Making a Classical Education More Accessible: Lisa Yamin’s RCA Story
For Lisa Yamin and her family, Regina Caeli Academy® became much more than a place for her children to learn. It became a community that supported her family for years and gave her the opportunity to pursue the kind of education she wanted for her children.
Lisa, a mother from the Regina Caeli Academy Detroit Center, describes her experience with RCA as a tremendous blessing.
“Between the like-minded Catholic families and the beautiful classical education in the Catholic tradition, it was everything that we wanted for our family.”
For Lisa, RCA offered something that brought together several important elements: a classical education rooted in the Catholic tradition, a community of families who shared their values, and a model that allowed her to be closely involved in her children's education.
A Model Built Around Families
Regina Caeli Academy's hybrid model combines home learning with enriching center days. This structure allows parents to remain deeply involved as their children's primary educators while also giving students the opportunity to learn alongside tutors and other families in a center community.
Lisa experienced this model firsthand. She was thrilled by the opportunity to return to the classroom two days a week to teach while remaining closely involved in her family's education.
Over the years, Lisa has graduated three sons from Regina Caeli Academy. One went on to attend Franciscan University, another attended Harmel Academy of the Trades, and her third is studying for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary.
She is also preparing to graduate her fourth child, who is considering attending Franciscan University to study theology. Her remaining children, from kindergarten through 10th grade, continue at Regina Caeli Academy. Lisa hopes they will all graduate from RCA.
Making a Classical Education More Accessible
Stories like Lisa's help illustrate why accessibility matters.
A classical education rooted in the Catholic tradition can be deeply formative for families, but families need models that make this kind of education possible within the realities of family life.
Regina Caeli Academy's hybrid model was created with that in mind. By combining home learning with two days at a center, RCA provides families with a different way to approach education while preserving the richness of classical learning and the importance of community.
This innovative approach is one reason Regina Caeli Academy was selected as one of 26 national contenders for the 2026 Yass Prize, which recognizes transformative education providers.
More than 500 judges reviewed thousands of applications before this year's contenders were selected. The recognition places RCA among a national cohort of organizations developing innovative approaches to education.
A Community That Sustains Families
For Lisa, the value of Regina Caeli Academy cannot be separated from its community.
“I believe with my whole heart that it's been through God's grace and the unwavering support of this remarkable community that has sustained my family over the years.”
Her story reflects the experience RCA seeks to provide for families: a model that supports parents, encourages students, and brings families together around a shared commitment to classical learning rooted in the Catholic tradition.
The Yass Prize recognition gives RCA an opportunity to share that model with a wider audience. But at the heart of the story are families like Lisa's who have lived it.
Learn More
Regina Caeli Academy® is honored to be a 2026 Yass Prize contender and grateful for the opportunity to share the RCA model with a national audience.
To learn more about Regina Caeli Academy and our hybrid model, browse our website and explore a center near you.
Training Minds. Forming Souls. Supporting Families.
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