Anyone considering Ideaventions Academy for middle school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this post has not been active for awhile but after speaking with the owners I am very hesitant to ever consider this as a legitimate school for children. A gifted program without the qualified support staff? A school for math and science without a math teacher? When I listen to the owners talk I see the money sign in their eyes and pure crap coming out of their mouths. They seem like greedy politicians who exploit education for money.

I've posted here before to say that I know the Heitzes and they are some of the nicest, most genuine and most generous people I've ever met. If they were "money grubbing politicians", they wouldn't have, as small business owners, provided scholarships to deserving children to attend Ideaventions over the years. My child loved every minute she spent at Ideaventions and learned a great deal there. She won't be attending the Academy due to cost and distance, but there are evidently plenty of families who disagree with you since the school was initially planned to encompass 6th-8th grade and they added 4th and 5th due to popular demand.

I'm not sure where your rabid dislike originates from, but I'm very sure it's entirely misplaced.

Np here. I agree that they are very nice people, but they are not educators and should not be running a school without any formal educational education or experience. And the reason they added 4th and 5th was not popular demand, it was to accommodate their younger child.

So they added two full grades for just one kid, huh? And presumably no one else is interested in signing up? Then why didn't they do that to begin with?
As for "formal educational education," as you put it, after years of running into "educators" who not only do not know their subject matter too well but convey it and assess it poorly, I would take a subject matter expert over an "education expert" any day to teach my kids. If you'd rather have "education experts" go for it.

Sure, some people with formal education in traditional education is not the right choice. However, to think that 2 people who know NOTHING about education (but for what suits their kids) is making a school for anything but money is naive. I have listened to their philosophy over and over again as they preach to different people and it's never the same, it's accommodating to the person they are talking with. Also, I saw talk about scholarships earlier, no one is on scholarship at the school and I bet it stays that way. It's easy to say, we would love to offer scholarships! Different story to actually do it.

I don't think they are doing it for money per se, but because of their interest in science and because they couldn't find a school suitable to them for their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this post has not been active for awhile but after speaking with the owners I am very hesitant to ever consider this as a legitimate school for children. A gifted program without the qualified support staff? A school for math and science without a math teacher? When I listen to the owners talk I see the money sign in their eyes and pure crap coming out of their mouths. They seem like greedy politicians who exploit education for money.

I've posted here before to say that I know the Heitzes and they are some of the nicest, most genuine and most generous people I've ever met. If they were "money grubbing politicians", they wouldn't have, as small business owners, provided scholarships to deserving children to attend Ideaventions over the years. My child loved every minute she spent at Ideaventions and learned a great deal there. She won't be attending the Academy due to cost and distance, but there are evidently plenty of families who disagree with you since the school was initially planned to encompass 6th-8th grade and they added 4th and 5th due to popular demand.

I'm not sure where your rabid dislike originates from, but I'm very sure it's entirely misplaced.

Np here. I agree that they are very nice people, but they are not educators and should not be running a school without any formal educational education or experience. And the reason they added 4th and 5th was not popular demand, it was to accommodate their younger child.

So they added two full grades for just one kid, huh? And presumably no one else is interested in signing up? Then why didn't they do that to begin with?
As for "formal educational education," as you put it, after years of running into "educators" who not only do not know their subject matter too well but convey it and assess it poorly, I would take a subject matter expert over an "education expert" any day to teach my kids. If you'd rather have "education experts" go for it.

Sure, some people with formal education in traditional education is not the right choice. However, to think that 2 people who know NOTHING about education (but for what suits their kids) is making a school for anything but money is naive. I have listened to their philosophy over and over again as they preach to different people and it's never the same, it's accommodating to the person they are talking with. Also, I saw talk about scholarships earlier, no one is on scholarship at the school and I bet it stays that way. It's easy to say, we would love to offer scholarships! Different story to actually do it.

I don't think they are doing it for money per se, but because of their interest in science and because they couldn't find a school suitable to them for their children.

This is a horrible reason to open a school. It sounds like their children have not been successful in other educational settings and they are essentially looking to build a homeschool group for their own children.

[Anonymous]

Why are people so down on this family? If they want to start a school and other people want to pay to attend, so what?

[Anonymous]

Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

There's always the new BASIS school.

[Anonymous]

^^I think that's 25k. At least this one is a nonprofit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^I think that's 25k. At least this one is a nonprofit.

