About Us
The Holistic Approach to Youth Empowerment
Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy was founded on the deep conviction that accessible, high-quality after-school support and mentorship are essential catalysts for youth development, particularly in today’s demanding educational landscape. We offer a uniquely comprehensive environment that blends rigorous academic support with enriching character development programs, setting us apart from traditional tutoring centers or recreational facilities. Our dedicated team, composed of certified educators, experienced mentors, and passionate community advocates, works collaboratively to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of every student. We foster a safe, inclusive, and stimulating setting where young individuals feel empowered to take risks, ask questions, and embrace learning without the fear of failure. From guided homework sessions designed to reinforce daily classroom lessons to innovative workshops that spark creativity and critical thinking, our foundation is built on understanding and nurturing the individual learner, ensuring that their time with us is both productive and genuinely joyful.
Our Story
From a Vision to a Vibrant Community Hub
The genesis of Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy began several years ago with a powerful, shared vision among a group of Maricopa educators and parents who recognized a critical need for accessible, high-quality, and emotionally supportive youth programming outside of traditional school hours. Our founders saw the gaps where students needed more personalized academic attention, character development, and simply a safe, engaging space to be themselves, especially during the crucial hours between school dismissal and when parents returned home from work. The initial concept was simple yet profound: to create a nurturing environment where education and community involvement went hand-in-hand, helping young people not only succeed in the classroom but also thrive as confident, ethical members of their community. We started small, utilizing a rented community space and relying on volunteer mentors, driven solely by the passion to make a tangible, positive difference in the lives of local youth who deserved every opportunity to reach their full potential.
What We Do
Cultivating Achievement Through Structured Engagement
At Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy, we execute our mission by providing a comprehensive suite of after-school programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities meticulously designed to fill the learning gaps that often occur outside of the traditional school day. Our program overview includes essential components such as individualized academic tutoring across all core subjects, specialized skill-building workshops in areas like coding and public speaking, and engaging extracurricular activities that promote physical wellness and artistic expression. We operate on a philosophy of structured freedom, where the afternoon is carefully segmented to ensure productive use of time while still allowing young people the autonomy to explore their interests and socialize in a healthy, supervised manner. Everything we do is aimed at building confident, well-prepared students who are equipped with both the knowledge to succeed academically and the social-emotional tools to thrive personally in an ever-changing world.
Our Mission
Empowering Youth Through Education and Community Involvement
Our overarching mission at Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy is fundamentally focused on empowering youth through education and community involvement, ensuring that every young person we serve has the tools and confidence to shape a positive, fulfilling future. We actualize this mission daily by running comprehensive after-school programs that are far more than just childcare; they are intentional, structured growth environments where academic excellence is fostered alongside robust character development and civic awareness. Whether a student needs focused help mastering algebra, developing their public speaking skills for a school project, or simply a safe space to connect with caring mentors, our dedicated team is committed to making a lasting, positive impact. We strive to instill in our youth the understanding that their education is the greatest tool for opportunity and that their involvement in the community is the most profound way they can exercise their growing leadership skills, thereby creating a virtuous cycle of learning, growth, and selfless contribution.
Our Future Vision
Becoming a Regional Benchmark for Youth Development
The long-term vision for Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy is to solidify our position as the leading regional benchmark for holistic youth development programming, extending our impactful, heart-centered model to serve a broader population within the greater Maricopa area and beyond. We aim to continuously innovate our curriculum, integrating emerging educational technologies and expanding our specialized workshops in high-demand fields such as advanced robotics, sustainable energy concepts, and digital entrepreneurship to ensure our students remain competitive in the future economy. Achieving this vision requires not only scaling our enrollment capacity but also deepening our community roots, forging strategic alliances with more local schools, universities, and industry partners to create seamless pathways for our students from high school graduation to successful careers. We are committed to meticulous program evaluation and sustained fundraising efforts to ensure that our superior programs remain accessible to all families, regardless of economic background, making excellence in youth development the expected standard, not the exception, across the region.
