Why The Now Academy
Preparing the next generation of leaders through Business, STEM, character, and real-world learning, not just test scores.
Your Child Should Be Known—Not Just Enrolled.
You aren’t simply looking for somewhere your child can attend school.
You’re looking for an environment where they can be known personally, challenged academically, encouraged to think independently, grounded in character, and prepared for a rapidly changing future.
The Now Academy is intentionally small so we can build education around those priorities.
Small Cohorts • Business • STEM • Leadership • Biblical Character
You Want More Than a Good School. You Want the Right Environment.
Maybe your child needs more individual attention. Maybe you want learning connected to real life. Maybe leadership and character matter just as much to you as academic achievement. Maybe you want your child exposed to entrepreneurship, technology, problem-solving, and possibilities earlier. Or maybe you simply don’t want your child disappearing into the crowd.
You aren’t asking for too much.
You’re asking whether education can prepare the whole child.
Education Should Prepare Children for Life—Not Just the Next Test.
Traditional academic skills still matter. Children need to read. Write. Understand mathematics. Think critically.
But the world they are growing into will also ask them to:
- Solve unfamiliar problems.
- Communicate ideas.
- Use technology wisely.
- Understand money and value.
- Work with different people.
- Adapt when something doesn’t work.
- Lead themselves before leading others.
We believe education should intentionally prepare children for both.
Small Isn't Our Limitation. It's Our Design.
Our Founding Kindergarten Cohort is designed for approximately 10 students.
That means our first goal isn’t filling hundreds of seats.
It’s building an environment where educators can know:
- How your child learns.
- Where they’re growing.
- What frustrates them.
- What excites them.
- Where they need support.
- Where they’re ready for more.
Small enough to know them. Intentional enough to grow them.
Known by One Lead Educator. Inspired by Specialists.
Young children need consistency. They also benefit from educators who are passionate and knowledgeable about what they teach. The Now Academy brings those ideas together.
LEAD EDUCATOR
Knows the whole child. Provides consistency, monitors development, builds relationships, and helps connect the learning experience.
SPECIALIST FACULTY
Deepens the learning. Brings additional expertise into areas such as Business, STEM, Literacy, Mathematics, Global Learning, Leadership, and Creativity. Relationship without sacrificing expertise. Expertise without sacrificing relationship.
We Connect Learning to the Real World.
Young children need consistency. They also benefit from educators who are passionate and knowledgeable about what they teach. The Now Academy brings those ideas together.
BUSINESS
“What can I create?” Children begin understanding value, money, communication, customers, ideas, and problem-solving.
STEM
“How can I solve this?” Children experiment, build, test, adjust, and try again.
LEADERSHIP
“How should I show up?” Children practice responsibility, communication, service, integrity, and self-leadership.
ACADEMICS
“What do I need to know?”
Literacy and mathematics give children the foundation to explore everything else.
Learn. Build. Lead. Become.
We Teach Children What to Do When the Answer Doesn't Come Easily.
Sometimes the project doesn’t work.
Sometimes the answer is wrong.
Sometimes the idea needs improvement. That’s not wasted learning.
At The Now Academy, children are encouraged to:
- Try.
- Test.
- Ask.
- Adjust.
- Try again.
We Don't Wait Until Adulthood to Introduce Leadership.
Leadership isn’t a title children earn someday.
It begins now with:
- Keeping your word.
- Taking responsibility.
- Listening.
- Communicating respectfully.
- Serving others.
- Managing emotions.
- Finishing what you start.
Faith Shapes How We Build.
At The Now Academy, faith isn’t simply another subject on the schedule. Biblical principles help shape how children learn about:
- Integrity
- Service
- Stewardship
- Responsibility
- Respect
- Purpose
- Leadership.
We care about what children accomplish—and the character they develop while accomplishing it.
“Train up a child in the way he should go…” — Proverbs 22:6
Hybrid by Design—Not by Convenience.
3 DAYS TOGETHER Designed for:
- Relationships
- Hands-on projects
- Specialist instruction
- Collaboration Leadership
- Discussion
2 DAYS GUIDED ONLINE Designed for:
- Practice
- Reflection
- Projects
- Digital fluency
- Growing independence
- Family flexibility
experiences.
Technology Is a Tool. Thinking Is the Skill.
Your child is growing up in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, digital communication, and technologies we cannot fully predict yet.
Simply giving children devices isn’t preparation.
They also need to learn:
- How to ask questions.
- How to evaluate information.
- How to create.
- How to communicate.
- How to make ethical decisions.How to think independently.
