The Excelsior Academy
The Excelsior Academy (TEA) is a highly respected home education oversight program registered with the Maryland State Department of Education to provide legal oversight to Maryland homeschool students. It is directed by a home education professional with over 40 years experience in the field. TEA knows that each child deserves a truly individualized learning experience and gives families the freedom to create a learning program that best meets their child's needs while fully complying with all State regulations. TEA is supportive of all homeschool methods, from traditional to whole child-centered, and has no religious affiliation requirements.
NO NEW STUDENTS BEING ENROLLED NOW OR IN FUTURE YEARS:
TEA no longer is enrolling any new students, now or in future years. Neither is TEA maintaining a ‘waiting list’. After over 30 wonderful years of working with students and families as an oversight director, I am retiring soon. Records for TEA graduates will eventually be obtained from the MD State Department of Education Office of Nonpublic Education. Please refer back here for that information after the 2023-2024 school year.
Warmest wishes to all of my students and families, past and present! You’ve made it all worthwhile!
Your fan,
Wendy
A Special Message to our Class of 2024 and Their Proud Parents:
As spring hurtles into summer and we put the finishing touches on another great school year, the joy of looking ahead to some lazy days is accompanied by some bittersweet feelings, especially for the families of our 2024 Seniors. Some of you are graduating your first child, some your last, and many your "in-betweens". The thrill, pride, and absolute delight of watching them make this significant rite of passage into adulthood are mingled with memories of little ones bouncing in our laps and bedtime stories with lots of cuddling and kisses goodnight. As we stand behind our young adults as they look ahead to their futures, we also see the path they have traveled these eighteen years from totally dependent beings to the fabulous young people they are today. For parents, no wonder high school graduation brings a fountain of tears along with feelings of incredible joy and accomplishment!
For me, this time also invokes the full gamut of emotion. It is always hard for me to say goodbye to a class of students who have wrapped themselves around my heart. But, instead of saying goodbye, let us simply say, ‘Until we meet again’, and ‘Stay in touch!’ Each of you has enriched my life in countless ways, and you will always hold a very special place in my heart. And, remember, I am always here to help and advise as needed. Like I always say, ‘Just because you have graduated doesn't mean my support of you stops!’
What people are saying about TEA:
• Thank you so much for all that you do!!! I feel so blessed to have found The Excelsior Academy, and just in case you ever forget, you are making life and homeschooling infinitely better for all the families who have come after you!
• Again, I can't begin to tell you what a wonderful experience TEA has been. You have been so wonderful in providing information and any and all help we have needed both academically and emotionally. Your knowledge extends to all aspects of education. You have been truly invaluable!
• One of the best things about you is your ability to make us feel that the world is open to us and all we have to do is reach for it. :) My daughter was smiling from ear to ear when we finished and I felt very relieved also.
• Thank you for all you do. You always make things special and fun for the kids. We love your attitude and enthusiasm.
• You are ever so thoughtful and making people feel so welcome. And as always, it was so great to see your smiling face and feel the exuberant presence you bring to a room. We as TEA families are blessed to have you as our "fearless leader".
• Thank you so much for a wonderful graduation celebration today! My family and I were so impressed with how warm and intimate the commencement ceremony was. My mother in law even commented that this was the "best" graduation she has ever attended (and she has been to quite a few for her grandchildren. I am extremely honored to be a part of The Excelsior Academy family.
• Thanks for all you did for us. Homeschooling was the best decision we could have made.
• You words of encouragement kept me going many a day.
• Our homeschool community is so blessed to have you as a leader. The love and dedication you give to each and every kid is just amazing!
• I remember last summer when I was thinking about doing this and full of fear - you said "if you do this, I guarantee when we talk next year you'll tell me your son is happier, is making friends and things are working much better." Well, you were completely right. Your words stuck with me and it has all come true. I'm taking it a year at a time - but I must say I can't really see myself ever sending him back to traditional school. We'll see, but for now, this is working!! Thanks a bunch.
• Thank you again for taking care of my family over the years and guiding us on our homeschool journey. I have really enjoyed watching the boys grow and develop and am looking forward to watching them enter the next phase of their life. You definitely made this all possible for us and I really appreciate your letting me "paint outside the lines" so to speak; your flexibility to my schooling style and your constant positive reinforcement when I needed a boost made this adventure so much more rewarding.
• Thank you so much for a wonderful graduation. You put so much work into it from the decorations, senior party, gifts to seniors and moms, goody bags, personal photos of every student, etc. But what is the most impressive is how you know and address each senior on stage, ask them personal questions, ad lib some more, and make them feel so special. I've never seen anything like it - it makes it so unique. I can't imagine a more special or memorable graduation.
• Thank you for everything you have done this year to help our son graduate, pick a major, get scholarships, and get into college. Forever grateful!
• Thank you so much for everything Wendy! All your help and support through the years has meant the world to me and helped me to be the best homeschool mom I could be. I will always be grateful for you.
• Thank you Wendy. It's been so wonderful to have had you as our advisor these past many years. You made homeschool doable for us. I never thought when we started this adventure, that we'd be able to do it through highschool. But each year shed light a little farther ahead, so little by little we realized it was possible. You have been our guiding light, Wendy. Thanks to you we were able to successfully follow our dream of educating our children outside the norm of school in a building. Although we've had our challenges, I feel that our girls have a stronger sense of self, a closer bond with each other, they've had more time to spend on creative endeavors, we've had more time together as a family, and we now have the satisfaction of knowing that we provided the kind of education that we wanted for our girls - and it likely helped ... gain access to a great local college with a scholarship. I couldn't be any happier. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your wonderful guidance and support. You're the greatest.
• You have been my backbone in this whole homeschool experience. It has been a wonderful time, made so because we had your guidance and support. We are so lucky and grateful to have found you so many years ago.
• You have always been and remain a positive advocate for homeschooling in Maryland, and you have tremendously enriched the lives of countless homeschoolers, their families, and the lives they ultimately affect for good and for God. Thank you.
• I am open to any last advice you may be willing to share. I can not tell you how grateful I am to have been accepted by The Excelsior Academy all those years ago. Your knowledge, advice, help, and most of all, kindness and sympathetic shoulder have been invaluable to me.