Our mission is to provide a rigorous academic education grounded in a distinctly Christian worldview, cultivating wisdom, virtue, and excellence while partnering with families to form students who love truth, serve others, and glorify God in every area of life.
Our Educational Philosophy
A Classical Vision of Learning
We believe students should be introduced to the great ideas, great books, and great conversations that have shaped civilization. Classical education trains students to think clearly, reason wisely, and speak truthfully. Through the study of history, philosophy, literature, theology, and the sciences, students are invited into a rich intellectual tradition spanning centuries.
Our approach emphasizes:
Deep reading rather than surface-level information
Thoughtful discussion rather than rote memorization
Writing and speaking as tools for clear thinking
The pursuit of wisdom, not just knowledge
Students learn not only what to think, but how to think — with charity, logic, and discernment.
Charlotte Mason Practices
Alongside the classical tradition, we follow Charlotte Mason’s conviction that children are born persons and should be treated with dignity and respect. We believe students learn best when they encounter ideas through rich, living books and are given time to reflect, narrate, and internalize what they have learned.
Our classrooms emphasize:
Living books rather than dry textbooks
Narration to cultivate attention and understanding
Habits of diligence, order, and self-discipline
Beauty through art, music, poetry, and nature
A peaceful, focused learning environment
Rather than overwhelming students with busywork, we aim to cultivate a love of learning and the habit of thoughtful engagement.
At Illuminare Academy, we believe education is the formation of the whole person — heart, mind, and soul — in the light of God’s truth. Our aim is not merely to produce students who perform well on tests, but young men and women who love what is true, good, and beautiful, and who are equipped to serve God faithfully in every sphere of life.
We stand in the classical Christian tradition of education while drawing deeply from the insights of Charlotte Mason. This combination allows us to cultivate both intellectual excellence and spiritual maturity through practices that honor how students were created to learn.
Christ at the Center
All truth belongs to God. Every subject — whether literature, history, science, mathematics, or the arts — finds its meaning and coherence in Him. At Illuminare Academy, Scripture is not an added component of the day; it is the foundation upon which all learning rests.
We seek to form students who understand the world through a biblical worldview, discern truth from error, and recognize their calling as image-bearers created to glorify God. Education, rightly understood, leads not to pride but to humility, reverence, and worship.
Christ - Centered
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Classical
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Charlotte Mason
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Christ - Centered · Classical · Charlotte Mason ·
Our Founders
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My name is Beth Jordan, and I have been an educator for more than 20 years. I have been blessed with a wide range of educational experiences, which include teaching for 7 years in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), participating in the Fullbright Teacher Exchange program in India, designing and teaching summer camps at the Shedd Aquarium, supervising and evaluating student teachers in the Masters of Education programs at Northwestern University and National-Louis University, and serving as an Instructional Coach to middle and high school teachers at Christian Liberty Academy. I have been committed to finding innovative and effective ways of engaging both teachers and students in pursuing knowledge while thinking critically.
It was during COVID, when schools were forced to shut down, that a desire to open a school of my own was born. I elected to homeschool my two little children to provide in-person instruction and interaction, rather than substituting their human teacher with an iPad or a video call. During this time, I first encountered classical education. I believe an educational approach based on the classical model, with God at the center, is the antidote to the failings of the current mainstream education system; it illuminates how to think rather than what to think.
It is my prayerful intention that Illuminare Academy offer students an educational experience grounded in academic excellence, entrepreneurship, and critical thinking. Illuminare Academy seeks to empower students to become innovative leaders, defenders of their faith, and pursuers of all that is good and true.
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My name is Julie Roper, and I helped launch Illuminare Academy because I believe education should do more than prepare students for tests — it should prepare them for life.
As a mother of five and educator for the last 27 years, I’ve seen how many students feel disconnected from their learning, rushed through material, or shaped by systems that leave little room for wonder, depth, or true character formation. I wanted something different for my own children and for the families I serve — a place where students are known, challenged, and deeply cared for.
Illuminare Academy grew out of a love for classical learning, the Charlotte Mason philosophy, and a deep commitment to Christ-centered education. I believe children are whole persons — with minds to be trained, hearts to be shaped, and souls to be nurtured. When students are given rich books, meaningful discussion, beauty, and truth, they don’t just learn — they come alive.
