Imagine a school where students build Mars Rovers, design wind turbines, and explore ancient civilizations, all while developing academic skills and gaining real-world experience.
That's exactly what happens at LUSI—Level Up School of Innovation, a nature- and STEAM-focused microschool in Prattville, Alabama. As the first and only microschool serving Alabama’s River Region—a central area that includes Montgomery and surrounding communities—LUSI offers homeschool learners in grades 6–12 (soon expanding to grades 3–5) a fresh, flexible alternative to traditional education. Through project-based learning, social-emotional development, and a flexible weekly schedule, LUSI equips students with the tools they need to thrive. At the center of it all is Kai XR, an immersive learning platform designed for today’s learners.
With Kai XR, there is no box. The learning is limitless.
LUSI wasn't born from a district initiative—it was created by two passionate educators, Tina Lewis and Erica Ehrlich, who saw the gaps in traditional education and decided to build something better for their children and their community.
"We were both at a crossroads in our lives," Tina says. "We saw our children being under-served and knew we had to do something. That's how LUSI was born."
LUSI combines homeschool flexibility with innovative tools like esports, nature-based exploration, hands-on projects, and virtual learning. Kai XR helps unify it all.
"Our kids go fishing and hiking, but they also code and build robots," Erica says. "Kai XR helps us bridge all of it together."
At LUSI, students bring a mix of devices—and sometimes limited tech access—but that never slows learning. Kai XR works seamlessly across smartphones, Chromebooks, tablets, and laptops.
"We started with six iPads and students using everything from Chromebooks to smartphones," says Tina. "Kai XR worked across all of it. That flexibility was huge for us." Erica agrees on the ease of use.
You don't need fancy equipment. Kai XR is accessible on any device, which makes it possible for every student to participate right away.
In micro-schools, learning pods, and homeschool environments where budgets vary, few platforms prioritize accessibility the way Kai XR does.
"The cost was low, and the return was immediate," Tina says. "For small schools, co-ops, and homeschoolers—this is a tool built with us in mind."
Kai XR makes high-quality, engaging learning truly available to all.
Even in a flexible homeschool setting, academic quality still matters. Erica, a former district educator, uses Kai XR to ensure students meet standards while staying engaged.
The fact that Kai XR is standards-aligned gives me confidence. I know it's rigorous. But it's also fun, and that's rare.
With mixed-age classrooms, some students are ahead in one subject and behind in another. Kai XR allows each learner to engage at their own pace and level, making it easier for educators to meet students where they are.
"Every student can learn and grow with Kai XR, no matter where they're starting," says Tina. "It's accessible, adaptable, and gives each learner a way to engage on their own level."
Because Kai XR is project-based, students don't just absorb information—they actively use it. From interactive lessons to building challenges, the platform empowers students to turn knowledge into action.
At LUSI, Kai XR isn't just a digital platform—it's a tool that brings learning to life beyond the screen.
"We tied the Build a Mars Rover Adventure into a robotics challenge," says Erica. "Students explored the planets virtually, then applied what they learned to build and drive their own rovers."
In social studies, the Create Mesopotamia Learning Adventure inspired students to build digital models of ancient civilizations after studying them in class.
"They used their creativity to represent what they learned," Erica explains. "Temples, irrigation systems, ziggurats—they brought history to life in a way that really stuck."
These activities help students apply their learning in meaningful, memorable ways.
"It's one thing to read about history," Tina says. "It's another to step into a world you designed based on what you've learned. That's when the connection really clicks."
LUSI students regularly use Kai XR's 3D Makerspace, a creative environment where they can build, test, and explore in virtual space. It looks like a game but teaches essential academic and career-aligned skills.
"Students are scaling, rotating, and translating objects on the x, y, and z axes," says Erica. "They're building number sense and learning the vocabulary used in 3D design, gaming, and VR industries."
The Makerspace is used across subjects—from math and science to ELA and social studies—allowing students to demonstrate their learning visually and creatively.
"We use the Makerspace across all subjects," Tina explains. "It helps students show what they know in ways that are relevant to them."
Through hands-on digital creation, students strengthen spatial reasoning, sharpen tech fluency, and think like future innovators.
"They don't always realize they're building both academic and career skills," says Erica. "But the confidence and independence it gives them?—That lasts a lifetime."
At LUSI, social-emotional learning isn't an add-on—it's a foundation. And Kai XR supports it in a way that feels natural, not scripted.
Tina shares how through Kai XR Learning Adventures, students reflect, create, and collaborate in environments that encourage self-expression and thoughtful interaction.
Our students start every day with SEL. Kai XR lends right in with that. It allows students to build empathy and work together while staying engaged.
Adventures prompt students to think about purpose, community, and values without ever feeling like a lesson in behavior. It's woven into the learning in subtle but powerful ways.
"Students walk away feeling more connected, more confident, and more in control of how they learn," says Erica. "It doesn't feel like a social-emotional lesson—but it absolutely is."
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For LUSI, Kai XR wasn't just another tool—it was a turning point.
When asked if they would recommend Kai XR to other micro-schools or homeschool educators, both Tina and Erica gave a resounding yes.
"Absolutely," says Erica. "Even if you're not a STEM school, there's something for everyone. Virtual field trips, creativity tools, real-world lessons—it fits any model."
"This isn't just an edtech tool," Tina adds. "Kai XR is an innovation platform. If you want your students to think differently, learn deeply, and love what they're doing, you need it."
Kai XR has become a key part of what makes LUSI thrive. It reduces prep time, supports differentiated instruction, and sparks joy in students across subjects and grade levels.
Kai XR helps our microschool stand out. It makes LUSI a school students are excited to show up for.
Kai XR isn't just changing how LUSI teaches. It's redefining what learning can be.
Whether launching a microschool, running a homeschool pod, or looking for a flexible, high-impact tool—Kai XR gives you everything you need to make learning engaging, immersive, and meaningful. No extra prep required. Just ready-to-use Learning Adventures students will love—and remember.
Get started today for the unbeatable value of $395 a year for home school and micro-school educators.
There’s so much for you and your students to explore. All you need to do is start. Try out Kai XR on your smart device, tablet, VR headset, or laptop. We’ll be your guide!
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