Empowering Youth Through Innovative Learning with Linda Willits from Lehi, Utah

In this conversation, Linda Willits discusses her journey in education, focusing on the establishment of the Elite Performance Academy in Lehigh, Utah. She emphasizes the need for a new approach to education that combines academics with athletics, allowing students to thrive in both areas. 

Linda shares her personal experiences and the motivations behind creating micro schools, aiming to provide a more tailored educational experience for youth, particularly those involved in sports. The conversation also covers the academy's structure, goals, costs, and the importance of empowering students through entrepreneurship and life skills.

Takeaways

▶️ The current education system has not changed significantly in decades.

▶️ Education should focus on real-life applications, not just tests.

▶️ Linda's background in sports influenced her educational journey.

▶️ The idea for microschools came from her daughter's interest in homeschooling.

▶️ Elite Performance Academy offers a unique blend of academics and athletics.

▶️ The academy aims to serve families looking for alternative education options.

▶️ Students will receive personalized attention with small class sizes.

▶️ The state of Utah offers scholarships to subsidize cost

▶️ The daily schedule includes both academic and athletic training.

▶️ Empowering youth through entrepreneurship is a key focus of the academy.

Connect with Linda Willits:

• https://www.instagram.com/elitelehiut
• https://www.eliteperformanceprepacademy.com

Transcript

Linda Willits (transcript)

Rob Pene (00:01.258)

One logistical thing, you should see something about an upload percentage somewhere on your screen. So when I stop recording, we'll have to wait until the upload percentage hits 100. And then you can go off because if it doesn't, then it's gonna cut off wherever the upload percentage stopped at.

Linda Willits (00:08.355)

Okay. Okay. Okay.

Rob Pene (00:25.772)

Yeah, great. Okay, well, welcome, Linda Willett, right? Willett. Yeah, and we want to talk about what you're doing with education and why you're doing it. I think it's pretty fascinating. The current education system hasn't changed in what I don't know, so many decades, thousands, hundreds of years. And it sounds like you guys are making a dent into

Linda Willits (00:31.82)

Thank you. Yes, yes, yes.

Linda Willits (00:48.415)

yes.

Rob Pene (00:54.068)

know, alternative type of approaches so that the kids can learn what they need to learn to be successful in life, not just the SAT, right? Yeah.

Linda Willits (01:01.739)

Exactly, exactly. We're teaching these kids and what they're learning is not for them to be successful or for them to do well at the test. We want them to be able to learn things that they can apply to their lives and learn things that they can actually use in the future. And that can just make them a better, well-rounded person. Yeah. Yes.

Rob Pene (01:20.204)

Yeah, yeah. So introduce yourself, who you are, what you're doing, why you're doing it, the whole shebang. And then I'm going to ask you one question to get us started. That'll drive the conversation.

Linda Willits (01:29.183)

Okay.

Linda Willits (01:32.914)

Okay, awesome. So my name is Linda Willits. I'm actually a transplantee Lehigh, Utah. I was born and raised in the Bay Area in California to wonderful parents. And I'm one of eight siblings. And I grew up in the public school system. Both of my parents did not further their education. So my dad actually did not graduate high school.

And my mother graduated high school and that is kind of as far as she went. So in growing up, education was not really something that they hammered home in our house. It wasn't something that was really important. And neither was going and furthering our education. And so we were kind of those assembly line kids that went through, we were the product of public school. Pretty much stamped, put in the box, put on the conveyor belt and went through elementary school.

went through junior high school and went through high school. And to be honest with you, the importance of those years for me was sports. And I feel like that is what kept me engaged actually in school. I was a good student, but never looked past really high school. I went to a junior college and played volleyball there and furthered my education there and then served a mission for my church. And then after that, met my

husband and we got married and have four children. And my oldest child is in college in Iowa. She's playing volleyball there at a small school. I have two kids in high school, a senior, my son is Devin and he's a senior in high school. I have a daughter that's a sophomore in high school and then my baby is in fifth grade. And so we're in all gamuts of that.

Rob Pene (03:24.578)

Gotcha. So where did the idea of starting the micro schools come from? And how did you meet EPA and Tasha and how did all that stuff come about?

