, when they came here, they could incorporate in.

And not knowing any English, what were their first words?

Or how did they understand the teachers the first day, of like, "This is your homework."

- Yeah, well, they understood a little bit of English.

Enough at least not to be afraid, 'cause we were in different countries before where they didn't speak the language at all.

But they didn't read or write in English.

So I think that's a major problem when you go into second grade.

And for me, it's not my native language either.

So we couldn't really help them sometimes.

But the teachers were just, it was so easy for them just to learn.

And I don't even know what the first words were, but they never came home- - Frustrated.

- Frustrated or sad or anything.

It was just like, "Okay, we're here and we like it."

- [Christine] It's good.

It's all good.

- So then the parents are happy.

- So one very interesting thing that is about to all come to fruition is the International Baccalaureate program.

And this is offered, or will be including all grades at Peoria Academy?

- That's right.

So the school has always been focused on the global world.

And as Heidi I think represents, we do have, in addition to many families from Peoria and the towns surrounding, we have students from all over the world because of the employers who are in the area.

So it was very easy for us to become involved with the International Baccalaureate.

- So explain that for people who have no idea what the IB program is.

- Of course.

So the IB program is a worldwide consortium of schools who follow a very similar mission and vision to what I described to you at Peoria Academy.

They're schools that prize not just a strong educational foundation, but also a set of values that look at the world as a global community, and a place where we as individual citizens can make a difference.

We decided to enter into candidacy to become an International Baccalaureate school last year.

And many of your viewers may be familiar with the IB program at Richwoods.

- Correct.

- Well, that's the diploma program for high schoolers.

We're implementing the primary years program and middle years program.

And so even our youngest students, our three-year-olds will benefit from the International Baccalaureate program at Peoria Academy.

And all of our students through eighth grade will then be prepared in what is widely regarded as the most rigorous academic program that's available all over the world.

- And right here in Peoria.

- Right here in Peoria.

- Is that the only one in the state of Illinois that you know of?

Or at least in Central Illinois?

- We will be the only PYP and MYP programme serving those grade levels continuously anywhere outside of between Chicago and St. Louis that we're aware of.

- And you have a lot of different, being globally focused, you have a lot of various programs that you do get the kids involved in in order to recognize those less fortunate than they are in very many ways.

So which one of you would like to start with that?

- I'm happy to start, and Heidi, you can add on.

We have many aspects of our program that address what you just mentioned.

All of our students have world language instruction from Pre-K through 8.

And then all of our students are also committed to service outside of the school.

But we don't think about service as just collecting cans or collecting clothing.

We wanna go out into the community and be part of it.

We've always been a part of the city of Peoria since our founding, and we have a really deep commitment to the city, both through service and also through access.

So our financial aid programs and our flexible tuition model really are designed to let any family with a student who's capable of accessing our program to do so at Peoria Academy.

- So there are scholarships: full scholarships, partial scholarships?

- Both.

We have a number of full scholarships that are available, as well as partial scholarships for families who can do part of the tuition but not all.

And so our community is really quite diverse, both ethnically and also socioeconomically.

- And then Heidi, you are really involved with rounding up the troops and getting them going and leading the kids in some of the drives that they have.

I know that there's Easter Seals.

And what other ones?

Or just start there.

- Yeah, last year we had the diaper drive.

We're doing the food drive.

We have different company of different communications, community service coming to our school, like the Neighborhood House.

We had the Friendship House.

Well, Easter Seals is one of them.

They come several times.

So they explain to the kids what they do.

And if they want to be involved, how they can help.

Which Chris said.

It's not only financial, but also come to them, see what they do, interact with everybody who's there.

And then see if it's something they wanna pick up when they're in eighth grade to make part of their curriculum.

- Every eighth grader undertakes a project to benefit the community.

- So almost like an Eagle Scout kind of project.

- Very much so.

And it serves as a capstone experience for them as they finish that Middle Years Programme for the IB.

- So we'll start with the little kids, the three-year-olds.

What exactly will they learn about their world at that age, and their part in the entire world?

- Well, that's a wonderful question.

So little little kids at the three-year-old, four-year-old level- - Sponges.

- They're sponges.

And they're curious and they're excited.

And I think it's our job as educators to keep that same curiosity and excitement for them through middle school, through high school and beyond.

So we start in the third grade, in the three-year-old section of our Pre-K, really thinking about where am I in the world and what do I see around me?

So I might think about the landscape and geography of Illinois.

And then I might be introduced to a student in Europe or in Asia who is in their own landscape, and what might their school be like.

What might they see when they leave their front door?

What might they eat for dinner or breakfast?

And so they can begin to build not only a sense of the world as a place that's connected, but also as a place where they have empathy and understanding for people who are different than they are.

And I think that's so very valuable as they get older.

- And so important, especially in today's world, because the world is getting smaller and smaller.

- It is.

- It really is.

And then Heidi, you were saying on that same topic that you have an International Night or an international... - Yes.

- Is it just one night?