Our Core Values
Integrity, Compassion, Resilience, and Curiosity
Our operations, curriculum design, and every single interaction with a student, parent, or community partner are governed by a set of clearly defined core values: Integrity, Compassion, Resilience, and Curiosity. Integrity guides our commitment to honest communication and maintaining the highest ethical standards in all our programs, ensuring that our students learn the importance of moral behavior and trustworthiness. Compassion drives our mentorship approach, prompting us to meet every child where they are emotionally and academically, providing patient and non-judgmental support that fosters empathy and kindness toward others. Resilience is actively taught and encouraged, reframing failure not as an endpoint but as a necessary step in the learning process, empowering students to adapt and overcome obstacles both in the classroom and in life. Finally, Curiosity is the engine of lifelong learning, which we nurture through engaging, project-based activities that encourage young people to ask “why,” explore the unknown, and maintain an intrinsic passion for discovery, preparing them for an intellectually rich future.
Community Contribution
The Ripple Effect of Empowerment
The impact of Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy extends far beyond the confines of our physical location, creating a vital and measurable community contribution by cultivating engaged, responsible young citizens who are prepared to lead change. By equipping our youth with strong academic foundations and a robust set of social-emotional skills, we are actively reducing achievement gaps, contributing to higher high school graduation rates, and preparing a well-qualified, ethically conscious local workforce for the future. Furthermore, our academy acts as a consistent, reliable resource for families, providing peace of mind and necessary support for working parents who know their children are in a safe, productive, and nurturing environment during critical after-school hours. This stability and support translate directly into stronger family units and a more vibrant, cohesive community where young people are seen as valuable assets and are actively contributing to the common good through their participation in service projects and local initiatives guided by our team.
Our Team
Dedicated Professionals with a Heart for Youth
At the heart of the Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy is a remarkable team of passionate professionals who bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and, most importantly, genuine care to our students every single day. We prioritize not only academic qualifications but also a deep understanding of child development and a commitment to serving as positive, consistent role models for every young person in our charge. Our team members are trained in various educational methodologies, trauma-informed care practices, and conflict resolution techniques, ensuring we provide a supportive and professional environment that addresses the complex needs of today’s youth. The dedication of our staff is evident in the personalized attention each student receives, the engaging curriculum they create, and the strong, trusting relationships they cultivate with both the youth and their families, making the academy feel less like an institution and more like an extended, supportive family unit.
Sarah Chen
Program Director
Sarah Chen holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and has over fifteen years of experience leading successful youth enrichment programs in diverse urban and suburban settings. Before joining Cheerful Hearts, Sarah taught middle school science, where she honed her skills in curriculum development and motivating reluctant learners to find their inner spark. Her leadership style is deeply collaborative, focusing on empowering our teaching staff and mentors to deliver the highest quality of instruction while maintaining a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all students. Sarah is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, ensuring compliance with all safety protocols, and continuously evaluating our programs to ensure they meet the evolving academic and developmental needs of our Maricopa community youth. She is deeply committed to creating equitable access to opportunities and believes every child deserves the resources necessary to achieve exceptional results and build a successful life after their time with us.
Michael Rodriguez
Lead Mentor & Academic Coordinator
Michael Rodriguez, a certified math teacher with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a specialization in special education support, is the anchor for our academic tutoring division. Michael’s bio reflects over ten years of experience helping students master challenging subjects, particularly algebra and geometry, through innovative and relatable teaching methods that demystify complex concepts and build confidence. His role involves training our volunteer and paid mentors, developing customized academic plans for students struggling with core subjects, and coordinating with local school teachers to ensure our supplementary learning is perfectly aligned with in-class instruction. Michael is known for his patient, encouraging demeanor and his ability to connect with even the most disengaged learners, transforming academic anxiety into curiosity and tangible achievement. He firmly believes that effective tutoring is about building study skills first, and content knowledge second, which leads to students who are self-sufficient and resilient learners.