Linda Willits (03:37.027)

All right, so I remember when my oldest was in third grade and she had missed crater. mean, and this is just like ingrained in my brain. She randomly said to me, mom, I want to homeschool. And I looked at her and I said, you are nuts. I am not a homeschool parent. I cannot do homeschool. That is too much. Like all of the myths and misconceptions were like in my head. Like I'm not a teacher. I can't teach you enough.

We're not doing homeschool like socially you're going to be awkward. Like I thought I had all those misconceptions about homeschoolers ingrained in my brain. And so she did not. She went through the public school system, graduated and I was in college. Now fast forward to right now. My fifth grader plays club sports. Her main club sport is volleyball. And one of the girls on her team from last season started EPA, started Elite Performance Academy, the online program.

And so she started this year and we see them ever so often at tournaments and practices and scrimmages and all of this. And I remember seeing her and talking to her mom and then talking to her and just seeing so much growth. She went from this shy, I mean, she is a beast of an athlete, you know, in volleyball and basketball, great girl, but shy, more conservative, more kind of on guard. And then just after, I want to say three months, maybe even four months of

EPA of the elite program. I mean, she was just this completely different person, confident in herself, excited about school, you know, and she was actually the one that talked to my younger daughter, Emily, about it. She had spent the night with another friend's daughter and they were talking about it like, what is your day like? And she's like, I do school for three hours and then I get to go train, you know, and do this. And my daughter was like, wait, what? You only have to go to school for three hours and then you get to go train and

develop as an athlete. And so I remember having the conversation with my youngest and she's like, mom, I want to do that. And so I just went, well, let me find out more about it. And elite had an informational meeting that I could not attend and I was so bummed I'm coaching. And so I was coaching my team at the time that they were having this meeting. But one of my girlfriends was going and so I was like, get the information for me. Please let me know, like give me all the details when you're done.

Linda Willits (06:01.067)

And so later that night she called me and she, think we talked for probably 45 minutes about Elite Performance Prep Academy. I mean, she had ranting and raving about it. goes, Linda, and she just spelled out the program for me. This is what they, this is what they offer. This is what these kids are doing. This is what they're learning. She's like, they're learning how to be entrepreneurs. They're learning how to be leaders. They're learning, you know, more than just the core curriculum, which they are getting.

She's like, but man, they're learning life skills and things that they can take into their futures. And I just went, I'm sold. I'm all about it. And so she had given them my information, my email and contact information, but I have ants in my pants and I don't want to wait. And so I had actually went online, filled out just kind of a contact information survey. And then Breezy, Tupola actually reached out to me who's over admissions.

at Elite and so she reached out to me the next day and just kind of gave me the 101 about the program and I just fell in love with it. So initially I wanted my daughter to just join the program. That's what I wanted. And then I had a follow-up call set up with Breezy, but she was sick. And this is where I feel like the blessing comes. Not that she was sick, but then that I ended up speaking to Tasha, who is the CEO of EPA.

Rob Pene (07:23.245)

Mm.

Linda Willits (07:26.485)

Right? And so her and I are chatting and, you know, she's like, Linda, tell me about your life. And I was like, well, you know, right now we live in Utah. We're transplants here. We've been here for almost four years. And I said, but we own a business in California. And so my husband is probably 80 to 85 % of the time in California. And so we get him, you know, once a day, one week, and then maybe three days the next week, if we're lucky.

Rob Pene (07:32.824)

Thank you.

Linda Willits (07:56.915)

And so she was like, well, how's that working for you? And I was like, well, we make it work. We try our best. You know, we do all that we can. And when he's home, he's locked in. But when he's not here, it's tough. And she's like, Linda, you sound passionate about wanting your kid to be involved in EPA. What if there was an opportunity for you to be a part of it? And I literally like started crying. I just started crying. I went, this is such a blessing.

Rob Pene (08:01.678)

Hmm.

Linda Willits (08:25.588)

And that's how I still feel it is, is that it's such a blessing for me and my family to be able to be involved in something that I am passionate about. I'm passionate about youth. I'm passionate about helping our youth and getting them engaged in academics, but also athletics, like merging the two and just building them in all facets of their life. And so to be able to have the opportunity to be involved with something that does that is a blessing. I'll just say that.