- It's one night when most of our families who have different background, or at least from a different country, which can be that they're Americans, but have parents that came from Europe or any other place, and they bring their favorite dish to the school.

And it's for everyone to come and to taste and see what's around there.

And it's just fun to see all the families.

Some dress up in their traditional clothes and bring attributes.

I will bring my wooden shoes.

- I was gonna ask that.

- And my tulips.

- Okay, maybe it'll be icy and you can skate in.

- So we all wear best to represent our country, and then bring the food.

And it's just such a fun evening to see and the kids to enjoy.

And I think what Chris said, it's very important to have respect for each other's culture, and food is a big part of that.

And so, yeah, I love to share that.

And it's just a fun night.

- So you're involved; you said that the students are not only educational, math, reading, writing, arithmetic, all that, but you have some sports programs, you have a a lot of arts programs.

Explain that.

Limited sports, but that's okay, I guess.

Am I right?

I mean, limited?

- Well, we offer a very full program.

So as you said, we have a commitment to the arts and music, visual arts, music that spans Pre-K all the way through eighth grade, almost on a daily basis for students, Which I think is a real differentiator in this day and age in schools.

On the athletic front, our fifth graders can participate in the competitive athletic program with our middle schoolers.

And so we have soccer and cross country.

We have basketball and volleyball.

We have these incredible opportunities for students to participate.

- Girls and boys?

- Girls and boys together.

And because of our size, one of the things that I think is wonderful is that every student who wants to play has a chance to play.

And it prepares them not only athletically for high school, but also prepares them with their teamwork and sportsmanship that I think is very important.

We have produced state champion athletes.

One of our students who just graduated was very competitive in the states in track and field last year, and is now at Richwoods doing the same thing.

So our artists, our musicians, our athletes, many, many people have graduated from Peoria Academy with incredible skills in those areas.

- And did I read, like 99% of your students have been accepted into the IB program at Richwoods?

- Absolutely, pretty much every student who's graduated from Peoria Academy who's hoped- - [Christine] Maybe that 1% went elsewhere.

- Exactly, exactly.

So that track record also I think speaks volumes.

And then students have gone on to Ivy League colleges.

- And you like that 'cause you're from out East.

- They're not the only good schools.

But I think they do represent the kind of graduates that have come out of Peoria Academy.

And then that's very exciting for you.

And then you said you have the visual arts.

So that includes what?

And then you have music.

So tell me about those programs.

Because a lot of people really don't know what goes on at Peoria Academy.

They know that it's there on Willow Knolls Road, and that's pretty much it.

- Well, our visual arts program has been a hallmark of the school for the 22 years that we've been open.

And so every student, again, beginning with only the the three-year-olds, do visual arts, painting, sculpture, drawing, opportunities to express themselves.

And of course that can all be integrated with the International Baccalaureate as well, as we explore different media and different artistic traditions.

On the music front, again, every student from the Pre-K on has music class, and they begin to perform as they get older.

- Fun.

- And just tonight, actually... - [Christine] We're gonna see this in January.

We're going back to (muffled speaking).

But that's okay.

It's a musical.

- [Chris] We have a musical in the fall.

We have a musical in the spring.

And so students have an opportunity to participate in those as well.

- [Christine] Even the littlest ones.

- Even the littlest ones.

- Oh, they'd be great elves.

Well, that's fun.

And then music, it's all instruments?

- It's vocal.

So students do musical theory early in their time.

There's a strings partnership we have with the Suzuki program.

So students can do that.

And then every student has an opportunity to participate in chorus.

So it's not only music theory, but it's performance, which I think also calls on us as students to exercise a different part of who we are.

- Right.

Well, so will you have choral performances too?

Not just the two musicals, but there are other performances as well throughout the year?

- There are, yes.

And we always have a big spring performance that happens at the very end of the year before graduation, which is one of those rites of passage for students as we finish one year and think about the next.

- Now, Heidi, what grades are your boys in?

You have two boys.

- [Heidi] Yes, I have one in third grade, Rick, and I have Luke in eighth grade.

Oh, seventh grade, sorry.

- Seventh grade.

- [Heidi] He was almost, yeah.

- Well, he thinks he's older.

- He's so grown up.

- And why did you choose Peoria Academy?

- Yeah, I think really the family feeling, the academic which is good.

And especially once we are now IB, for us it's extra because we will go back to Europe one time.

Or if they decide to go to a European university, and then IB is a perfect match.

So for foreigners or expat, it's perfect.

But it's also I think the respect for each other.

I think that's very important.

The opportunities, what Chris already said, all the activities.

I mean, my oldest played piano.

He learned to perform.

He'd never done it before.

There are musicals.

There are a Model UN.

They went to big universities to present their case, and it just makes them all round.

And I think that's something that I really love in PA. - And what brought you here 2 1/2 ago?

- Well, my family has always been based in Illinois.

My close family's in Chicago.

And I came here originally only thinking I would stay one year.

I was brought as the interim head of school with a certain set of tasks to accomplish.