Jessica Brown
Social-Emotional Development Specialist
Jessica Brown is a licensed social worker with a focus on adolescent and child development, bringing a crucial perspective to our holistic approach to youth well-being and character education. She runs our dedicated social and emotional development workshops, focusing on vital skills like empathetic listening, effective conflict resolution, stress management techniques, and developing a positive self-identity during challenging teenage years. Jessica’s extensive background includes working in school-based counseling and non-profit settings, providing her with the expertise needed to address the emotional complexities youth face today, from navigating peer pressure to building healthy relationships. She uses evidence-based techniques to foster emotional literacy, helping students recognize and articulate their feelings, and providing them with actionable strategies to manage difficult situations. Her caring presence ensures that Cheerful Hearts remains a safe emotional harbor where students can openly discuss challenges and receive constructive, compassionate guidance.
Our Work
Building Confidence Across Three Core Pillars
The work of Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy is strategically organized around three inter-connected core pillars—Education & Learning, Play & Exploration, and Social & Emotional Development—to ensure we are nurturing the whole child in a comprehensive and balanced manner. We recognize that true success is not achievable by focusing on academics alone, but requires a strong, integrated foundation of knowledge, creativity, and inner resilience. Every mentor, activity, and resource within our academy is designed to contribute to one or more of these pillars, creating a synergistic effect that promotes rapid development and lasting positive change in the lives of our youth. We pride ourselves on the intentional integration of these domains, ensuring that a math lesson might also involve a team-based problem-solving challenge, thereby contributing to both learning and social development simultaneously.
Education & Learning
Mastering Subjects, Cultivating Lifelong Study Skills
Our Education & Learning pillar goes far beyond simple tutoring by fostering an environment where students not only achieve mastery in core subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics, but also cultivate the essential executive functioning skills necessary for lifelong academic success. We provide targeted, small-group and one-on-one academic support tailored to each student’s specific needs and school curriculum, helping them understand complex concepts, complete homework accurately, and prepare for upcoming exams with confidence. The long-term focus of this pillar is on teaching students how to learn, emphasizing effective note-taking, organizational strategies, time management, and critical thinking skills that transition seamlessly from our academy to the classroom and ultimately to higher education or career paths. This disciplined, supportive approach transforms students who once struggled with academic anxiety into self-assured learners who possess the fundamental knowledge and strategic abilities to tackle any intellectual challenge independently and successfully.
Play & Exploration
Fostering Creativity, Joy, and Discovery
The Play & Exploration pillar is crucial for stimulating creativity, mitigating stress, and promoting healthy physical and cognitive development in a non-academic context, recognizing that structured recreation is a vital component of a young person’s growth. This pillar encompasses supervised free play, organized recreational sports, artistic and musical activities, and our popular project-based workshops that allow for open-ended creativity and discovery. Activities are designed to encourage collaborative effort, allow students to discover hidden talents, and practice leadership skills in a low-stakes environment, whether they are building a model bridge, staging a short play, or simply engaging in a supervised game outdoors. By providing dedicated time for joyful exploration, we help young people manage the pressures of school, develop their physical coordination, and maintain a crucial sense of wonder and curiosity that fuels their academic interests when they return to their studies.
Social & Emotional Development
Building Character, Empathy, and Resilience
The Social & Emotional Development pillar is arguably the most impactful component of our work, dedicated to equipping young people with the inner strength and interpersonal skills needed to navigate relationships, regulate emotions, and make responsible decisions. Through facilitated group discussions, role-playing exercises, and mentorship dialogues, we actively teach emotional literacy, helping students identify, understand, and express their feelings in healthy ways, moving beyond reactive behaviors. Our emphasis is placed on developing strong empathy, encouraging students to consider diverse perspectives, and practicing effective communication skills necessary for navigating conflict and building lasting friendships. By fostering a culture of mutual respect and compassion within the academy walls, this pillar directly contributes to a decrease in disciplinary issues both in our program and in the local schools, producing thoughtful, self-aware, and responsible young individuals who are prepared to be positive influences in their homes, schools, and future workplaces.
