Andrea Anderson is a proud mother of two autistic children. She has worked in education for the better part of the past twelve years, teaching kindergarten through college level classes, with a large spectrum of developmental abilities. After her children were diagnosed, Andrea experienced the notable lack of quality schooling options for neurodivergent children. In response, she left her career and pivoted toward creating a new school, one focused on safety for all, understanding each student’s unique traits, and creating targeted learning plans for each child. Andrea’s early career focus was business, graduating with a degree in Business Administration in 2005. Digging into her business background, she raised $200,000 in the first six months and Spectrum of Joy Academy was born. Andrea believes that everyday is an opportunity to enrich the lives of all children, support families, and pave the way for inclusion.