Welcome to Kindling Academy. The Healthiest School in America.
We’re building something bold: a school designed for wellness, real-world learning, and future-ready kids.
Admission opens Oct 2025.
Kindle The Spark. Ignite The Future.
At Kindling Academy, our mission is to ignite a generation of independent thinkers, creative problem-solvers, and grounded leaders. Every child carries a unique spark-and our role is to kindle it into lasting purpose, curiosity, and confidence.
We combine Montessori structure with project-based exploration to help children build essential skills like adaptability, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. Instead of memorizing facts, children at Kindling engage in purposeful, real-world learning that prepares them for a future that will demand more from them than ever before.
Where Most Schools Get It Wrong
Before we talk about what makes Kindling different, let’s be honest about what’s not working- across public, private, and even alternative models.
A lot of schools claim to be “personalized" but rely heavily on tablets and adaptive learning apps. It's efficient—but it's not human. Children need conversation. collaboration. and rich sensory learning—not more screen time.
Most schools expect full-year attendance with no exceptions—treating every missed day like a setback. At Kindling, we know real learning doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom. Families can travel without stress, knowing their child isn’t “falling behind.” Because our learning is self-paced, students pick up where they left off—and we offer tailored learning packages that help families extend learning while exploring the world together.
Even in schools that claim to be “different,” there’s often an unspoken goal: get ahead, achieve more, impress someone. But the families we serve want something deeper—for their kids to grow into grounded, purposeful humans.
Some private schools feel more like exclusive clubs than warm, grounded communities. Families who are building something outside the norm—entrepreneurs, creatives, wellness-minded parents—aren’t looking for polish or prestige. They’re looking for belonging. Real community. A place where their family values are reflected and their child is known, not just enrolled.
Kids need to be kids.
There’s no reason they should be stuck indoors all day, cut off from fresh air and natural environments. Yet most schools limit recess and keep children in sealed, toxic spaces—missing the mark on what young bodies and minds truly need to thrive.
When one child gets sick, it ripples through the family—parents get sick, work is missed, routines are disrupted. The cost is more than just a day home from school; it’s emotional, physical, and economic.
From harsh, artificial lighting that disrupts sleep cycles…
To toxic cleaning products and synthetic air “fresheners”…
To stale indoor air with no breaks for fresh oxygen…
It’s no wonder our kids are often sick, exhausted, and struggling to thrive.
What We're Doing Differently
Kindling Academy is built from the ground up for families who value purpose over prestige, connection over competition, and real-life readiness over rote learning.
Our program is hands-on, curiosity-driven, and grounded in strong values: independence, wellness, creativity, and community. Here, children build the skills that actually matter- because we believe the early years shape everything that comes next.
Children are trusted from the earliest ages to make decisions, solve problems, and care for their space. This builds true independence—not just in academics, but in life.
Children regularly work in teams, share ideas, and learn how to listen, speak, and collaborate respectfully—laying the foundation for confident communication and teamwork.
Children don’t just absorb information—they ask questions, think critically, and take initiative. They learn to navigate uncertainty, persist through challenges, and solve meaningful problems.
Children learn in mixed-age classrooms where younger students look up to older peers, and older children step into leadership roles—building empathy, confidence, and collaborative learning.
Our outdoor spaces are an extension of the classroom. Children spend time outside every day exploring, creating, and moving—rain or shine.
We focus on thinking over memorization. Children learn to analyze, create, and reflect—skills that matter far more than standardized answers in a world full of information.
We prioritize clean air, calm design, and natural materials to support emotional regulation and whole-child development. Healthy bodies support focused minds.
Our Programs
Feeding the flame of independence and curiosity.
Age : 3 years – 6 years
Small flames, big energy.
Not sure where your 6-yr-old-fits? Children may be placed in either program depending on readiness- learn more on each program page.
Age : 6 years – 9 years
The Healthiest School in America.
We are on a mission to create the healthiest school in America. Children learn best in an inspiring environment that supports their mood and health.
From air filtration, to water filtration to non-toxic classrooms & diffused circadian rhythm lighting. We’ve designed our school with the same level of care and intention you’d expect in your home.
Jaspr air scrubbers in every room
Circadian rhythm lighting system
Non-toxic cleaning products
Purified, chemical-free drinking water
A School That's Evolving
Kindling Academy is growing-and the fire doesn’t stop here. We’re starting small and strong, with programs for children ages 3 to 9 years. But we’re building toward a complete learning journey that carries students through elementary and beyond. Here’s a glimpse of what’s ahead:
A chef-led, whole-food meal program
Featuring local, organic, and grass-fed ingredients thoughtfully prepared on site.
After-school enrichment programs
Hosted right on campus-partnering with local creatives, nature guides, movement instructors, and more.
Growing with your family
We’re launching with programs for ages 3–9—and plan to expand from there. Our vision is to grow Kindling Academy into a full journey through middle and high school, giving students a place to thrive all the way to graduation.
Ongoing renovations
To evolve the campus into a true wellness aligned space from air quality to lighting to outdoor learning zones.
Wellness consulting from leading experts
Including Ryan Blazer of Test My Home, to ensure our space meets the highest standards of environmental health.
Parent enrichment experiences
That go beyond workshops this will be a mastermind style community of like minded families growing together, exchanging ideas, and shaping something truly new.
Letter From The Founders
“We didn’t set out to start a school. We set out to find one that truly matched what we wanted for our kids. But no matter where we looked-public or private-we kept running into the same problem. Schools were either overly rigid or overly loose. Academically strong, but disconnected from real life. Full of charm, but missing challenge. And not one of them prioritized the thing we care about most: wellness. So instead of compromising, we decided to build what we couldn’t find. Kindling Academy is still in its early days-but the vision is bold and clear. A school where children are seen as capable. Where learning is joyful and rigorous. Where STEM, literacy, and real academic skills are taught with purpose-not worksheets. And where wellness, nature, and emotional intelligence are foundational, not fringe. We’re building a school that prepares kids for life-not just for tests. One where curiosity is protected.
One where families feel like true partners. One we’d be proud to send our own children to-because we are. I (Rachel) come to this not as a career educator, but as a parent. And in many ways, that’s what makes this work.
I have skin in the game. I’m building the kind of school I want for my own daughters-because I believe every child deserves to love learning, to be known deeply, and to be Challenged in all the right ways.
Mike brings over a decade of experience as a wellness entrepreneur and
founder of Jaspr.co, a company trusted by top hospitals and health leaders for cutting—edge air purification. He’s been featured on leading podcasts in the wellness space and is recognized as an authority on environmental health. But more than that, he brings the mindset and skills of a seasoned entrepreneur—someone who knows how to build something that lasts.
We’re not here to play school. We’re here to run this like a world-class
organization. That means hiring the best educators—not trying to do it all ourselves. It means making bold decisions. Investing in excellence. And ensuring that this school doesn’t just launch—it thrives. We’re not just dreaming—we’re doing. And we’re inviting families like yours to build it with us. If this vision speaks to you, you’re probably one of us.
We’re so glad you’re here.
Rachel & Mike Feldstein