Rob Pene (08:55.444)

What location? So are you starting soon? And then what location?

Linda Willits (09:02.299)

Yeah, so super excited. So we are opening our center in Lehigh, Utah. And we will be opening on August 21st of this year. Yeah, so we are getting ready to go. We have our facility and our site going. And we will probably start doing some things in the summer just to get our feet wet. I've partnered with an amazing trainer.

His name is Kenny Hall, shout out for Kenny Hall from varsity sports performance. And so he is awesome and we are collaborating and connecting together to be able to get this going. Yeah.

Rob Pene (09:41.762)

And then what would be the message to the families in Lehigh on why they should join you guys, but then what type of families are you looking for that would be ideal for your school?

Linda Willits (09:54.106)

Okay, so if I had a message to the families in Lehigh, and this is probably, this hits home for me. If you have a child, and for our sports academy, it's for ages or grades, I should say, through 12th. So middle school age or junior high age through senior, through high school age. So ours is elite sports academy. Yeah.

Rob Pene (10:17.74)

What's the name of the academy?

Great. OK.

Linda Willits (10:23.569)

based out of Lehigh, Utah. And so if you have a child that is involved in sports, that is heavily involved in sports, that loves to train and finds that they are having an issue or just not having the time to be able to do six to seven hours of school a day.

then have time after school to train, and then have to do your practices, which you have, I mean, they are literally working overtime. Like if that's not full-time job, that's working overtime. And we're expecting these kids at these ages to be able to do this successfully. And so through Elite Performance Prep Academy and through Elite Sports Academy, we're allowing kids to be able to be academically fed and trained.

in the same facility, in that six hour period, know, six to six and a half hour period to where after you can go home and be a kid. Like you can walk in, be engaged with your family, you can have free time, you can do whatever you want. But what we're doing is we're helping these athletes, these elite athletes that want some time back to be a kid, to be able to have that, right? And they're able to train more.

during the week because our school days are Monday through Thursday from about 8.15 to about 2.45. And in that time, they will get all of the academic needs fulfilled and they will get all of their training needs fulfilled as well. So if people are looking for that in Lehigh or the surrounding areas, American Fork, Highland, you know, we're here for you and we want you. Yeah.

Rob Pene (12:06.678)

Nice. What do you see as the goal of the first year? I guess, is it semester based or?

Linda Willits (12:16.633)

No, it's year. Yeah, so it'll be a full school year. Yeah.

Rob Pene (12:20.514)

Yeah, yeah, what's your vision for that first year?

Linda Willits (12:23.523)

Our first year is growth. I think if I had to put a word to it, it would be growth and patience, Patience with myself, because right, we have a vision. I have a vision of what I want it to be and always working towards that vision, but being open to pivoting what's best for the kids. And that's kind of what our goal is, is to always do what's best for the children and what's best for their families, because there's a reason why.

They're pulling their kids out of public schools and putting them into the school. They don't want what they're getting in public schools. So we want to make sure that we're serving their needs and giving them what they want and even more. Like we want to make sure that they're experiencing even having a better experience than what they thought it was going to be.

Rob Pene (13:10.54)

Is there a cost for students, like for families, because Academy sounds expensive?

Linda Willits (13:15.479)

Right, right, right. So there is a cost, right? So if you think about like micro schooling, you can think about it as like a learning center, right? So they will have an academic coach that comes and is in charge of their academic success. And we'll make sure that they are doing everything that they need to do to be able to succeed in that area. And then we will also have our trainer, right? And they're not free. So there is a cost to it, but the value of it is amazing. All right. So the entire program is $12,000.

and we can break that into 10 payments of 1,200. But something that Utah offers that is so amazing is scholarships funding for homeschoolers. Utah has a program that is called Utah fits all, and it's a scholarship program that you can apply for and that you can get up to $8,000 that you can use towards your homeschooling programs.

towards your athletic or activities, extracurricular activities and things like that. And so Utah is very lucky to have that because not all states have that. So we are very blessed and very lucky to have that.

