Gifted Journeys

Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: March 2024

As most local students – and let’s face it, most teachers – are beginning to cast their hopeful gaze toward the rapidly approaching end of the School Year, a group of educators and parents are looking with anticipation toward the beginning of the 2025-26 School Year.

That’s because founder Brianne Hudak is already accepting initial applications for Journeys School for the Gifted and Talented, a Sylva-based school serving Jackson, Macon, and Transylvania county students, offering a unique educational opportunity for ages 5 through 13, or students enrolled in kindergarten through eighth grades. Even though the first official Journeys’ school year begins August 2025, enrollment has already begun.

“Journeys is a new, independent school dedicated to the success of exceptional individuals,” says Hudak, who holds a master’s degree in educational administration and will serve as the head of school.”

Brianne Hudak

Journeys School will develop students both academically and social-emotionally through personalized learning plans in which they reflect, goal set, and master content based on their specific interests and approaches to education. The school will have a biophilic design to encourage natural, nurturing settings and organic growth.

“Gifted and talented students are a neurodiverse population that process information and perceive the world in different ways. Unfortunately, they are often overlooked or underserved in traditional environments. At Journeys School for the Gifted and Talented, these learners receive proper identification, interventions, and support through “outside-the-box” learning plans that evolve with them as they move through their academic journey.”

Journeys’ first school year will begin in August 2025 and is open to all families. Initial applications are now being accepted. More information can be found at journeysgt.org.

“We’re still considering the tuition rate,” says Hudak. “We want to be affordable to families, but also provide exceptional education opportunities to students and recruit quality staff. We will offer financial assistance to families, as our goal is to create a sustainable, equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment for all to thrive.”

Hudak brings a wealth of experience to the job. Her roles in education are diverse and include teaching the gifted and talented, STEM, theater arts, and global studies. She has also held administrative roles as student activities director, dean of students, assistant principal, K-12 school leader, and adjunct professor.

For information, visit at journeysgt.org.