Nysmith charges 32k. Flint Hill $35k. And that's just a sample. What is your point?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this post has not been active for awhile but after speaking with the owners I am very hesitant to ever consider this as a legitimate school for children. A gifted program without the qualified support staff? A school for math and science without a math teacher? When I listen to the owners talk I see the money sign in their eyes and pure crap coming out of their mouths. They seem like greedy politicians who exploit education for money.

I've posted here before to say that I know the Heitzes and they are some of the nicest, most genuine and most generous people I've ever met. If they were "money grubbing politicians", they wouldn't have, as small business owners, provided scholarships to deserving children to attend Ideaventions over the years. My child loved every minute she spent at Ideaventions and learned a great deal there. She won't be attending the Academy due to cost and distance, but there are evidently plenty of families who disagree with you since the school was initially planned to encompass 6th-8th grade and they added 4th and 5th due to popular demand.

I'm not sure where your rabid dislike originates from, but I'm very sure it's entirely misplaced.

Np here. I agree that they are very nice people, but they are not educators and should not be running a school without any formal educational education or experience. And the reason they added 4th and 5th was not popular demand, it was to accommodate their younger child.

So they added two full grades for just one kid, huh? And presumably no one else is interested in signing up? Then why didn't they do that to begin with?
As for "formal educational education," as you put it, after years of running into "educators" who not only do not know their subject matter too well but convey it and assess it poorly, I would take a subject matter expert over an "education expert" any day to teach my kids. If you'd rather have "education experts" go for it.

Sure, some people with formal education in traditional education is not the right choice. However, to think that 2 people who know NOTHING about education (but for what suits their kids) is making a school for anything but money is naive. I have listened to their philosophy over and over again as they preach to different people and it's never the same, it's accommodating to the person they are talking with. Also, I saw talk about scholarships earlier, no one is on scholarship at the school and I bet it stays that way. It's easy to say, we would love to offer scholarships! Different story to actually do it.

I don't think they are doing it for money per se, but because of their interest in science and because they couldn't find a school suitable to them for their children.

This is a horrible reason to open a school. It sounds like their children have not been successful in other educational settings and they are essentially looking to build a homeschool group for their own children.

Attacking the kids now? Classy.
And no, I would never want to enroll my children in a school whose founders feel confident enough about the level of education they want to provide that they'd enroll their own kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You're embarrassing yourself.

If you must know, my kids are at a VA independent school and have attended programs at ideaventions, through which we came to know the company and the family. I am not jealous and I am not a teacher. I just can see where this is headed and it's not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You're embarrassing yourself.

If you must know, my kids are at a VA independent school and have attended programs at ideaventions, through which we came to know the company and the family. I am not jealous and I am not a teacher. I just can see where this is headed and it's not good.

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You are embarrassing yourself.

You just admitted you're not a teacher, so you know no more about education than the people you are attacking. They at least have taught a great many STEM classes to a highly satisfied clientele, including my family and those of several of my friends. You haven't, but somehow you have some miraculous insight that allows you to judge them before they've even opened their doors.
Presumably the STEM education your children are receiving at their VA independent school wasn't good enough that you felt the need to sign them up for enrichment at Ideaventions. Yet suddenly you decrete from the summit of your ignorance that the owners are not good enough to teach or run a school?

[Anonymous]

I am curious about a school that advertises itself at a "STEM" school, yet does not offer Algebra until 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this post has not been active for awhile but after speaking with the owners I am very hesitant to ever consider this as a legitimate school for children. A gifted program without the qualified support staff? A school for math and science without a math teacher? When I listen to the owners talk I see the money sign in their eyes and pure crap coming out of their mouths. They seem like greedy politicians who exploit education for money.

I've posted here before to say that I know the Heitzes and they are some of the nicest, most genuine and most generous people I've ever met. If they were "money grubbing politicians", they wouldn't have, as small business owners, provided scholarships to deserving children to attend Ideaventions over the years. My child loved every minute she spent at Ideaventions and learned a great deal there. She won't be attending the Academy due to cost and distance, but there are evidently plenty of families who disagree with you since the school was initially planned to encompass 6th-8th grade and they added 4th and 5th due to popular demand.

I'm not sure where your rabid dislike originates from, but I'm very sure it's entirely misplaced.

