Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Coker.
Hi Chris, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Laura and I both gravitated towards coaching after competing in collegiate athletics. Laura created her own Physical Therapy Clinic after completing her Doctorate, and I began training youth and adult athletes in strength & conditioning, nutrition, and mindset. Together, we developed a comprehensive program in DFW, training youth athletes, Olympians, Professionals, and everyday moms and dads.
Over the years, we have become increasingly focused on youth and the importance of a more holistic approach to address the entire lifestyle and mindset of our clients and students. As our sons grew, their education and development became our priority. This ultimately led us to leave the metroplex for Fredericksburg, where we could be closer to family and enjoy a quieter, smaller town.
As we began building our new life in Fredericksburg, we were asked to open an Apogee Education Campus. In 2023, we founded Apogee Fredericksburg, a small K-12 academy, combining the principles and freedom of home education with hands-on collaborative project-based learning, and an intentional focus on life skills, mindset, finance, leadership, health, and more.
We just started our second full year at Apogee Fredericksburg with 25 students. The growth and development of our first-year students was astounding, and we are excited to see that fruit multiply for years to come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth roads and entrepreneurship don’t really go together. Anytime someone tries to build something, there will always be lessons learned the hard way. The education campus was no exception and involved the additional pressure involved with parents trusting us to help shape and educate their children. That pressure has resulted in a new level of focus and growth for us personally, as we take this challenge far beyond a business endeavor and more into a personal mission to impact our community and future. In parallel, we are paddling upstream, against a current of societal misconceptions about what school should look like, what the priorities for young learners should be, and more. Yet, the families that see what we see and have similar priorities are eager to jump in and offer their children the advantages that come with stepping out of the traditional educational model and into something more nuanced and focused on developing the whole person, and not just test scores.
Our mission isn’t to just build a successful school. We are trying to educate the entire community, one person at a time. We host regular community workouts, seminars, and gatherings, all completely free. We simply want to have a positive impact on as many people as possible.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Apogee Fredericksburg Academy?
Apogee Fredericksburg exists to coach and equip young leaders and their families to reach their full potential by partnering with God’s design and through collaboration with parents, as families acquire the skills necessary to establish a life of freedom and sovereignty, and to raise builders, thinkers, and citizens.
We achieve this through a holistic approach to education, incorporating intentional work on self-discipline, spirituality, communication, leadership, health, emotional regulation, critical thinking and problem-solving, financial literacy, self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship, academics, and more. By creating a microcosm of the real world through financial literacy training, mixed age groups, project-based learning, individualized academics, healthy lifestyle habits, consistent coaching, mentorship, and so much more… our students develop real-life skills and a growth mindset that will carry them far beyond their time in school, and make them lifelong learners.
This individualized, life skill-focused approach is incomparable to traditional education offerings, both public and private. Students learn faster in less time, allowing for additional time to spend on skills that really impact their lives. School is stuck in the past; education should be constantly evolving to match the times and the future demands placed on our young learners. This approach allows us and the students to evolve and adjust in real time.
Apogee Strong has over 100 campuses around the United States, Canada, and Australia. We offer full-time, part-time, and home education coaching for students, giving families the freedom to choose what’s best for them and their children.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Discipline. I’ve never been the best innovator, operator, or marketer… but what I lack in creativity I make up for in sheer grit and dedication to quality. We simply refuse to be outworked or settle for less than our best. We do the little things right, we pay attention to details, we value the customers, and we try to build relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://apogeefredericksburg.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apogeefredericksburg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apogeefredericksburg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ApogeeFredericksburg
