61. Building a School for Twice-Exceptional Students: The Story Behind Wonder Learning Center

In this episode of The Education Breakdown, we talk with Kelly Hayes, founder of Wonder Learning Center in Apex. Kelly shares how her path—from attorney to parent of twice-exceptional children—led her to create a learning environment designed specifically for gifted and neurodiverse middle and high school students. Wonder operates as a hybrid micro-school for students in grades 6–12. In our conversation, Kelly walks us through: The story behind founding Wonder and the family experiences that inspired it The school’s guiding mission and philosophy What a typical day/week looks like for students in the program How learning is structured, including both guided instruction and unstructured time Why Wonder prioritizes screen-free, relationship-focused learning Examples of immersive learning experiences, including field trips, guest speakers, and creative interdisciplinary projects Which students and families tend to thrive in the program—and important limitations families should understand This episode is especially helpful for parents exploring: Gifted education options Neurodiverse-friendly learning environments Small learning communities for middle and high school students Alternatives to traditional school structures To learn more about Wonder Learning Center, visit https://www.wonderlearningcenternc.com/