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

Hi April, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
LELA Academy was born after many parents of students with learning differences approached Mrs. Lilly when another local private school where she was resource director/coordinator closed its doors suddenly, mid-year, filing bankruptcy and leaving these parents with no alternatives for their children. These parents were looking for an alternative to the educational system that wasn’t serving them properly. The parents seeking Mrs. Lilly’s help had children with a range of differences such as anxiety, dyslexia, depression, dysgraphia, ADD / ADHD, etc., as well as lifestyles and goals such as competitive athletics, professional musicians, and budding entrepreneurs. With years of experience in education, curriculum development, and special education, Mrs. Lilly welcomed the children with open arms, and LELA Academy began in November 2019.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
LELA Academy is a private school devoted to providing students with the necessary tools needed to succeed in a small classroom setting. LELA Academy currently serves students in grades 3 through 12.

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Many families find the traditional school model to be a poor fit academically, socially, or emotionally for their children. At LELA, we believe that EVERY student has the potential to succeed in all aspects of school. An individualized curriculum is developed to meet each student’s unique educational needs. With an 8:1 student to teacher ratio, our teachers focus on mastery of content and are able to provide students with personalized instruction. An atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion is an essential component to the success of our small class model.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would introduce them to ballroom dancing! My favorite hobby. We might go take a couple of lessons to start off with and then visit some of the clubs that play 80’s music to practice what we just learned. For example, sambuca or lava cantina ( to catch some live music). I might go to some of the local open-air markets like the one on pearl street downtown, or the one in McKinney. We would for sure go to Spring Creek Bar B Que and Cheesecake Factory. WE would go to the arboretum and the Japanese garden as well as the Asian museum

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The students who attend my school but more so the parents who entrust their children’s education to me.

Website: www.thelelaacademy.com

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

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