The People Behind the RCA Mission
What makes an educational model come to life?
At Regina Caeli Academy, it is the people.
Parents, tutors, families, and staff each play an important role in creating an environment where students can grow in knowledge, virtue, and faith. The RCA model is built to support parents as the primary educators of their children while surrounding them with a community that shares in the mission of formation.
For Frank Scarchilli, that support became deeply personal.
A Parent at the Heart of the Mission
Frank and his family joined Regina Caeli in 2014 when a new center was opening in Detroit, Michigan. With six children enrolled, Frank and his wife became part of a community that would shape their family for years to come.
As Frank explains, parents have a fundamental responsibility in the education and formation of their children.
“As parents, we are the primary educators of our children, and it's our responsibility to pass on the faith to our children.”
That responsibility is at the heart of the RCA model. Parents remain closely involved in their children's education while receiving support from tutors, staff, and other families.
More Than an Educational Program
Frank initially joined RCA because his family needed support with homeschooling, particularly as his children grew older.
What his family received went beyond curriculum and lesson plans.
“But we in return receive so much more, the support, the community. The authentic Catholic community.”
That community became especially important during a difficult season in Frank's life. After his wife passed away in 2016, he was left caring for five children who still required schooling.
The RCA community stepped forward.
Mothers volunteered their time to pick up his two youngest children, bring them into their homes, and continue their schooling while Frank determined what came next.
For Frank, that experience demonstrated what it means to belong to a community that lives its mission through action.
When Families Support Families
RCA's mission is lived out not only through formal roles, but also through the everyday generosity of families who support one another.
Frank was able to continue homeschooling his children with the help of the curriculum, lesson plans, assistance, and community support provided through Regina Caeli Academy.
That support reflects an important part of the RCA experience: parents are the primary educators, but they do not have to walk the journey alone.
Families bring their time, talents, experience, and faith to the community. Tutors contribute their knowledge and guidance. Staff members help sustain the mission. Together, they create an environment where families can pursue the good, the true, and the beautiful.
From Parent to Tutor
Frank's story also shows how the people who become part of the RCA community can continue contributing to its mission.
Today, five of his children have graduated from RCA, while his youngest remained in the program at the Lapeer Center in Michigan. Frank now serves as an upper school tutor at that same center.
His journey has come full circle.
He first came to RCA as a parent seeking support for his family. Through the years, he experienced the generosity of other families and the support of the RCA community. Now, he contributes his own time and talents to help form the next generation.
The People Behind an Innovative Model
This human element is part of what makes RCA's approach distinctive.
As a 2026 Yass Prize contender, Regina Caeli Academy is being recognized among organizations developing innovative approaches to education. The Yass Prize celebrates education providers that are creating transformational opportunities for students and families.
Behind every educational model are people who make that model possible. At RCA, those people include parents who embrace their role as primary educators, tutors who guide students, families who support one another, and staff members who serve the mission.
Innovation is not only about how education is structured. It is also about creating an environment where people can work together toward a shared purpose.
Frank's story is one example of what that can look like.
Watch Frank's story above and hear how the people of Regina Caeli Academy supported his family and helped him continue the mission of forming his children in faith and learning.
Regina Caeli, ora pro nobis.
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