Parents Aren't Outsiders. They're Partners.
You know your child in ways a school never can. Educators see your child in ways you may not always see at home. The best insights happen when those perspectives communicate.
Parents stay connected through:
- Progress conversations
- Portfolio reviews
- Project showcases
- Digital visibility
- Teacher communication
You shouldn’t have to wait for a report card to understand how your child is growing.
Why Choose a Founding Academy?
We understand the question.
Established schools may offer decades of history, larger campuses, extensive facilities, alumni networks, and long-standing traditions.
Those things matter.
The Now Academy is building something different from the beginning.
Founding Families receive the opportunity to enter an intentionally small community where:
- Relationships are being built intentionally.
- Traditions are being established thoughtfully.
- Families have closer access to Academy leadership.
- The first cohort receives unusually personal attention.
- The culture is being established before the Academy grows.
- Every established school once welcomed its first family.
Our goal isn’t to look established before we’ve earned it. Our goal is to build something worth establishing.
We're Investing First in What Happens Inside the Learning Environment.
Our Founding Cohort will begin in a carefully selected partner learning space rather than a large traditional campus.
That allows us to prioritize early investment in:
Excellent educators
Small cohorts
- Curriculum
- Technology
- STEM resources
- Student experiences
- Safety Family partnership
As The Now Academy grows, our facilities can grow with it. But our educational philosophy doesn’t have to wait for a large building.
What The Now Academy Is Designed Around
The Risk Isn’t That Your Child Won’t Be Smart Enough.
Children need opportunities to discover: “I can solve this.” “I can learn this.” “I can build this.” “I can communicate this.” “I can improve.” “I can lead.”
Confidence grows when capability becomes visible.
Imagine Who Your Child Could Become
RESPONSIBLE
“My choices matter.”
GROUNDED
“I know how I should treat people.”
COURAGEOUS
“I can communicate my ideas.”
PURPOSEFUL
“My gifts can serve something bigger than me.”
That is the transformation we’re building toward.
Built From Leadership. Designed for the Next Generation.
The Now Academy was founded by Leonard J. “Coach LJ” Chaplin from a conviction that children should develop more than academic knowledge—they should learn confidence, leadership, problem-solving, character, and the ability to build toward their future.
- 20+ years leadership + entrepreneurship
- Business + marketing education
- Leadership coaching + development
- John Maxwell Certified
- Doctoral study in Organizational Leadership
- Faith-centered leadership experience
See Whether We're Right for Your Family
No pressure. Just a thoughtful conversation about your child and what you’re looking for.
Your Child Has More in Them. Let's Build an Environment That Helps Them Discover It.
If you’re looking for an intentionally small, faith-centered educational environment where academics meet Business, STEM, Leadership, character, and real-world learning, we’d love to learn more about your family
FAQs
Do you know if hybrid students receive supplies?
Uniforms, laptop, books, and school supplies are included in tuition.
How do students stay connected if temporary learning accommodations are needed?
In certain situations, families may need short-term learning flexibility. When appropriate, The Now Academy may work with families to create temporary learning accommodations that allow students to continue progressing while remaining connected to their cohort and the Academy community.
Students and families stay engaged through leadership activities, project showcases, cultural exchange days, and major community events such as our Winter Festival and graduation celebrations.
These arrangements are reviewed case-by-case and month-by-month to ensure students remain aligned with the academic expectations, leadership development, and culture of The Now Academy.
When is the next Info Session?
June 29, 2026, at 2 PM.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, limited assistance is available; families must apply within 2 weeks of submitting their application.
What grades does The Now Academy currently offer?
The Now Academy begins with Kindergarten, where students start their learning journey within our unique educational model. Because our program is built on a consistent philosophy of leadership, character, business, and STEM education, students begin together and grow within the program.
For this reason, we do not accept mid-year transfers or later grade-level admissions. Our goal is to build strong foundations early and equip students with the mindset and skills they will carry with them into high school, college, careers, and entrepreneurship.
How do students transition into high school and college?
Students at The Now Academy are prepared for future success through a strong academic foundation combined with leadership development, entrepreneurship, and STEM learning.
Each year, The Now Academy admits a new kindergarten cohort, while existing students continue advancing to the next grade level together. This cohort model allows students to grow within a consistent learning environment rooted in the academy’s philosophy of leadership, character, and real-world learning.
To maintain a strong learning culture and personalized attention, each class is intentionally limited to 10–15 students, with a goal of up to five kindergarten classes per year.
As students progress through the academy, they are equipped with the academic skills, character formation, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed in high school, college, future careers, or starting their own ventures.