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Our Mission 

Arete Academy of Exceptional Education is committed to partnering with students, parents, and the community to provide a nurturing environment for gifted students who learn differently.  At Arete, each student’s unique gifts are recognized and celebrated, and their learning differences are accepted and supported. Students experience a sense of belonging and build self-esteem through programming focused on strength-based learning, flexibility, educational technology, and a commitment to embracing the whole child.  We strive to meet each student’s academic, social and emotional needs to encourage them to reach their full potential and apply their gifts to make lasting contributions to their community.

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Our Story

Leah Brzezinski, the founder of Arete Academy, has dedicated 25 years to autism education, speech pathology and special education administration. Her diverse experience equips her to address the unique needs of a variety of students.

When Leah's oldest son faced academic, social and emotional challenges in fifth grade, she applied her professional skills to understand his needs. Through testing and personal exploration, Leah discovered her son was a twice-exceptional learner. Realizing the scarcity of schools designed for 2e learners, especially in the Midwest,  Leah created Arete Academy. Her mission: to provide a supportive and challenging environment for bright students who learn differently. 

At Arete Academy, our mission is to help each student reach their highest potential. We provide a supportive, stimulating and personalized educational experience that nurtures both their intellectual abilities and their individual learning needs. Through our specialized programs and dedicated staff, we strive to empower our students to excel academically, socially and emotionally.

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Our Campus

Arete enrolls students entering 6-12th grade, and has low teacher ratios within the classroom. Small class sizes help us promote strength-based learning and individualized curriculum. 

​Arete Academy is a Candidate for Accreditation with NCA CASI, NWAC, and SACS CASI.

Location

In 2023, we moved to our newest location, inside the Adler Graduate School building in Minnetonka, MN. Our address is 10225 Yellow Cir Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55343.

Meet Our Team

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Leah Brzezinski

Founder

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Molly Dunnigan

Operations Director

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Rebeca Oliveira

Science Teacher

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Ethan Windschitl

Language Arts Teacher

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Addison

Enrichment & Afterschool Assistant

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Jamie Teigen

Head of School

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Haley Reese

Math Teacher & Administrative Specialist

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Arianna Marciniak

Social Studies Teacher

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Michelle Mathias

Enrichment & Afterschool Assistant

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Katie

Health & Physical Education Teacher

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