There is something special about a pioneer or a founder. We can think of so many people throughout history who were the first to fly, the first to travel across oceans, or the founders of new cities and movements. We love reading about those who were brave enough to take the first step, put in the hard work, and start something new. We think of remarkable people like Lewis and Clark, who journeyed across the country to find a route across the United States, or General Palmer, one of the founders of Colorado Springs, who planted roots here and invited others to join him in building the beautiful city we now call home.
We celebrate these people. We admire their courage and often honor them with monuments, street names, mountains, and streams because they were willing to take those first steps. Not everyone has that entrepreneurial spirit or the bravery to venture into the unknown. However, most of the people we study and admire also had great teams. They had people who came alongside them on the journey—like Sacagawea, whose guidance and support helped Lewis and Clark succeed in their expedition. Pioneers rarely accomplish great things alone. It takes dedicated teams with diverse gifts and skills to turn a vision into reality.
As East Hills Academy begins its first year in the fall of 2026, we have the opportunity to be pioneers and founders of something new here in Colorado Springs. We have assembled an incredible founding team to accomplish what we believe is needed in education for our part of the city. Our Executive Director and leadership team spent the last two years developing our charter and working through the application process with District 11. Our curriculum and instruction team spent the past year designing, refining, and strengthening a curriculum and instructional approach that will provide the very best learning experience for your students. Our teachers have already begun training so they are fully prepared to bring that vision to life in the classroom.
Now we’re excited for you to join us on this journey as a Founding Family at East Hills Academy!
As part of that, we’ve invited you to leave your mark on the school and become part of its founding story. Last Saturday, we gathered for a Service Project at our new campus as a way of taking ownership of this new beginning. During the event, students painted their hands and literally left their handprints on the side of the building—a lasting symbol of being part of something special from the very beginning.
If you weren’t able to join us, don’t worry. We’ll make sure your student has the opportunity to leave their mark over the next few weeks. We want every family that has chosen to be part of this adventure to share in the experience and be remembered as one of the founding families who helped build this community.
I can’t wait to see it all come together. After all, the best things often begin with people who are willing to serve, work together, and take that very first step.