The Hope Academy: Where faith meets learning in historic Carson City

A school built on history and values

By Brittany Sheehan  

Nevada News and Views

Walk into The Hope Academy building in Carson City, Nevada, and you’re stepping into history. The beautiful structure was built in 1879 and sits on the National Register of Historic Places. All the original wallpaper is still there. But what’s happening inside these historic walls is even more remarkable.

The Hope Academy is a faith-based school that shows what education can look like when parents have real choices. Kids here aren’t just sitting in rows memorizing facts. They’re growing vegetables in greenhouses, bringing historical characters to life through Chautauqua presentations, and competing in state Lego Robotics tournaments.

This isn’t your typical school story. It’s about what happens when local families decide to create something better for their children.

From Crisis to Opportunity

The story starts with another school called ISchool. It began in Incline Village near Lake Tahoe. But when COVID hit and Bay Area people moved to town, local businesses got pushed out.

Dr. Kelly could have just found any building and kept going. Instead, she saw an opportunity.

She says: “We relocated to Carson in 2021 and two years later bought a beautiful building on the National Register built in 1879 and with all the original wallpaper still intact. We took that opportunity to create a sister faith-based school, Hope Academy.”

The Hope Academy flourishes under the leadership of Nikki Godard, who handles middle and high school grades, and Emma Turner, who runs the elementary program. These aren’t just administrators, they’re educators who believe kids can do more than anyone expects.

Real Learning, Real Skills

The students at Hope Academy aren’t just reading about history; they’re living it. They perform in local Chautauqua presentations, where they bring the original inhabitants of their schoolhouse to life. They also perform down at the Dangberg Ranch, which has a growing Chautauqua program under Kim Harris’s direction.

But it’s not all history and performance. These kids spent all summer growing produce in the greenhouse to sell at the Carson farmer’s market.

They didn’t just plant seeds—they applied for a $10,000 grant themselves.

As Dr. Kelly proudly notes: “The kids worked all summer long growing produce in the greenhouse to sell at the Carson farmer’s market, having applied for the $10K grant themselves.”

The curriculum includes critical thinking, homesteading skills, and religion alongside traditional subjects. Students compete in state Lego Robotics tournaments and other STEM activities. They’re getting a well-rounded education that includes both practical skills and academic excellence.

A Special Fundraiser

The Hope Academy faces a challenge that shows both the benefits and struggles of educational independence. The school has set a goal to pay off the remaining $525,000 mortgage on their historic building by July 4, 2026. Reaching this goal would ensure the school’s rent-free existence forever.

To help reach this target, something special is happening this October. McAvoy Layne, the famous Mark Twain impressionist, is coming out of retirement to do a fundraiser for the school. This kicks off the third annual Mark Twain Days celebration.

But here’s what makes it really unique: during McAvoy’s performance, The Hope Academy’s Chautauqua students will visit him as various personalities from Mark Twain’s life, including his wife and brother. No one has ever done this with McAvoy before, and he’s willing to do it just for The Hope Academy.

This isn’t just a fundraiser; it’s community building. Local families, students, and supporters coming together to preserve something valuable. It’s the kind of thing that happens when schools are truly part of their communities.

Looking to the Future

The Hope Academy proves that small schools can do big things. With strong leadership, dedicated families, and clear values, these students are getting an education that prepares them for life, not just tests.

The school shows what’s possible when government gets out of the way. No massive bureaucracy. No standardized curriculum that treats all kids the same. Just good teachers, engaged parents, and students who are excited to learn.

As more families across Nevada and the country look for alternatives to traditional public schools, The Hope Academy offers a model. It’s not the only answer, but it’s proof that different approaches can work.

How Conservatives Can Help

Support schools like The Hope Academy directly. Their mortgage payoff goal isn’t just about money: it’s about securing educational freedom for future families. When these schools succeed, they inspire others.

Share their story. When people see kids growing food, performing history, and learning practical skills alongside academics, they want the same opportunities for their children.

Most importantly, remember what this represents. The Hope Academy isn’t just a school—it’s a demonstration that parents know what’s best for their children. It’s proof that local communities can create something better than distant bureaucrats ever could.

In that historic building in Carson City, with its original wallpaper and modern greenhouse, something important is happening. Kids are learning that education can be both excellent and meaningful. Parents are proving they can make good choices for their families. And a community is showing that the best solutions often come from the ground up, not the top down.

The Hope Academy represents hope itself: hope that education can be different, better, and more aligned with the values that matter most to families.

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Brittany Sheehan is a Las Vegas-based mother, policy advocate and grassroots leader. She is active in local politics, successful in campaign work and passionate about liberty.