Testimonials and Reviews
What our Cal Families Are Saying ~
"The girls and I sometimes go to a yoga class on Wednesday evenings. I was tired after school and said, "I
don't want to go to yoga today. My body is tired."[My daughter] paused and got this sparkle in her eye and said, "Mommy! You need fortitude right now, and perseverance. Beautiful demonstration of how she's integrating the values...
She's very happy and loves class so much. Thank you for being her teacher and positive part of her life."
-Mother of Kindergarten & 3rd grade students
"The first day of school, I grabbed the wrong backpack, and needed to bring my daughter's backpack to school after morning drop-off. It was a huge blessing because I was invited to listen-in to your speech to the students. I had tears streaming down my face as I heard you speak, and I wanted you to know how powerful and poignant your words were; how very, very needed and important those concepts are, and how rare it is to hear someone speaking them out loud, let alone to a group of children. To combine the concepts of freedom (& revolution) WITH the necessity of self-governance, and the way those two things are essential to each other, is like speaking truth to the soul in a way that will make these children masters of their futures if they choose to be... and the belief in our (their) potential and possibilities, especially when we work together and within our values - what a call to heart and to action. I wished it had been recorded, because I would have listened to it again, and played it for my family. This school is a beacon of hope and I'm so grateful we are here. It's been a long road these last few years for our family. This is our fifth school in two years and when I heard you speak I knew we were home. That made me cry too. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
-A message from a parent to our Founder, Katy McKinney
"I see an amazing difference with [my granddaughter] this year regarding school….she talks about
what is going on at school and her teachers and staff….previous years, she would not talk about school. She loves calling us and practicing her recitations…you guys are doing an amazing job!! Thanks for all you do!!
-Grandparent of a 3rd grade student
I just finished watching The State of the Academy video It was fantastic! You & your team are doing such a great job.
-Bruce & Vicki Eilenberger
"It's only [our daughter's] 2nd day as a 2nd grader at boot camp and she is asking a lot of questions about the Preamble. After day 1 she wanted to know what the words meant and then she had many more Constitution questions. We just love this! This excitement and inquisitiveness never happened to her in public school. Her big brain was shut down going through the motions and none of it pulled her in and interested her. We are extremely excited to see what’s going to happen this year with her at CAL!"
-Parent of a 2nd grade student
"Katy is a fantastic leader, innovator, problem solver - our appreciation for her is unbounded. Her
commitment to excellence in education has created a God-send for our children in CAL."
-Parent of 6th and 8th grade students
Sara Phillips de Borja graduated with a BA from Principia College and continued her studies at the University of Cambridge in England, receiving a CPGS (“Certificate of Post-Graduate Study” – equivalent of a Masters degree). She then moved to St. Louis to study at Washington University, where she received her MA and finished the coursework towards a PhD. She has taught at a variety of levels from preschool through college and thoroughly enjoys helping students appreciate the creative arts, both visual and literary. In her teaching, she emphasizes the importance of strong writing skills and thorough research. Sara loves to read, and Bridge to Terabithia, Pride and Prejudice, and People of the Book are among her favorite novels. When she is not teaching, Sara and her family enjoy international travel. To date, they have visited 25 countries and most recently traveled to the Panama Canal. While at home, she loves to spend time with her husband, son, and dog. (Side note: She is drawn towards egg-drop contests and has won multiple times. Something to keep in mind for field day!)
Hal Witt grew up in Kansas City MO. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Greek and Latin from Northwestern University in Chicago and a Master’s degree in Classical Greek and Latin from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 
Nikki McGuire has taught in elementary education since 1993, with a ten-year break to raise her three children now 19, 17, and 10. She has experience teaching grade levels 3rd-6th in all subject areas, in both the public and private sector. She is a passionate professional with exceptional teaching, management, and leadership skills. She possesses the ability to tap into student’s interests and Socratically guide them to achieve levels previously thought unattainable. Mrs. McGuire loves inspiring and teaching children. Currently, she is the 6th grade homeroom teacher and math teacher for grades 4-6 for a local independent school, and she will join the CAL faculty in the fall as an elementary math teacher in the mornings and the PreK-K teacher in the afternoons. Nikki loves gardening, and spending time with her husband and three kids, preferably at the beach, but usually at the hockey rink or baseball field! With a degree in education from The University of Kansas, she also enjoys visiting her alma mater to see her daughter, a current Jayhawk, and catch a basketball game. She is a dedicated, passionate teacher that thrives on encouraging her students to reach for the stars!
Debbie Bridges is a 2011 graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Middle School Science Education at the age of 38 after spending ten years as a stay-at-home mother of two. Debbie taught for six years in a public middle school before joining CAL in September 2017.
Anne Hotz Harmon graduated cum laude from Hillsdale College in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Classical Education. She completed the Liberal Arts Teacher Apprenticeship at Hillsdale Academy with a focus in elementary education. Anne has also worked as a writer and editor for the Hillsdale College Marketing Department. In her free time, she enjoys browsing bookshelves, cooking with her friends, and listening to musicals. She is passionate about bringing her love of children’s literature and education to the Classical Academy de Lafayette in the fall.
A native Chicagoan and veteran teacher of more than twenty years in public and private sectors, Linda Griswold and her family moved from the Chicago suburbs to the St. Louis area two years ago. 
Mr. George Reed is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a degree in history, and he holds a degree in banking from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado at Boulder. George is the father of three grown children who are all successful in the arts. He is also a Vietnam War veteran having served with 82nd Airborne Division. George has spent most of his work career in industry as a financial planner and as a commercial loan officer with a major bank. He also had his own consulting business working with small business owners to improve their business practices. He has served on the Kirkwood YMCA Board, Alexandra Ballet Board, the Kirkwood Chamber of Commerce Board and the American Institute of Banking Board each for a term of 10 years. Mr. Reed has taught economics, financial history and American history.
Mrs. Marilyn Wallace is a lifelong educator, specializing in instruction for gifted and talented students. After graduating with degrees in Elementary/Secondary Education and Music, she taught students at all grade levels for 15 years, earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from National-Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, and entered school administration. In addition to her work in curriculum development, she was head of a K-8 independent school in the Chicago suburbs for 13 years and head of the Principia School here in St. Louis from 2006-2014. She has led 18 evaluation teams for the Independent Schools Association of the Central States. Now retired from her work in that field, she devotes her time to church activities. She lives in the area with her husband, and has two married sons who live nearby.
Mr. Dale Henn, Chairman, is a retired Vice President at Gannett, a Fortune 500 company, with 30+ years business leadership and experience including finance, accounting, real estate, facilities, M&A, insurance, treasury and IT. He serves on the St. Louis County Library Foundation Development Committee. Dale holds an M.B.A. from the University of Rochester and a B.A. in Math and Business Administration. Dale is an avid reader of history and biographies and a bike rider. He lives in St. Louis with his wife, Susie.
James V. Shuls is an assistant professor and the graduate program director of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He earned his Ph.D. in education policy from the University of Arkansas. Previously, he taught first grade and fifth grade in the Republic, MO R-III School District. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree from Missouri State University, both in elementary education. Prior to joining UMSL, he served as the director of education policy for the Show-Me Institute, where he is currently a distinguished fellow of education policy. Additionally, he is a research fellow at the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise at Lindenwood University and for EdChoice.