Frequently Asked Questions

Eric Eisenbrey is the founder and the lead teacher.  Eric taught in public schools for 10 years. Eric has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, but he also has an extra degree in curriculum and instruction and has a range of teaching certifications in West Virginia.

The school’s second teacher is Kim Fairweather. She has worked in the public school system, and she also has experience teaching her own two children.

Microschools are a private school movement that look more like the old one-room schoolhouse. Small groups of students from mixed ages and levels work together under one teacher.

 Students will start the day with a fine motor skills focused activity, for example latch hook. They will then have a breif sesion of exercise before time is set aside for more traditional academic tasks.  Students will also spend time in passion projects.  On some days, the group may all work on a STEM activity, may attend an activity hosted by theatre staff, or may walk to a local downtown agency, such as the library.  Students will eat lunch together, complete chores to keep their school tidy, and will check back in on their goals at the end of the day.

This school makes sure that science, technology, engineering, and math are all included in students’ learning.  Students who develop these learning areas are likely to use more creativity, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.

We believe that everyone has an equal voice at our school.  The student, the teacher, and the parents will work together to identify major goals, such as specific academic areas of focus. A general outline of learning has been developed by the Lead Teacher and is available to all enrolled parents.

While students will not receive grades. Student will work towards learning goals categorized as badges.  Parents will have parent teacher conferences twice a year to discuss student progress. Family nights where students will have chance to showcase their work will occur in the winter and summer. A summary of their work will be gathered at the end of the school year; this is called a portfolio. Students also have the option to take the standardized tests used at the public schools.

We will encourage your student to think about things he/she is interested in learning more about. This is called student-centered learning rather than teacher-centered.

No! Students spend enough time in school.  We will not require that students take their work home.

A full year at Eyes and Brains STEM Center currently costs $7,500.  That is $625 a month.

We will provide all learning materials.  This will include a personal tablet or laptop, subscriptions to programs and services, and paper materials tailored to your child’s learning goals.

Please send lunch! Students may use the kitchen to heat any food they bring from home.

If your child has been attending public school, he/she may qualify for the Hope Scholarship.  This new program in West Virginia allows parents to take their child’s state funding with them to use toward their education of choice after withdrawing from the public school.

The Hope Scholarship is currently about $5,200. 

If the whole amount is awarded it brings the monthly tuition for the school down to $190 out of pocket for parents.

The application widow for Hope is as follows.

March 1 – June 15: 100% of the scholarship.
June 16 – September 15: 75% of the scholarship.
September 16 – November 30: 50% of the scholarship.
December 1 – February 28: 25% of the scholarship.

The school uses a year-round calendar that begins the third week of July.  We are closed for 6 full weeks each semester.  School closures provide breaks for families that either emphasize family time at key points of the year or provide opportunities for optional school field trips.

Whether the reason is illness, appointment, or a family vacation, it’s okay to miss some school.  Our year-round calendar allows 6 more weeks of education than the public school calendar. Your child can resume his/her individual learning goals when he/she returns.

School will be open unless there is an advisory against travel. You may still choose to keep your child at home.

The school is open 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.  As public schools release for the day, Eyes and Brains STEM Center transitions to after-school programs open to all community children.

STEM Programs are available for K to 5th all year with opportunities for Middle and High School students offered in the Spring.

Each group meets 1 or 2 days a week until about 5:00.

See the our After-school Programs for more information.