This school year, rather than being offered the classes as electives, students will be able to take English, math and psychology courses from Indiana University, Yuen's alma mater, instead of the school's regular curriculum.

"There was always a lot of interest, but students struggled because they were doing double the work," Yuen said. "Now, we are replacing our curriculum with their curriculum."

The academy, which has preschool through high school students, is part of Redemption Bible College and has a Christian theme, with students attending chapel once a week.

There is a family atmosphere: Yuen's wife, Pamela, is the academy's principal, and a small student-to-teacher ratio of one teacher for 12 students means that students get more attention.

Adrian Yuen also works as a clinician with troubled and special-education students at the state Department of Education, and about 20 percent of Redemption's students have special needs.

The academy wants students to have both college-level academic experiences and a strong spiritual foundation.

"I think we're more apt to take students with different learning styles," Yuen said. "We teach the principles of respect. But we also want children to feel confident and to speak up and express themselves."

• What are you most proud of? The academy's inclusive environment.

"Students who have special needs are able to benefit from the support of their peers," Adrian Yuen said. "When a student has a special need, another student is assigned as an act of Christian grace to tutor, support and encourage the student.

"This kind of sharing creates a healthy bond between the students."

• Best-kept secret? Scholarships for children with parents in the military, especially at nearby Marine Corps Base Hawai'i at Kane'ohe Bay.

• Everybody at our school knows: Adrian Yuen. "It's such a small school that the students know everybody," he said.

• Our biggest challenge: "Working with children with special needs and working within the family dynamic," he said. "But it's a positive challenge."

• What we need: An endowment program so academy alumni can continue to support the school.

• Special events: An annual awards night when students are recognized for their progress.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.