Rob Pene (14:25.71)

Wow, so they take 8,000 of the cost and that's like 4,000. So you split that up in the 12 months or 10, that's fairly inexpensive.

Linda Willits (14:35.659)

Yes, for what they're getting, like they're getting a lot of value, right? It's worth it. The program is worth it. Yes.

Rob Pene (14:42.646)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Are you gonna teach? Like, who's the teacher?

Linda Willits (14:47.779)

No, no, no, no. So I am not going to teach. Although part of me like wants to just be so much involved in it because I love it. So no, so I'm actually hiring an academic coach that will teach that will do that academic portion of it. And then the trainer will handle all of their training and sports needs. Yeah.

Rob Pene (15:06.422)

Yeah, I know you described a little bit of the day to day, but walk us through like a daily agenda. What would be kind of the, it, does it vary per day? Like academics in the morning and then athletics in the afternoon and then on Wednesday, swap it. Is it that flexible or, or is it, yeah.

Linda Willits (15:25.911)

So we have a great schedule. So the way we have it set up is that like our goal or the ratio from student to academic coach is 10 to 1. So micro schools are wonderful for that. We keep the class sizes small so that these kids are getting individual help when they need it. Lots of one-on-one time they can ask questions and they're really connecting with the students that they're with. And so the goal is to have 20.

20 students is what my goal is to have for the micro school. And so what we'll do is we'll split that group in half. So we'll have 10 students in one class and 10 students in the other class. We'll start at about 8.15. They'll do their opening exercises, which is the Pledge of Allegiance and some other things that they'll share. And then we'll get on with instruction. And so what that looks like is the first group. So let's say we have group A and group B. So group A will be doing the academic portion.

Rob Pene (16:00.462)

Mmm.

Linda Willits (16:23.687)

of it for 90 minutes. so usually that portion is the core curriculum is what we will be doing during that time during that first 90 minutes. And then the other group, group B will be training with our trainer. And then after that 90 minutes, they will switch. And then group A will now go do the training, the strength, speed and agility with Coach Kenny. And then the group B will now do the academic portion of that session.

Rob Pene (16:36.27)

Mmm.

Linda Willits (16:52.924)

And then after that 90 minutes, they have lunch and then they come back and then they do meditation for about 10 to 15 minutes. All right, so that we can again regroup, lock in, remember why we're here. And then we have another 60 minute session where in that time, that's what can vary. So depending on what the kids need, if we need to do a little bit more work on some core curriculum, then we'll use that time to do it.

but that's kind of where we like to do more of our life skills type learning. Entrepreneurship, how to be boss, how to own your own business, financial literacy and things like that. So that's where that will take place. And then the group B will be doing sports specific training. So if they are a football player, if they are a basketball player, if they are a volleyball player, whatever their sport is.

Rob Pene (17:25.1)

No.

Rob Pene (17:40.558)

You

Linda Willits (17:47.229)

then they will do specific training during that time. And then after 60 minutes, they will switch again. And then after that, the day is over and they get to go home and spend some time with their family, do their chores. And there is no homework. don't give them homework so that when they are finished, they can go and do what needs to happen at home.

Rob Pene (18:02.382)

I'm not doing anything.

Rob Pene (18:07.18)

Wow, man, that sounds so fun. Yeah. Yeah. yeah, that's pretty cool. And then five days a week, not.

Linda Willits (18:09.97)

Doesn't it? Don't you wish you had that growing up? I mean, I do. Yeah. Yeah.

Linda Willits (18:20.964)

No, only four. So Monday through, yeah, Monday through Thursday. So most of these kids that will join the Academy are elite athletes that usually have tournaments, right? Friday, Saturday, Sunday, sometimes even Monday. And so this is geared towards their schedule, right? So they don't miss school. In public schools, I'm pulling my kids out of school all the time for tournaments. mean, this next April, I swear my kids are probably going to miss like 10 days of school.

Rob Pene (18:42.477)

Yeah.