Programs/Services
Tailored Support for Every Stage of Youth
The programming at Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy is intentionally broad, yet deeply personalized, ensuring that we offer meaningful and developmentally appropriate support for young individuals across various age and maturity levels, from elementary school to college preparation. Our services are categorized to meet the distinct academic and social needs of these different groups, utilizing varied instructional techniques and mentorship styles to maximize engagement and learning outcomes. We offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate the varying needs of working families and different school calendars, recognizing that convenience and consistency are critical factors in the success of any after-school program. Every program includes the fundamental structure of dedicated homework time and access to our core mentorship team, ensuring a reliable baseline of academic support regardless of the student’s chosen specialty or age group within our offerings.
Community & Engagement
Partnerships That Strengthen Our Mission
At Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy, we understand that our mission to empower youth is most effective when it is supported by strong, integrated relationships with our students’ families and the wider Maricopa community. We are not an isolated service; rather, we function as a key component of a supportive ecosystem dedicated to child success. This commitment to collaboration drives our efforts to maintain open lines of communication, foster transparency, and create numerous opportunities for stakeholders to connect with and contribute to the Academy’s environment. Our engagement strategy is built on the belief that when parents, educators, and community members work in concert, the impact on a young person’s development is exponentially greater, creating a consistent, positive message of support and opportunity everywhere the student turns.
Testimonials
The Voices of Cheerful Hearts Families
These heartfelt testimonials from parents and guardians highlight the tangible, positive transformation they have witnessed in their children’s academic performance, social confidence, and overall enthusiasm for learning since joining the Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy family.
“When my daughter, Lily (Elementary Group), first started with Cheerful Hearts, she was struggling significantly with her math confidence and would often cry over homework, avoiding it entirely. Within just three months, the personalized mentorship provided by Michael has completely turned things around; she’s not only caught up but is now enthusiastically helping her classmates understand concepts. The team didn’t just teach her formulas, they taught her how to believe in her own ability to learn challenging things, and that emotional shift has impacted every part of her school life. We are incredibly grateful for the patience and dedication the academy staff shows daily, making learning a joyful and stress-free experience for our whole family.” – Eleanor R.
“The transition to middle school was incredibly tough for my son, Ethan (Middle School Group), primarily because of the new social dynamics and increased organizational demands. Jessica and the Social-Emotional team were instrumental in helping him develop better communication skills and effective strategies for time management that have made a world of difference. He now actively uses a planner, anticipates deadlines, and can articulate his feelings about peer conflict rather than bottling them up. Cheerful Hearts is truly unique because they prioritize character and emotional intelligence alongside academics, preparing him not just for the next grade, but for adulthood, and we’ve seen a happier, more confident young man emerge.” – David K.
“As a working parent, knowing that my son, Marcus (High School Group), is in a safe, productive, and future-focused environment every afternoon is invaluable peace of mind that allows me to focus on my job. The High School Program’s college-prep mentorship, led by Sarah, has been phenomenal; they helped him research universities, fine-tune his application essays, and even ran mock interviews that significantly boosted his confidence for his campus visits. Marcus recently received acceptance letters from his top two choices, and we credit the comprehensive guidance and structured support he received here over the last four years for this incredible achievement. They truly invested in his potential and future success.” – Sofia M.
“My youngest, Olivia (Elementary Group), absolutely loves the Play & Exploration time, especially the STEAM activities run by Alex. She used to think of science as boring, but now she’s building complex contraptions and talking non-stop about engineering principles after every session. It’s wonderful to see her academic growth, but what I appreciate most is the sense of belonging and community she feels here; she has built genuine friendships and looks forward to going to the academy every single day. The staff’s warmth and professionalism make it feel like a second family, and that positive energy has made her happier and more engaged in everything she does.” – James C.
