Aspen Academy raises children to be conscientious next-generation leaders

The school’s proprietary LiFE™ Program (Leadership, Finance and Entrepreneurship) develops students with durable skills for a thriving and successful life

Aspen Academy pre-kindergarten to 8th Grade students are truly one of a kind. As four-year-olds, in addition to learning to lead themselves, they open their own class businesses. By the time they graduate in 8th Grade, they have created at least 10 businesses and developed their own company under the mentorship of an industry leader. Developing business acumen at a young age, however, is not what distinguishes the school from other learning institutions. Aspen Academy created its unique, proprietary LiFE™ curriculum to raise future leaders who will be able to do the most good for the most number of people.

“Early education really began as a strong commitment to a sense of character-building,” says Kristina Scala, founder and CEO of Aspen Academy. “We hope to keep our middle school and elementary school students in a space of curiosity, fascination and wonder to identify problems and reach deep inside themselves to identify solutions and create businesses.”

This philosophy drives Aspen Academy’s LiFE™ program, which the school developed to nurture each child’s life skills in leadership, finance and entrepreneurship. The leadership component creates thoughtful and kind leaders from elementary school to middle school, while the finance aspect of the program develops the practical skills of earning, spending, saving and investing. Lastly, entrepreneurship teaches kids to identify gaps or needs in society and creates business endeavors that successfully address those gaps.

“Ultimately, we want to develop extraordinary leaders who know how to take good care of themselves while having the inclination and capacity to help others,” says Scala. “Children should be able to take the gifts they have been given, strengths they have developed, the curiosities they create enormously, and develop the courage and discernment to find positive solutions for as many people as they can.”

Learn more about Aspen Academy at aspenacademy.org.