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History of AXIS

The story of AXIS began in 2018


AXIS International Academy and Preschool was founded in 2018 by two local parents who understood the value learning a second (or third) language brings to the life of a child, our community, and our world. They tried other local language learning options, but none met expectations. They were inspired by top-notch international schools they had visited across the world, where students receive an excellent international education through a whole child approach, all while learning a second language through immersion. Many of these schools are private schools, and at $17,000+ per student per year these schools are not an option for most families. They decided all kids deserve an opportunity to receive this type of education, and they set out to create it for their children and their community. 

 

The AXIS Vision and Mission

Vision: Preparing citizens of character to thrive in their local and global community and in life.
 
Mission: By advancing academic excellence, cross-cultural competence, multilingualism, and social-emotional and cognitive development, AXIS Colorado and AXIS International Academy and Preschool empowers children to lead choice-filled lives and be thriving citizens of character in their local and global community.
 

AXIS is an Acronym of Our Priorities

  • A - Academic Excellence
  • X - Cross-Cultural Competence
  • I - Immersion in World Languages
  • S - Social-emotional and Cognitive Skills Development

 

About the Co-founders

Kari Anne Calarco

Jenny Whitaker
jenny
Co-founder, AXIS International Academy
Co-founder, AXIS International Academy
 
Kari Anne Calarco brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit management at Teach For America and in education as a former K-5 teacher, instructional coach, administrator, university researcher, and professor. She has over four years of graduate coursework across the areas of educational psychology, culturally and linguistically diverse students, and special education.
 
Kari Anne Calarco spent her childhood in rural Indiana. After graduating from Indiana University, Kari joined Teach For America, an AmeriCorps leadership program where members teach in low income, high-need areas. For nearly a decade she was a special education teacher, instructional coach, and administrator in over 20 schools (including charter schools) in low-income communities across Los Angeles. During this time she reformed schools using research-based practices, completed her Masters’ in Special Education, taught graduate courses, and began Doctoral studies at UCLA in Educational Psychology researching Language, Literacy, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS).
 
While working in the Los Angeles Unified Schools District, she was in awe of the over 90 languages spoken across the district and by the vast number of multi-lingual colleagues and friends. This ignited a passion for languages and cultural learning, and she pledged that her children would be multilingual. In March of 2018, she teamed up with Jenny Whitaker to found AXIS International Academy.
 

Jenny Whitaker is the Co-Founder and Head of School of AXIS International Academy, a K–5 public charter school in Northern Colorado built on the belief that all students can achieve at high levels while becoming multilingual and globally competent.

 

Jenny’s path to founding AXIS was shaped by both professional experience and personal journey. She began her career in marketing and development at the Children’s Hospital Foundation, where she led work across fundraising, donor relations, event planning, and communications—developing a strong foundation in building and sustaining mission-driven organizations.

 

In 2010, Jenny and her family relocated to Switzerland, where they experienced firsthand the power of language immersion and cultural integration. After returning to Northern Colorado in 2012, she became determined to expand access to these opportunities for families in her community, ultimately partnering with fellow founder Kari to launch AXIS International Academy in 2018.

 

Since its founding, AXIS has grown into a high-performing school community known for its strong academic outcomes and innovative approach to language immersion. Under Jenny’s leadership, the school has developed systems and programs that support both excellence and access—ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds can thrive academically while gaining the cognitive and cultural benefits of multilingualism.

 

As Head of School, Jenny has built expertise in school leadership, finance, operations, and accountability within the charter sector, and continues to focus on scaling the impact of AXIS while staying grounded in the core mission that inspired its founding.

 

Jenny is also a parent of three children who have completed language immersion programs and continues her own journey as a French learner. Outside of school, she enjoys running, seeking out new adventures, and creating opportunities to bring people together.