Kelly Tenkely has led Anastasis Academy in Colorado for 15 years. This past year, she faced a big challenge. A serious mold problem made the school building unsafe. Tenkely had to act fast. Over one weekend, she moved the whole school to rec centers and libraries. Later, another school kindly shared space so they could finish the year. But the damage was done—families had to leave, and Kelly had to press pause on the school.
Helping Families and Finding a New Path
Even after closing the school for the year, Tenkely kept helping. She supported families as they found new schools or began homeschooling. She also started planning for a better future. Her goal? To find a permanent building and reopen stronger.
Turning Setbacks Into New Ideas
Tenkely used this time to focus on exciting projects. She is working on publishing her own K–8 curriculum. She also built a tech tool to help parents pick the best homeschool materials for their kids. Plus, she leads a project called updatED Design—a nonprofit that takes store window displays and turns them into creative building supplies for kids.
Always Start With the Students
Through it all, Tenkely stays focused on what matters most: the students. Her advice to other school leaders is simple but powerful—“Start with the kids. When you know your students well, everything else works out.”
Tenkely’s story is full of strength, heart, and innovative ideas. Listen to her full interview on the School Success Podcast to get inspired and see how great leaders grow through tough times.
Click here to listen to the full podcast episode.