Why Choose LSA

History of Lake Superior Academy

Lake Superior Academy opened its doors in September 2016, but the development of the idea for the school started many years ago.

Roger and Susie Schlehuber

Roger and Susie Schlehuber

In 2004, Roger and Susie Schlehuber founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to provide after-school academic support to students in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The EUP Learning Center started with one small classroom serving five students per week and grew to have three campuses serving more than 90 students per week.

From 2004 to 2015, the EUP Learning Center offered after-school support for students who struggled to meet the academic requirements of their schools. During those eleven years, it was demonstrated and well-documented that more than 80 percent of students who needed the extra support flourished when the instructor used a hands-on, movement-based approach to presenting the material. Students who initially came in the door saying they felt “stupid” because they just couldn’t get it, left with confidence in themselves and the ability to understand and retain new concepts.

Parents repeatedly asked, “Why can’t this type of teaching be used in the regular classroom?”

Roger and Susie knew that Montessori schools do just that – teach the same academic concepts using a completely hands-on, concrete approach to instruction. Students with any learning style can flourish in this environment, and this style of instruction allows students who cannot learn and retain without movement the opportunity to keep up and maintain academic progress with traditional learners.

Montessori schools are traditionally offered in the tuition-based, private sector of education. Roger and Susie wanted to offer Montessori education as a tuition-free alternative for all families in the EUP.

These convictions and events led them to pursue a charter school option and to open Lake Superior Academy.

Lake Superior Academy is a tuition-free public school serving children in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE MONTESSORI EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY.

The Montessori curriculum itself is a proven method of instruction designed for all types of learners, and has been an established model of education for over 100 years. Many parents around the world seek out Montessori education for their children because of its ability to create life-long learners who are confident, self-directed and well-respected. Lake Superior Academy brings together a true community of learners which embraces Maria Montessori’s teachings and her ideals of diversity, peace education and individualized learning. At Lake Superior Academy, we serve the Chippewa County community.