About Us | Millie's Place Academy

How We Began

A Vision Born From Experience

At Millie's Place, we believe that every child deserves a place where they are seen, valued, and empowered to thrive — academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our journey began with a simple but powerful idea: a school where inclusion isn't just a policy, but a lived experience every day. As a parent, our founder witnessed firsthand how children with diverse abilities often face barriers to learning environments that truly meet their needs.

Her daughter's experiences inspired the creation of a school that celebrates each child's unique strengths, fosters belonging, and equips every learner to reach their full potential. Millie's Place is that vision brought to life — a place where children of all abilities learn together, supported by personalized instruction, embedded therapies, and a community that believes in their promise.

2025 Founded

K–2 Opening Grades

2027 Campus Opens

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

High Quality, Effective Instruction

Every child, regardless of abilities, deserves access to the evidence-based teaching methods and strategies so they can reach their fullest potential.

Personalized Learning

Education should be tailored to each child's unique strengths, needs, interests, and motivations.

Inclusion

True inclusion goes beyond open doors — it means actively designing instruction, environments, and relationships so every child can participate, connect, and thrive alongside their peers.

Whole Child Approach

We nurture every aspect of a child's development — academic, social, emotional, and physical — to prepare children to step confidently into the world, secure in their sense of self and ready to contribute to their communities with empathy, resilience, and purpose.

Community

Families, educators, and organizations are all essential in supporting and nurturing the growth and development of all students.

Collaboration and Empowerment

We work together with educators and schools to enhance their ability by giving them tools and technical assistance to effectively support all learners in their school communities.

Our Journey

The Road to Opening Day

2025

Planning Begins

Two education leaders and parents come together to answer a growing need for innovative, inclusive schooling options in North Texas — and begin laying the groundwork for Millie's Place Academy.

August 2026

Launch Year — Founding Families

We open our doors to a small, intentional cohort of founding families. This inaugural launch year is built on relationship, trust, and personalized learning — with clinically informed support from day one.

August 2027

Inaugural Year — All Abilities

Millie's Place Academy opens fully to a larger, diverse community of learners of all abilities — becoming the inclusive, high-quality school North Texas families have been waiting for.

We plan to build a flagship campus — a permanent home designed from the ground up to serve children of all abilities. Location TBD.

Photo Coming Soon

Amy Rich

Founder & Executive Director

B.Ed., University of Texas at Austin

M.S. Educational Leadership, Texas A&M Commerce

15 Years, Dallas ISD

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grantee

Meet the Founder

Built From Experience. Driven by Love.

Amy Rich spent 15 years inside Dallas ISD — as a classroom teacher, gifted educator, instructional coach, and assistant principal — before deciding the system needed something it couldn't yet offer: a school built around every child, not the other way around.

In 2013, Amy and her team were awarded a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to design and implement personalized learning at what became one of Dallas's top-rated elementary schools. That work — refining instructional models, building teacher capacity, and centering each child's individual journey — laid the foundation for Millie's Place.

But the deepest inspiration is personal. Amy is the mother of two children — a daughter with Down syndrome and a neurotypical son — both of whom attend an inclusive preschool together. Witnessing firsthand the power of a truly equitable, supportive learning environment lit a fire she couldn't ignore.

Millie's Place Academy is the result: a 501(c)(3) nonprofit school where every child — regardless of ability — is met with personalized learning, embedded therapeutic support, and a community that believes in their fullest potential.

"My mission is to build a community where every child is empowered to reach their fullest potential and develop a lifelong love of learning."

— Amy Rich, Founder

Support Her Vision →

A Day in the Life

Every Child. One Community.

At Millie’s Place, two students can share the same school day — and have completely different experiences within it. Same community. Same belonging. Entirely personalized paths.

Millie

Age 6 · Down Syndrome & Autism

OT Services Speech Therapy ABA Support Individualized ILP

Loves to sing and dance — music is her superpower.

Millie’s day is built around her unique communication goals, sensory needs, and emerging independence. Therapies are woven into natural learning moments — not pulled from class. She’s supported every step, while still belonging to the full community.

6-Week Goals

Use 15 functional AAC symbols independently to communicate wants and needs.
Complete her 3-step arrival routine independently with no prompting.
Demonstrate consistent progress toward potty independence during the school day.

Harrison

Age 4 · Gifted & Advanced Learner

Project-Based Learning Enrichment Blocks Advanced Mastery Goals Independent Research

Loves to build — always asking how and why things work.

Harrison’s day is driven by curiosity. Mastery-based goals mean he moves ahead when he’s ready — not when the calendar says so. Deep project work, independent research, and real-world problem solving keep him challenged, engaged, and growing.

6-Week Goals

Read an early chapter book independently and write a short response.
Research, build, and present a passion project to the class.
Master addition and subtraction within 100 and begin exploring multiplication.

Their Day — Side by Side

8:00

Morning Meeting Together

Community circle, mindfulness, goal-setting — every child, side by side.

8:30
11:30

Instructional Focus Block Personalized

Each student works through their personal playlist — a customized work plan with goals set just for them. Teachers and therapists move through the room, providing support where each child needs it most.

See Millie’s and Harrison’s Playlists

🌸 Millie’s Playlist

AAC communication practice — 5 target symbols
Multisensory phonics & early literacy activities
OT fine motor work & sensory regulation break
Number sense & counting activities with manipulatives
Embedded speech therapy session

🚀 Harrison’s Playlist

Independent chapter book reading & written response
Advanced math — subtraction within 100, intro to multiplication
Passion project research & building time
Logic puzzles & real-world problem solving
Peer collaboration challenge — works with a partner

11:30
12:30

Lunch & Recess Together

Shared meals and unstructured play — building friendships across all abilities.

12:30
1:30

Instructional Focus Block: Practical Life Personalized

Students work together in a shared environment — each with their own individualized goals and tasks they are working toward.

1:30
2:00

Special Programming — Art, Music & PE Together

Community partnerships bring art, music, dance, and movement to life. Every student participates; every experience is designed for every learner.

2:00
2:30

Closing Circle & Reflection Together

Every child shares a win from their day. Every voice matters. Every story belongs.

Same day. Same community. Two completely personalized paths.

About Millie's Place