Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Phillips. She and her team shared their story with us below:
In 2018, Cary and Erica Phillips felt a strong sense of purpose to create a new educational opportunity in Ellis County. After meeting with National Association of University-Model® Schools, Inc. (NAUMS, Inc.) in the fall of that year, they began their training to launch Mercy Preparatory Academy. Their initial plan was to open the school in 2020, but the pandemic caused a delay. However, during the wait, Erica Phillips achieved her master’s degree in education, specifically Christian School Administration, in 2021. The couple continued to train and study, driven by their passion for creating a unique educational experience for the community. In the fall of 2022, NAUMS, Inc. encouraged the Phillipses to open Mercy Preparatory Academy. After seeing several signs that the timing was right as well as the addition of many supporters, the couple felt confident that it was time to open the doors to their new school in Waxahachie, Texas.
Mercy Preparatory Academy is a University-Model® School that provides a unique educational approach, where students attend classes on campus twice a week and complete the remaining coursework at home under the guidance of their parents. The school is committed to providing a rigorous academic curriculum that fosters critical thinking and encourages students to develop a love for learning. At Mercy Preparatory Academy, students benefit from a supportive community of teachers, parents, and peers, as well as a wide range of extracurricular activities that enhance their social and intellectual growth. By combining the structure of a traditional classroom with the flexibility of homeschooling, Mercy Preparatory Academy provides students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for success in college and beyond.
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?
The Phillipses began the path of Mercy Prep in 2018 and were set to open in the fall of 2020, but the pandemic came and delayed the opening. They spent the next few years obtaining graduate education, learning more about the University-Model® itself, and aligning themselves with the needs of the community.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mercy Preparatory Academy is a University-Model® School that provides a unique educational approach, where students attend classes on campus twice a week and complete the remaining coursework at home under the guidance of their parents. The school is committed to providing a rigorous academic curriculum that fosters critical thinking and encourages students to develop a love for learning. At Mercy Preparatory Academy, students benefit from a supportive community of teachers, parents, and peers, as well as a wide range of extracurricular activities that enhance their social and intellectual growth. By combining the structure of a traditional classroom with the flexibility of homeschooling, Mercy Preparatory Academy provides students with a comprehensive education that prepares them for success in college and beyond.
We are unique because of our school culture. We are focused on our community, both inwardly and outwardly. We are true partners in every sense of the word, whether it is teachers collaborating with each other or with the parents and students. Our school is dedicated to hiring and enrolling people who are focused on collaboration and fellowship. Additionally, we are driven by service to our outward community. We feel that each of us is blessed with a set of skillsets that the community can benefit from, and we regularly go out of our way to serve our community. We have two holidays where our school is required to serve the community as one body, and we have multiple opportunities to serve various organizations each month.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mercyprep.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/mercyprep
- Facebook: facebook.com/mercyprep
Image Credits
Elaine Baca Photography
