About Cupertino Academy
Meet the founders.
Cupertino Academy was born from both professional experience and a deeply personal calling — and the belief that a child's learning differences should never define the limits of their future.
Co-Founder & Head of School
Valerie Revak
Cupertino Academy was born from both professional experience and a deeply personal calling.
Valerie Revak earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clemson University and worked as a registered nurse before stepping away from her career to devote herself to raising and educating her family. As the mother of six children — including two with dyslexia and other language-based processing differences — she understands firsthand the uncertainty, advocacy, and perseverance required to find the right educational support for a child who learns differently.
After homeschooling her children for several years and later navigating both private school and specialized interventions, Valerie recognized a gap in the educational landscape for families seeking evidence-based support within a nurturing, relationship-centered environment. She envisioned a place where children could receive the specialized instruction they need while families gained encouragement, guidance, and hope.
As Head of School, Valerie brings together her clinical background, educational experience, and compassionate leadership to ensure that every child at Cupertino Academy is known, supported, and equipped to thrive.
Co-Founder
Allen Revak
Allen Revak brings strategic leadership, entrepreneurial vision, and an unwavering commitment to Cupertino Academy's mission.
He earned his business degree from the University of Georgia before developing a successful business that was eventually acquired by Brunswick Corporation. Today, he serves in an executive leadership role within the organization, leading teams and initiatives that impact customers across the country.
As a husband, father of six, and co-founder of Cupertino Academy, Allen is passionate about building an organization that serves families with excellence and integrity. His experience in business leadership provides the operational foundation necessary to transform a meaningful vision into a sustainable reality.
Our Teachers
The educators working alongside your child.
Primary Pod Teacher
Lydia Evans
Lydia Evans is a speech-language pathologist and Orton-Gillingham reading tutor with a passion for helping students become confident, capable learners.
She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and her master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Valdosta State University. Lydia began her career in a Level I trauma center, where she worked with adults recovering from neurological conditions affecting speech, language, and swallowing. After starting a family, she transitioned into pediatric and private practice settings, where she developed a growing interest in literacy and language-based learning differences.
When her children reached school age, Lydia was given the opportunity to pursue training in the Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction. She is currently completing the final phase of her Associate Practicum through the Orton-Gillingham Academy. Not long after beginning this journey, one of her own children was diagnosed with dyslexia. This experience deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by students with learning differences and strengthened her commitment to helping them succeed.
Lydia has been married to her husband, Dustin, for sixteen years, and together they have three children: Charlotte, Audrey, and Noah. She considers it a privilege to walk alongside students and families as they develop the skills and confidence needed to reach their goals. Her desire is for every child she teaches to know that their struggles do not define them and that, through perseverance, encouragement, and God's faithfulness, they can achieve far more than they may imagine.
Our Why
A child's learning differences should never define their future.
Cupertino Academy exists because we believe every child deserves to be understood, supported, and given the opportunity to flourish. Our mission is to provide an evidence-based educational experience that empowers children and partners with families — cultivating purposeful learning, lasting confidence, and hope for what lies ahead.
Together, Allen and Valerie are committed to creating a place where children with dyslexia and related language-based learning differences develop confidence, discover their strengths, and build a foundation for lifelong success.
Our name & our faith
The story of St. Joseph of Cupertino.
Our name honors St. Joseph of Cupertino — a young man who was dismissed as slow, struggled deeply in school, and was repeatedly told he would amount to little. Through perseverance, encouragement, and faith, he became a figure remembered for wonder, devotion, and unexpected flight. He is a patron of students and of those who learn differently.
It's a fitting name for a place built on the belief that a child's early struggles do not define their potential.
What we hold to
- Every child has unique, God-given gifts
- Perseverance carries us through real challenges
- Human dignity belongs to every child
- Hope and purpose shape how we teach
Cupertino Academy is a Christian organization, and all are warmly welcome here.