It was right in the middle of COVID.

- [Christine] Of course.

- And nonetheless, I got to know members of our community.

And not just at Peoria Academy, but many folks who supported the school beyond the immediate parent community.

And I really fell in love with our our parent body, our student buddy.

Just this sense of family I think as Heidi referenced.

And many schools say that, but Peoria Academy really does it.

And for me, as someone who has spent more than two decades leading private schools, we have something very special here.

And I think it's something that people who live in Peoria and work in Peoria and are interested in the future of the city should know about and should support.

'Cause I think we provide something that's really unique.

And so for me as an educator, it was a real opportunity to do something that mattered, and that could provide students not only with a strong education, but really a life-changing one that helps them think about the world in a new way.

- What did you major in?

Well, yeah, what did you major in?

Education?

Primary education?

I'm Just wondering.

Asking for a friend.

- My early schooling, my early schooling is actually in history.

And I have a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in history.

When I became involved in schools, I earned a master's degree in education as well.

But I've learned by doing, very much like our students I think do.

And I've always enjoyed watching young people grow.

And when that light bulb comes on and they began learning new things and thinking about problems and designing solutions- - Joyful learning.

- It's joyful learning.

And I get to do the same thing as a grown-up in my role.

- So you're head of school.

Now, that's kind of like principal, right?

- A different term.

So as head of school, I think about how can we provide the strongest program possible for students.

And that might involve academics.

That might involve finance.

That might involve a program in athletics.

It might involve volunteer opportunities and connections in the community.

Peoria Academy also has a principal.

And his role is really to focus on that day-to-day work with students and teachers.

- [Christine] And that's Stacy.

- And that's Stacy Stoyanoff.

And so what he's able to do is give that day-to-day focus.

And his background is in International Baccalaureate schools, and his family is from the area.

And so he's just come to Peoria as well about six months ago, and bought a home and really put down roots here, and is so excited to help watch this grow as well.

- But you're kind of the umbrella, the overall big picture guy.

- I'm the umbrella.

Yeah.

- You don't look anything like an umbrella.

- [Chris] Thank you.

- So what kind of exciting things then are coming up?

And can people call and have a tour, get a tour of the school so that they can learn more about it and see if it would be a good fit for their families?

- Absolutely.

So the biggest news on our horizon is, as I mentioned, we've applied to be certified as an IB world school.

We've implemented the programs.

And hopefully in just a month or two, we'll have an opportunity to receive those certifications.

- What takes so long in that process?

Or do they come in?

Are they in the classrooms?

Are they in the school?

Are they acknowledging everything that you're doing?

I mean, getting a hands-on experience with it too.

- They do.

So educators from all over the country and all over the world participate in these certification visits.

So we will actually show off all of the hard work of our faculty and students to really a panel of educators from all over the world.

They will likely come in person, and provide us not only with feedback, but affirmation for just the incredible work that our faculty's done.

And I wanna touch on that just for a minute, because our faculty did this during COVID.

So in addition to all of the challenges that many schools faced during COVID, and we faced them as well, our faculty made a commitment to make this really powerful transformation to support their work and their students' work, in addition to just what we know was such a difficult time.

So I want to give them a pat on the back for this as we talk.

So that's big news for us.

We will be accepting applications not only for next school year, but we have just a few seats available even for immediate placement.

And so anyone who's interested in learning more about Peoria Academy, please contact us.

- And what's the phone number?

- The best way is actually to email us.

- [Christine] Where is that?

Just admissions@peoriaacademy.org.

And that gives us an opportunity to schedule a tour at your convenience.

And come on in and see what we're doing, and see if it might be a good fit for your family.

- And then what about this fit, and everything that she does for this school?

You don't wanna lose her, do you?

You don't wanna have anybody graduate?

- I'm not going anywhere.

And I still work for the third-grade level.

I'll be there for a long time.

And I think also the excitement is the international festival that's coming up.

I think that's very exciting.

That's open to the public.

So anybody who wants to come and taste.

- And when will that be?

- [Heidi] In February.

We haven't set the exact date.

- So kind of check the website to make sure that you know.

Yes, it will be on the website.

And just come and taste whatever we have on offer.

And another big thing is our global summit where we do a Model UN for I think it's 200 students, where we are at right now, from schools all in Peoria.

So they come to our school and we host that.

And it's a unique opportunity also for them to see what Model UN is all about, and to learn about a country that they pick or assign, and then talk about that, do the research about the topic.

And it's so unique to see them all together, even different schools and different backgrounds.

It's very unique.

- [Christine] It's inclusive.

- Yes.

- So you're happy that you came here.

- [Chris] Absolutely.

And you're happy to be here too.

- Yes.

- And we're happy to have you share the story of Peoria Academy.

- Thank you.

- So keep in touch.

And we'll also keep an eye on you, make sure you're doing everything right.

Thank you all for joining us.

I hope you learned a lot about PA. And you stay safe and healthy, and have a good evening.

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