Our Story
I am not a trained teacher or public school administrator. The closest I got to teaching in a professional institution is tutoring Chemistry in college. Then, I had three kids; it was like I went back to school. I had to be constantly learning. But we planned to leave the teaching up to the professionals. The universe had other plans (I swear I can still hear the universe laughing at us.)​​
From our founder, Angela Fairbanks:
Kalexedy was born from our hope to have an amazing and transformative, local education choice for our kids. This is how we got there.
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​Our three kids have very different learning profiles, strengths, and weaknesses. All of them have attended public school at one or multiple points.
One of them has ADHD and is whip-smart. We thought public school was working. She reporting loving school; but what she actually loved was lunch, recess, and playing with friends.
One of them lasted in public school until October when the school invited us to a meeting. They suggested we withdraw her and investigate homeschooling or a private option as she was estimated to be solidly 4 to 5 years advanced above her peers and bored out of her mind. This was the first time homeschooling appeared on our radar. But to embrace it, we would have to teach, right?​​ We gave it a go, pretty successfully if I say so myself. (But we were working with a kid that already knew everything she needed to for her age so it would have been hard to screw it up.)
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One of them started at our local public school, but with multiple medical challenges that caused many absences and along and complicated IEP for ASD. We have literal boxes of special education paperwork, only dwarfed by the size of their medical record. And while we never questioned it initially, our confidence in the system to recognize their potential and help them reach it was consistently eroded. ​
​​​​Until COVID hit, we thought we were doing ok. It wasn't great, but seemed good enough. Once remote schooling started, we only lasted 2 weeks. I was appalled and astounded. Having been homeschooling one child for multiple years at that point, I knew there was a better (and easier) way, at least as a temporary measure. We switched to homeschooling all three children and hoped one less child made a hard situation a little easier for their respective teachers. While there was a little chaos in the beginning, who didn't experience a little chaos at the beginning of COVID? ​
​​​​​​By the time schools were bringing kids back to the classroom, they were doing ok. But COVID was especially risky for our child with medical issues, so we had to delay that child's return. Approximately the same time, I had a chance encounter with the teacher for one of the others in a grocery store. She asked me why if I was already homeschooling one child for giftedness, wasn't I doing the same for the other with a similar profile (Parenting fail: We didn't recognize it). The seed was planted.
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And I go back to where I started, I don't teach. My husband doesn't teach. We work full-time. It is one thing to mentor a single Type A kid and another to actively keep three very different kids on track. Entering just as we were staring down the oncoming train, was KaiPod Learning. The brainchild of Amar Kumar, KaiPod was a microschool opening in Newton, MA. Each kid would have their own academic plan that was right for them, there would only be 12 kids to a pod, and they had a trained and experienced teacher overseeing the kids.
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We started with one child. This will likely live as some of the happiest months of parenting ever. A second child joined her shortly thereafter. And by January, all three were attending full-time. With no apprehension and seeing great success, we stayed with KaiPod for three years. Then, through no fault of their own, the KaiPod in Newton, MA had to close. The devastation hit all of us HARD. In three years, our kids and our family had seen so much growth and success. This is more impressive because over those three years I was diagnosed and treated for cancer twice. Preserving for them the magic and success that they had at KaiPod became our priority.
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After traversing the state north, south, east and west looking for an alternative, we came up empty. We wanted what we had with KaiPod: a clean, safe space, a skilled and qualified teacher, personalized support for each child's academics, and a culture that made every kid feel safe and welcomed.
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Kalexedy Learning Center is the product of months of recreating and refining the experience we had at KaiPod. It was a family effort, but done with the mentoring of Amar Kumar and the support of his KaiPod team. Truth be told, they are still in the wings like fairy godparents. They have gotten to see us find a space, transform it from accounting offices to a space everyone (parents and kids) wants to live in, and hire a qualified and skilled teacher that embraces the opportunity to have the class of their dreams.
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Our hope is that Kalexedy is the opportunity for other families to experience the amazing, transformative experience we are living. The opportunity to see what happens when your kids are bone-deep happy about going to school. The opportunity to see their potential ​be the goal and not just what can be accomplished with 30 kids in the room. The opportunity to collaborate with a teacher that is rested, happy, and thriving in their profession.
​So as you consider the educational path for your family, Jeremy and I (and all the kids and staff) invite you to visit and consider Kalexedy. We could give you a million reasons why, but the biggest reason is that you owe it to yourself to know all your options.
Mission & Vision
At Kalexedy Learning Center, our mission is simple: to create thinkers, creators, innovators and life-long learners. We envision a world where children are empowered to think critically, learn joyfully, and take ownership of their education.
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We do this by offering an environment where every student is treated as an individual—where their passions, strengths, and learning styles guide their educational path. We emphasize experiential learning, collaborative projects, and a balance of academics, arts, and play.
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Our students are more than just prepared for the next grade—they’re prepared for life. Kalexedy students leave with skills and confidence they use to thrive in college, career, and beyond.
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Ready to experience our mission in action?
Visit our Enrollment page to see how your child can become a part of our exciting learning community.
Our Amazing Team
Behind every great school is a team of dedicated, passionate educators—and at Kalexedy, we’re lucky to have the best!
Our team is the heart of Kalexedy Learning Center. From our visionary educators to our supportive staff, every member of our team is dedicated to creating a positive, nurturing environment for your child.