“We initially enrolled our daughter, Chloe (Middle School Group), for tutoring support in Algebra, but what we gained was so much more than just better grades; we gained a community of support. The way the academy communicates with parents is exceptional, and the family workshops have been genuinely helpful, giving us tools to better support Chloe’s stress management at home. The staff are true partners in her education, constantly looking out for her best interests and celebrating every small victory with genuine enthusiasm. Chloe’s overall attitude toward school has shifted from dread to determination, and we see her resilience growing with every new challenge she tackles with the Cheerful Hearts team by her side.” – Maria V.
Our Volunteer
Join Our Mission: Invest Your Time, Change a Life
Volunteering with Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy is a profoundly rewarding opportunity to directly contribute to the future success and well-being of young people in the Maricopa community, becoming an integral part of our mission to empower youth through education and community involvement. We rely heavily on the dedication and expertise of our volunteers who bring diverse skills, backgrounds, and perspectives that enrich the student experience in countless ways, offering unique insights and mentorship opportunities that expand our students’ horizons. If you have a passion for a particular academic subject, professional skill, or simply a deep desire to be a positive, consistent role model, your time is an invaluable gift that translates immediately into tangible opportunities for our youth. Our program offers structured guidance and thorough training for all volunteers, ensuring you feel confident and fully prepared to make a meaningful difference, regardless of your prior experience in educational settings.
Ways to Help
Find the Perfect Role for Your Talents
There are numerous, flexible avenues through which you can lend your talents and support to the vital work done at Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy, allowing you to choose a role that best fits your schedule and expertise. Our most critical needs include Academic Tutoring, assisting students with dedicated homework help in subjects like reading, math, or science, or helping them prepare for standardized tests and school projects by teaching effective study skills. We also seek Specialized Workshop Leaders who can facilitate short courses or clubs in areas such as robotics, basic coding, creative writing, photography, or financial literacy, sharing their professional skills and inspiring future career interests in our students. For those who prefer non-student-facing roles, we welcome assistance in Administrative Support with organizing materials, assisting with communications, or helping coordinate our community engagement events and fundraisers, ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the entire academy.
The Direct Impact of Volunteering
A Lasting Legacy
The time you dedicate as a volunteer has a direct and measurable impact on the lives of our students and the overall strength of our academy, representing an investment that yields a lasting legacy of youth success. By serving as a mentor or tutor, you are directly helping a student overcome an academic obstacle, close a learning gap, or discover a hidden passion, all of which contribute to higher self-esteem and greater academic achievement, which are core predictors of future life success. Your presence provides crucial one-on-one attention that our students might not otherwise receive, reinforcing positive behavior, encouraging curiosity, and offering a stable, caring relationship that can be profoundly transformative, particularly for youth facing complex challenges outside the academy. Every hour you spend tutoring, mentoring, or assisting allows Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy to sustain and expand our superior, high-quality programs, truly making you an essential partner in empowering the next generation of confident, capable, and compassionate Maricopa leaders.
FAQ’S
Your Questions Answered in Detail
What is the process for enrolling my child in the Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy?
Enrollment is a straightforward and supportive process that begins with submitting an initial inquiry form through our website or contacting us directly at info@chya.site to schedule an informational visit and tour of our facilities at 12501 N MURPHY RD, MARICOPA, AZ 85138. We strongly encourage this visit so that you and your child can meet our team, see the academy in action, and ensure it is the right fit for your family’s needs and goals. Following the tour, we conduct a brief, confidential intake interview with the parent and student to discuss specific academic needs, review current school progress, and determine the most appropriate program track—Elementary, Middle, or High School—to ensure a seamless and effective start to your child’s journey with us, making the process personal and focused on individual success.
What security measures are in place to ensure my child’s safety and well-being while at the academy?
The safety and security of our students are our non-negotiable top priority, and we have implemented rigorous, multi-layered measures to ensure a safe environment for every child entrusted to our care. Our facility has controlled access points, and all students must be signed in upon arrival and signed out by a pre-authorized parent or guardian at dismissal time, with photo ID verification enforced for anyone unfamiliar to our staff. All Cheerful Hearts staff members, including paid employees and volunteers, undergo thorough state and federal background checks, fingerprinting, and rigorous training in emergency protocols, first aid, and child protection policies. We maintain a strict student-to-mentor ratio that ensures adequate supervision across all activities, and all common areas are monitored to foster a consistently secure and nurturing environment for all participants.