Np here. I agree that they are very nice people, but they are not educators and should not be running a school without any formal educational education or experience. And the reason they added 4th and 5th was not popular demand, it was to accommodate their younger child.

So they added two full grades for just one kid, huh? And presumably no one else is interested in signing up? Then why didn't they do that to begin with?
As for "formal educational education," as you put it, after years of running into "educators" who not only do not know their subject matter too well but convey it and assess it poorly, I would take a subject matter expert over an "education expert" any day to teach my kids. If you'd rather have "education experts" go for it.

Sure, some people with formal education in traditional education is not the right choice. However, to think that 2 people who know NOTHING about education (but for what suits their kids) is making a school for anything but money is naive. I have listened to their philosophy over and over again as they preach to different people and it's never the same, it's accommodating to the person they are talking with. Also, I saw talk about scholarships earlier, no one is on scholarship at the school and I bet it stays that way. It's easy to say, we would love to offer scholarships! Different story to actually do it.

I don't think they are doing it for money per se, but because of their interest in science and because they couldn't find a school suitable to them for their children.

This is a horrible reason to open a school. It sounds like their children have not been successful in other educational settings and they are essentially looking to build a homeschool group for their own children.

A lot of private schools start out this way. These people at least run a successful business with very popular educational classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You're embarrassing yourself.

If you must know, my kids are at a VA independent school and have attended programs at ideaventions, through which we came to know the company and the family. I am not jealous and I am not a teacher. I just can see where this is headed and it's not good.

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You are embarrassing yourself.

You just admitted you're not a teacher, so you know no more about education than the people you are attacking. They at least have taught a great many STEM classes to a highly satisfied clientele, including my family and those of several of my friends. You haven't, but somehow you have some miraculous insight that allows you to judge them before they've even opened their doors.
Presumably the STEM education your children are receiving at their VA independent school wasn't good enough that you felt the need to sign them up for enrichment at Ideaventions. Yet suddenly you decrete from the summit of your ignorance that the owners are not good enough to teach or run a school?

It is obvious that you either know them on a personal level, or even worse, you are them. You are not helping their case with your tirades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they're dragging unsuspecting families into this mess at $20k+ per kid.

Right. Because people who have $20k+ to spend per child on private school are "unsuspecting fools" who can't assess what's good for their children. Or is it just that you're jealous that you'll never have that kind of money? Or perhaps you're a teacher who applied there and got rejected because your subject matter knowledge was scant and your methods utterly dull?

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You're embarrassing yourself.

If you must know, my kids are at a VA independent school and have attended programs at ideaventions, through which we came to know the company and the family. I am not jealous and I am not a teacher. I just can see where this is headed and it's not good.

Who are you and why do you keep posting on this thread with such immaturity and snark? You are embarrassing yourself.

You just admitted you're not a teacher, so you know no more about education than the people you are attacking. They at least have taught a great many STEM classes to a highly satisfied clientele, including my family and those of several of my friends. You haven't, but somehow you have some miraculous insight that allows you to judge them before they've even opened their doors.
Presumably the STEM education your children are receiving at their VA independent school wasn't good enough that you felt the need to sign them up for enrichment at Ideaventions. Yet suddenly you decrete from the summit of your ignorance that the owners are not good enough to teach or run a school?

It is obvious that you either know them on a personal level, or even worse, you are them. You are not helping their case with your tirades.

Their "case"? They have no case to make to you, since you've failed to give any rationale for your attacks other than that you magically know better and are out to save clueless rich people from the tragedy that's about to befall their children.

I posted for the first time on page 2, at 21:57, and did not hide the fact that I know them, though I'm not sure you could call it on a "personal level." My child attended Ideaventions for four years and is mostly aging out at this point--I've had a lot of conversations with them over the years during drop-off and pick-up and I believe they're kind, honest and genuine people who are being subjected to smear tactics that on this page alone have impugned their character and competence and even attacked their kids.
You can check with Jeff whether he can detect the location I'm posting from. It's about 20mn from Oakton and I believe from their house since I know they live very close to their business. So no, I'm not "them."

In the meantime, why don't you come clean regarding your real motivations? I just remembered an incident in which my kid was punched in the stomach by another child in one of their summer camps. I was told at pick-up that that was the last of a series of rules that the perpetrator had broken and that he had been asked to leave the camp. Are you the disgruntled parent?