Learner Spotlights

Kaley, a 13-year-old sophomore, was assessed as profoundly gifted at age 5. As an out-of-the-box learner, she skipped several grades and it has been a challenge to find schools that…

Darla Becker is a high school iLEAD learner. Once you meet her, it won’t take long to know that her greatest passion is learning about and nurturing animals. She has…

Stefania is a very shy iLEAD sixth grader. She was diagnosed with selective mutism, a type of anxiety, when she was in kindergarten. For years, she was silent everywhere but…

Ava Miller is an exceptional eighth grade learner with iLEAD Exploration. This is her first year of independent studying. Ava was drawn to independent studying so she could study more…

Ethan Bell is an iLEAD kindergartener. He is a bright-eyed, creative spirit with a fantastic imagination and thirst for knowledge. On being a big brother, Ethan says, “I like taking…

Taylor Melford Feinberg is a fifth-grade iLEAD learner with a passion for big cats. She is involved in a project to create a bridge to save Los Angeles cougars that…

Kyojuro Kitano (京十朗), nicknamed “Kyo,” is a first grader with iLEAD Exploration. Kyo’s a thinker. He’s very curious about the world and how things work, and asks great questions. He…

Leila Yoshida enrolled in her first dance class at the age of 18 months and has never looked back. “Dancing is my favorite thing ever. When I dance, I feel…

Lilah Fitzgerald is an iLEAD eighth grader and actress, known for “Seventh Son” (2014), “My New Best Friend” (2015) and “The Stolen” (2012). Lilah’s mom says, “independent studying has allowed…

Rebekah Yospe is a 10th grade learner at iLEAD Exploration who loves sewing! Rebekah has been sewing for the past seven years and is taking classes through iLEAD’s approved vendor,…

LaRue Vigil has found her first year of independent studying an exciting one, where learning goes beyond a textbook. LaRue, a seventh grader, finds projects and hands-on learning to be…

Kalea Hoshi is a kindergartener with iLEAD Exploration. She is growing up in a multilingual home in Los Angeles and speaks English, French and Japanese. She also understands Portuguese and…

Gita enjoys incorporating design into her work samples, creating awesome graphics demonstrative of her learning. Maria “Gita” de la Vega is a 12th-grade learner preparing to graduate with iLEAD this…

Kerry Stiles is an iLEAD Exploration learner in the seventh grade. For Kerry, one of the highlights of independent studying are the classes he enjoys taking at The Arbor Learning Community….

Jesse Matthews, a seventh grader at iLEAD Exploration, began working in programming and robotics at 10 years old. When asked why he enjoys robotics, he responded, “I love robotics because…

Monica Sexton is a sixth-grade iLEAD learner. She takes classes such as drama and sewing at Impact. Monica, who likes to be creative, was asked to share a little about…

Conor Kelly is a fifth grade iLEAD learner with a passion for soccer! He has played soccer for the past six years and his position is center defense. He enjoys…

Kai (fourth grade) and Josie (first grade) Kimbell participate in art classes that focus on a historical event with Kim Frassett . Last year, they learned about ancient history and…

Zack and Joel Mabie have been enjoying Academic Chess like crazy this summer! Along with a few chess camps, they continue to hone their strategic thinking, attentiveness, concentration, and enthusiastic,…

Lazarus Shapiro is an amazingly talented young man. This 11-year-old ninth grader is not only academically advanced, but is also an accomplished dancer. Laz has been dancing since he was…

Grace and Christian Brossa are entering into their second year with iLEAD. Last year, they enjoyed training with the Orange County Water Polo Club (one of iLead’s amazing vendors located…

Ellie Wheeler came to iLEAD Exploration last year as a 10th grader. She has an amazing story to tell. When she was 13 years old, she went from being an…

Kyra James moved to Irvine last year from southern Illinois. She has been independent studying since third grade. She is now entering her second year with iLEAD as a sixth…

Ellie and Emma Sousa are talented sisters with many interests spanning from gymnastics to horseback riding! On a typical independent study day, the girls spend around five hours training for…