At Guy Allen Academy, we combine evidence-based instruction with compassionate, personalized support to help students build meaningful skills, confidence, independence, and lasting success. We believe progress should be measurable, learning should be purposeful, and every child deserves the opportunity to grow at their own pace with the right support around them.
Most importantly, we believe belonging matters.
Because when children feel understood, supported, and believed in, growth happens.
That is the legacy of Guy Allen Academy.
A world where every child with learning differences has access to the education and resources needed to reach their full potential.
Grounded in research, driven by results. Every method we use is chosen because it works.
Families are essential partners. You know your child better than anyone, and we build from there.
Safe, valued, and challenged to grow.
Education tailored to every learner. Each child gets a plan built for who they are.
Inclusion is our foundation. The classroom is built around the child.
Learning should be meaningful and fun. We make space for both every day.
Ambitious goals, guided by empathy. We hold every child to a high bar because we believe in what they can reach, and we walk alongside them every step of the way.
Our teaching is anchored in research-backed methods. Every approach in our classrooms is chosen because it works, and we measure progress so we know it's working.
We build instruction around the child in front of us. Pace, methods, and environment all flex around what each student needs.
High expectations and high warmth are not in tension. Children rise to ambition when they feel safe, seen, and engaged in what they're doing.
Dr. Anissa Jepsen is the Executive Director of Guy Allen Academy and a lifelong advocate for children, families, and innovative educational opportunities.
Kelsie Christensen serves as the Director of Education at Guy Allen Academy. She holds a Master Educator License with endorsements in Elementary Education, Reading, and Instructional Strategy.
Barb Jacobson brings more than 30 years of educational experience to her role as Lead Instructor at Guy Allen Academy. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, and a master's degree in Early Childhood Education.
Felica brings more than a decade of experience working with children in educational, behavioral support, and aquatics settings. As a Paraprofessional and Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), she is passionate about helping children.
You know your child better than anyone. We design from that truth. Our expertise comes alongside yours, not in front of it.
Expect open doors, honest conversation, and a team that sees you as a collaborator in every plan, every milestone, and every step in between.
Guy Allen Academy is named after Guy Allen Eick, a lifelong farmer from Terril, Iowa, and the kind of person who made people feel seen.
If you spent time with Guy, you quickly learned that farming was never just about crops or rain gauges. It was about paying attention. To the land. To the seasons. To people. He believed growth mattered, and not just the kind planted in rows.
No one was a stranger to him. He had a way of talking to people like they already belonged, because in his mind, they did. He showed up with stories, humor, hard work, and an unwavering belief in the people around him. He expected effort, but he also believed kindness mattered just as much.
Guy taught his family that you work hard, help others, laugh often, and show up for people even when no one is watching. He made ordinary moments feel important; Sunday pancakes, card games, parades, and picnics where conversation mattered more than schedules.
He also believed in people before they knew how to believe in themselves.
That belief became the foundation for Guy Allen Academy.
We created this school because too many children and families are told to fit into systems that were never designed for them. We believe children deserve individualized education, meaningful support, and learning environments where they feel safe, capable, included, and valued.
At Guy Allen Academy, we combine evidence-based instruction with compassionate, personalized support to help students build meaningful skills, confidence, independence, and lasting success. We believe progress should be measurable, learning should be purposeful, and every child deserves the opportunity to grow at their own pace with the right support around them.
Most importantly, we believe belonging matters.
Because when children feel understood, supported, and believed in, growth happens.
That is the legacy of Guy Allen Academy.
We'd love to meet your family. Schedule a tour, ask a question, or simply tell us about your child. We'll take it from there.
