Meet Richelle Mckim | Executive Director, Summit Homeschool Academy & Summit Christian Academy

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richelle Mckim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richelle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I first attempted to homeschool, I found a lot of enrichment programs, but couldn’t find any that helped with core academics nearby. It was important to me that I wasn’t driving 45 minutes away, because I wanted to join a program where we could also build community with local friends. So, I built what I couldn’t find.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are a combined effort of two distinct programs, Summit Homeschool Academy & Summit Christian Academy. They are both core academic, classical homeschools… think “part-time” school. Together, we offer English & Math for free and Science, History + 1 elective for around $2,300/year. We also offer an Aviation Pathway program for aspiring Pilots (which is also tuition-free) and provides students with a 3-credit Embry-Riddle course plus $2,400 flight credit to Aspen Flying club.

I am most excited about being the first homeschool program that Embry-Riddle has ever partnered with. The reason they decided to accept us, was due to the academic merits of our core classes.

I am the most proud of our staff, several who have masters degrees. They choose to teach with us, because they love finally having a team that support effectively teaching and supporting students, rather than covering content. I am also incredibly proud of our growth. The first year, we had 41 students. The 2nd year we had 91 students and this year we had 176 students. Along with that, about 50% of our families chose homeschool, and left full time public school, because our school! This trend is rebuilding the family unit and resulting in vastly improved academic outcomes. I absolutely love being a part of that!

I want the world to consider that, my oldest only spent 16 hours in a classroom at Colorado School of Mines earning her Engineering Degree… it does NOT take 40 hours a week to teach school. So ask yourself… if they have 40 hours a week, why are outcomes so poor? Why do you need to get a tutor? Why doesn’t your child understand the content? Coming from a mom who once said, “I would never homeschool”. I would urge any family that can to consider homeschool, part-time school, or anything that will strengthen your child’s soul.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would go paddle boarding at Chatfield reservoir, then grab a coffee on the rooftop at Oh-De-Lally coffee, take a hike at Indian Creek, go fishing in Deckers and then catch the river back on an inner tube.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Starting something new takes a lot more time and work than anyone can anticipate. The last three years has been nothing short of a miracle and I quite literally couldn’t have done it without Bryan McKim, my husband, 2 adult daughters Hannah and Sadie and Bryson McKim, my son. They physically assembled the tables, made repairs, moved hundreds of books up and down 3 flights of stairs in our house, loading our truck and SUV every summer and fall, preparing the school on weekends and after hours, and my son and a few family volunteers were there every Monday and Thursday for 32 weeks to set-up the school. Our teaching staff poured into preparing their classes, supporting parents in teaching and Marilyn Mercer and Cassie Cini spent their weekends tending to placement assessments to make sure the children were placed in classes they would be successful at. It is truly a team effort, and I’m forever grateful to my family and team.

Website: https://summitha.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/summithsa/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SummitHSA

Image Credits
They are all ours 🙂