How does the Cheerful Hearts curriculum support and align with my child’s regular schoolwork?
Our curriculum is specifically designed to be supplementary and complementary to the core academic instruction your child receives during the school day, not a replacement for it, ensuring maximum reinforcement and cohesion across their learning environments. During our dedicated homework hour, our certified mentors prioritize assisting students with their current school assignments, test preparation, and long-term projects, ensuring they are meeting the exact standards and expectations of their local school curriculum. Additionally, our enrichment workshops, particularly those focused on building foundational skills in literacy, math, and executive functioning, utilize strategies that are proven to improve classroom performance, and we actively coordinate with local teachers and the school district to stay current on educational standards and curriculum calendars, ensuring our support is always targeted and relevant to the student’s needs.
Are meals or snacks provided for students during their time at the academy?
Yes, we understand that students are often hungry after a full school day and require proper nutrition to maintain focus and energy for their after-school studies and activities, which is why we provide a healthy, pre-packaged snack upon arrival. This snack, which typically includes fresh fruit, whole grains, and a protein source, is offered immediately after school dismissal and before the dedicated academic block begins, providing a necessary energy boost for sustained concentration during homework hour and subsequent enrichment activities. We meticulously plan our snack offerings to be nutritious and compliant with all relevant health and allergy guidelines, and while we are unable to provide full hot meals, we are fully accommodating of students who bring their own meals or specialized snacks due to dietary restrictions or preferences, and we maintain a peanut-free environment to ensure the safety of all our young participants.
What are the typical operating hours and how flexible is the program schedule for late pick-ups?
The Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy operates during the critical after-school hours, typically opening immediately upon the dismissal of local schools and remaining open until 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with a detailed and published daily schedule available for all enrolled families. While we structure our program to ensure students get the most benefit from the dedicated academic and enrichment blocks, we understand the logistical demands of working families and aim for reasonable flexibility in scheduling. We require students to be picked up no later than the 6:00 PM closing time, and we communicate clearly with parents regarding this policy, as consistent lateness impacts our staff schedule and our ability to maintain a high-quality program environment. We encourage any families anticipating difficulty with timely pick-up to discuss their scheduling needs with the Program Director upon enrollment so we can collaborate on finding a sustainable arrangement that works for everyone involved.
Contact Us
Connect with Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy
Connecting with the Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy team is the first step toward enrolling your child in a supportive environment dedicated to their growth, and we offer multiple convenient methods for you to reach us, schedule a visit, or simply ask a question. Our dedicated administrative staff is available during regular business hours to assist you with inquiries regarding enrollment, current program schedules, volunteer opportunities, and any other information you may require. We are committed to providing timely and helpful responses to all communication, and we look forward to hearing from you and welcoming your family into our community, where every question is met with genuine care and professional attention to detail.
Full Contact Details:
- Organization Name: Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy
- Physical Address (Mailing & Visit): 12501 N MURPHY RD, MARICOPA, AZ 85138
- Email: info@chya.site
Join us
Invest Your Career in Youth Empowerment
The Cheerful Hearts Youth Academy is continually searching for passionate, skilled, and dedicated individuals who are ready to invest their professional careers in the transformative work of youth empowerment, joining a collaborative team culture that is driven by mission and measurable impact. Working with us means becoming a vital part of a supportive educational ecosystem where your skills in teaching, mentorship, or non-profit administration will be directly translated into tangible success stories for young people in the Maricopa community. We are committed to hiring individuals who not only possess the necessary academic qualifications and professional experience but also demonstrate the empathy, integrity, and genuine warmth that define our organization’s values. If you are seeking a career that offers meaningful purpose, professional growth opportunities, and the daily satisfaction of knowing you are making a profound difference in a child’s life, we encourage you to explore the current openings within our growing academy.
