Our Story
The Origin of the Name Wallace Academy
Wallace Academy is named in honor of a former student, Dennis Wallace. He was a remarkable and charismatic person, impacting all of those that he came into contact with. He was a rap artist, an amazing cook, and had the best sense of humor. During his high school career, Dennis faced an enormous amount of hardship. Supporting Dennis through that difficult time inspired Dana Fair to pursue a degree in School Leadership, with the ultimate goal of founding a school that supports students facing similar challenges to Dennis. He inspired a commitment to a student's well-being outside the walls of the school, relentless advocacy, and the importance of linkages and resources within the community.
Unfortunately, Dennis passed away in 2021. He has left a lasting impact on all those who had the opportunity to know him, and inspired a number of educators and clinicians to go beyond the call of duty to support their students through adversity. Our hope is that his legacy lives on through Wallace Academy, a school that does not give up on students.
The Founding of Wallace Academy
Wallace Academy was founded by Dana Fair, Rabije Perezic, and Clayton Berg. In their time working in various private therapeutic day schools as clinicians and educators, the three founders developed a true passion for supporting an acute population of learners that struggle to attend school. They bonded over their commitment to students and families, their work ethic, and their desire to have a more profound impact in the field of Special Education.
Dana, Rabije, and Clayton believe that with the appropriate support in place, the right environment, and a dedicated team, students can thrive and see success not only in school but in post-secondary life. The Wallace Academy team understands that post-secondary planning, strong community linkages, and supportive resources are at the cornerstone of continued achievement. We aim to deliver on a promise to advocate for our students, think creatively, and persist when challenges present.