Our History
From a Small Seed to a Strong Oak
The Learning Acres (TLA) Academy was born out of necessity, personal experience, and a belief that learning should never be one-size-fits-all. We wanted to create the kind of place we wished existed for our own families, a community where every learner is accepted, differences are understood, and individual needs are genuinely supported.
Our journey began in Fall 2024 as a home-school learning pilot program supported by the VELA Education Fund. The pilot was created to explore a more flexible and inclusive approach to learning, bringing together small-group academics, hands-on enrichment, individualized support, and opportunities for therapeutic services to complement each child's learning experience.
What began as a small pilot showed us the value of creating a community where academics, therapy, independence, connection, and individual growth can exist side by side. It also reinforced what many families already knew: education does not have to follow a one-size-fits-all path.
Today, The Learning Acres (TLA) has a beautiful home at 2351 Hunter Mill Road, Vienna, VA 22181, offering learners access to welcoming indoor learning spaces and expansive outdoor areas where learning can move beyond the classroom. Our environment gives children room to learn, create, explore, move, connect with peers, and simply enjoy being outdoors.
TLA Academy continues to build on the foundation of our original pilot as a secular, homeschool-focused and all abilites-inclusive K–6 learning community. Our program may have grown, but our purpose remains the same: to create a place where every learner has room to learn, grow, connect, and belong.
The Heart of Our Community : Our People
Learning is a team effort. Our educators, parents, caregivers, and support professionals work together—sharing perspectives, building on each other’s strengths, and creating a consistent circle of support around every learner.
Hafsa Salahuddin | Founder & Program Director
Hafsa Salahuddin is the Program Director of The Learning Acres (TLA) Academy, bringing more than a decade of experience in program development, nonprofit leadership, and community programming, along with her lived experience as a parent and homeschooler.
Her personal journey raising children with different learning and support needs helped shape TLA’s philosophy: every child deserves a learning environment where they are understood, supported, and valued.
Hafsa oversees TLA’s programs, operations, partnerships, and enrichment opportunities, working with families, educators, and therapeutic providers to build a flexible, inclusive community where children of all abilities can learn, connect, and belong.
Cierra Bagget | Program Coordinator
Cierra serves as TLA Academy’s Program Coordinator, helping keep the many moving pieces of our program organized and connected. With a passion for supporting children and families and a strong eye for detail, she helps bring programs and ideas to life while ensuring day-to-day operations run smoothly. Cierra is also a key point of communication for our families, helping parents stay informed, supported, and connected to the TLA community.
Faith Ellen | Lead Teacher K-3
A dedicated educator with more than 15 years of experience supporting students through individualized academics, special education services, music instruction, and inclusive learning environments. She holds a B.M. in Music Performance with a minor in English from George Mason University, where she graduated cum laude, and is currently pursuing an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Educational Innovation at the University of Virginia.
Her experience spans early childhood through elementary education, individualized instruction for neurodiverse learners, and working with students with autism, motor differences, sensory needs, and limited functional speech. She brings a creative, flexible, and student-centered approach to the classroom, adapting instruction to each child’s strengths, interests, communication style, and learning needs.
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