Linda Willits (18:47.857)

because of tournaments, you know, and that's just kind of their life. That's the life that we signed up for when we decided to do club sports. And they enjoy it and they love it, but then it takes a toll on their academics because now look, I'm taking them out, you know, Thursday, Friday, you know, to where in public schools, if I do that a lot, I'm going to get a trancy letter for my kid, right? I'm just nervous about that. We're at Academy, at the Elite Prep Academy. We know, we get it. That's why we're here.

right? And they can actually do their work online, you know, they

Rob Pene (19:35.98)

Okay, there you go.

Linda Willits (19:41.42)

Sorry, did I cut out a little bit there?

Rob Pene (19:44.214)

Yeah, we should be back now.

Linda Willits (19:46.059)

Okay.

Rob Pene (19:47.79)

Cool, cool, Question.

The ideal student it sounds like would be club athletes.

Linda Willits (20:02.38)

probably what or who this model would fit probably. Yeah, but we're open to everybody. I mean, not everybody starts as an elite athlete, right? But can they turn into one for sure, right? And I was just watching this podcast and they had this little blurb. This little interview came on with Kobe Bryant and he was talking about

Rob Pene (20:06.168)

Right.

Linda Willits (20:26.976)

elite athletes and he said, listen, there's difference between elite athletes and athletes that want to have fun, right? If you look at the average athlete, they practice probably two times a week and it's an hour and a half to two hours a week, right? These elite athletes are working out daily. They're working out daily and they're putting in the work. So their time of training is compounding, right? And getting more and more and more. So now they become more and more stronger, faster.

better at their skill, right? And that's what we're doing at elite. These kids are training 12 hours, right? 12 hours a week, just with us. That's not including their practice time that they have after, right? So look at how much time they're putting into their skill, putting into their training. And they just become these elite athletes just because of the training that they're getting, right? Whether you want it or not, you're going to get it.

Rob Pene (21:06.51)

Mm-hmm.

Rob Pene (21:21.388)

Yeah, yeah, it's

Right? Yeah, that's what you sign up for. Yeah. Well, good. It sounds like it's going to benefit the community. I think it's just a matter of them knowing that you're available as an option would be good. So.

Linda Willits (21:27.263)

Yes.

Linda Willits (21:39.4)

Yes, yes. And it's getting us, it's getting our brand out there. It's letting them, letting them know that we want to help your child. That's why we're here. Like we want to build them better, make them better, you know, in all facets of life, not just, you know, athletics, right. But just as a person, as a whole person, right. We want them to be more responsible. We want them to look for ways to serve. We want them to, you know, be a part of the community and

And think of that, just because you're 12 doesn't mean that you don't have a voice and doesn't mean that you can't take action. Like we want these kids to understand that they can do anything they want at 12 years old. Tasha was telling us about a program that they're doing with their kids right now. It's a shark tank activity. And she's like, Linda, these kids had to come up with the business plan.

They had to go find mentors. They have to figure out how to, you know, get a business license. They have to figure out how to market, how to get their brand out there. And she said, by the end of this program, they will have a business and they will be making real money. And I'm going, who gets taught that? And you know, in elementary school, middle school, high school, that you can be your own boss. Like this guy's the limit. And that if you put in the work.

Rob Pene (22:48.686)

Thank

Yeah.

Linda Willits (22:59.49)

and you trust those around you and you look for sources that are doing what you want to do, that you will be successful. Like you can be successful at any age. And I just love it. Yeah.

Rob Pene (23:10.828)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. This model is going to work, I think. It's definitely going to work. because it's power. Yeah. Well, thank you for your time. This is great. Is there one last thing? Where can people find more about you and the school, your academy in Lehigh?

Linda Willits (23:31.887)

in Lehigh. So you can actually go to my Instagram. So it's elite lehighutah.ut and you can go on our Instagram. I'm actually going to be uploading some more information if people have questions or anything like that, they'll be able to click on a link to where their contact information will come to me and I can reach out to them if they have any questions. If they want to know more about the program, then they can go to eliteperformanceprepacademy.com.

and they can kind of search through the website if they have any questions. That has a lot of information that can answer any questions that they have about the program.

Rob Pene (24:08.792)

Hey, great, I appreciate you, thanks.

Linda Willits (24:11.163)

No, thank you. I appreciate you doing this, Rob. You're awesome.

Rob Pene (24:14.446)

Cool, okay, let's make sure that we hit the 100.