Why Projectory School Exists?
Projectory School was founded on a simple but powerful conviction:
Children should not have to fit into a curriculum.
The curriculum should respond to the child.
Many strong schools build community and care deeply about students. But too often, learning is driven primarily by direct instruction, fixed pacing, and subject-by-subject delivery.
At Projectory School, the child is the starting point.
Our model places curiosity, inquiry, and developmental readiness at the center of academic design. Teachers do not simply deliver content, they craft experiences that connect literacy, math, science, and the arts through meaningful projects.
Learning, however, is never just academic. Children think best when they feel safe, confident, and connected. A classroom built on curiosity naturally builds collaboration, empathy, resilience, and a strong sense of self.
Rigor still matters. Academic foundations still matter.
But they are built through exploration, dialogue, problem-solving, and purposeful work, not passive reception.
Projectory School exists to create an elementary experience where:
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Thinking is visible
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Questions are valued
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Skills are applied
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Relationships matter
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And learning feels alive
Meet the Founder
Kelsie is an educator, curriculum designer, and the founder of Projectory School.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Cornell University and a Master’s degree in Education, and spent eight years teaching elementary students, most recently in the Richmond area. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to instructional models that center inquiry, critical thinking, and meaningful application over passive content delivery.
Projectory School grew out of her conviction that elementary education should be deeply engaging, intellectually rigorous, and responsive to the developmental needs of children. She believes students learn best when they are challenged to think, create, collaborate, and solve real problems, not simply absorb information.
Born and raised in Chesterfield and now living in Church Hill with her husband and two young children, Kelsie is committed to building a school that strengthens both students and the broader Richmond community.
Projectory is both a professional calling and a long-term investment in the future of thoughtful, capable learners.
About Projectory School
Projectory School is a nonprofit educational organization built around a simple idea: children learn best when they are curious, engaged, and given the space to think deeply. Through a school-year program, summer camps, and community-based learning opportunities, we offer project-based experiences that connect math, science, literacy, and creativity in meaningful ways.
Financial Assistance
We are committed to making Projectory School accessible to families. Financial assistance is available based on need, and we encourage any family interested in the school to reach out to learn more about available options.
Nondiscrimination Policy
Projectory School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Projectory School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.
FAQs
We will open with one Kindergarten class in 2026. We will add another class each year and hope to expand to Grade 5 over time.
Projectory School is located at 411 E Grace St, Richmond, VA in a shared church building in downtown Richmond.
No. Projectory School is a non-religious, independent school. We are located within a church building, but our program and curriculum are fully secular.
We will open August 2026. Interest forms and early enrollment are now open. Stay tuned for information about our summer camps for June and July 2026, too!
We are a private, tuition-based school open to families across the Richmond area who align with our mission and values.
Yes, there will be a short application, a family interview, and opportunities to visit before enrolling.
We aim to make our program accessible and are exploring scholarship and sliding-scale tuition options. Stay tuned.
We are currently looking for founding educators, who are certified and passionate about child-led learning, creativity and community. Interested persons please reach out.
Our school hours are 8:45am - 3:00pm.
We will have a cap of 12 students in the class with one lead teacher, an assistant teacher, and other adjunct teachers to assist with special lessons.
You can sign up for updates, donate, volunteer, or help spread the word. We're building this together!
Let's Get to Know Each Other
Whether you’re just curious or ready to explore Projectory, here are a few easy ways to connect.