Hidden Gems: Meet Julie Phillips of Desert Sun Ranch Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Phillips

Hi Julie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Julie Phillips, CEO of Desert Sun Ranch Academy:

Growing up, I had a neighbor with a unique family dynamic—some biological children, some foster, and a mix of kids with and without special needs. I saw firsthand the inequities within that household. The biological children often had more opportunities, while the foster kids and those with special needs were left behind. Even as a child, I knew it wasn’t right. I promised myself that when I became a parent, I would give my children every opportunity to succeed.

As an adult, my journey has taken me down many paths—a degree in therapeutic recreation, working as a park ranger, becoming a realtor, fostering and adopting children, and serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Coincidentally, four of my five children have special needs, and that promise I made to myself as a child has often felt and often still feels like an uphill battle. My children are not so little anymore, but time and again, I have and still do encounter barriers—educational, medical, and societal—that make it difficult to find spaces where my children’s academic, sensory, physical and psychological needs are equally valued.

Living on a ranch and drawing from my background in therapeutic recreation, I’ve seen how transformative nature can be. I dreamed of a place where children like mine could thrive—where they could experience the healing power of the outdoors, have their unique needs met, and be challenged academically, just like any other child. Desert Sun Ranch Academy is the fulfillment of that dream, and I’m so grateful to provide this space for families whose children just don’t thrive in traditional academic environments.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, that’s for sure! Starting a micro-school felt like a fever dream at first—something I envisioned but wasn’t sure how to bring to life. I had the space and infrastructure to begin, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone. The journey has been made possible by so many people: fellow micro-school founders, the KaiPod Catalyst mentorship program, educators, therapists, my family, and the incredible support of our community.

Moreover, so much credit goes to my amazing cofounder, Jaclyn, a doctorate level occupational therapist, dedicated countless hours to developing the program, spreading the word, creating financial plans, and tackling all the logistics I couldn’t manage alone. Additionally notable, my wonderful daughter Kaylee who is our teacher, has been so incredibly flexible, our students and families absolutely love her, and she is knocking it out of the park with happy students and soaring test scores! I knew from the beginning that I had a fantastic teacher in her, and that kept me going through the hard days.

A year ago, I poured more than I ever expected into renovating the space, purchasing marketing materials, hiring help, navigating insurance/regulations, and more. So this endeavor has not been without challenges. There have been times of—financial stress, imposter syndrome, and psychological hurdles (not to mention full time work and being a single parent on top of it all). At one point, we held an open house and no one showed up. Well-meaning people expressed doubts about whether we could make this work. But we believed deeply in what we were building. We vowed to open our doors on time, no matter if we had zero students or ten.

Today, we’re proud to have eight amazing students and a growing program. Every sacrifice, sleepless night, and leap of faith has been worth it. Desert Sun Ranch Academy is thriving, and we know this is just the beginning.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Desert Sun Ranch Academy?
Desert Sun Ranch Academy is a K-5 learning center dedicated to providing an exceptional education for children with special needs. Located on a 5-acre ranch in Queen Creek, we offer both part-time and full-time options, closely following the local school district calendar.

What truly sets us apart is our commitment to high expectations and personalized learning. We see each student as an individual, meeting them where they are academically rather than advancing them by age alone. Diagnoses or labels simply guide how we can best support our students; they don’t define their potential.

We take a holistic approach to education, with a staff occupational therapist working closely with our teacher to support the academic, physical, social and sensory needs of our students. This integrated support ensures that students are not only learning but also thriving emotionally and physically.

Every day at Desert Sun Ranch Academy, our students complete their math and reading tasks at their own pace, and then they dive into science, art, social studies and/or history depending on the day. In between tasks, they spend up to two hours of the day immersed in nature-based learning, free play (so lacking these days!) and farm tasks. Students thrive as they care for our animals, including (but not limited to) nine horses and a quail duo that is our students’ responsibility. This hands-on approach nurtures curiosity and responsibility while fostering a deep love for learning.

The results speak for themselves: many of our students have exceeded year-long academic benchmarks in just one semester. Even more rewarding, parents often tell us this is the first time their children genuinely love going to school.

At Desert Sun Ranch Academy, we’re building a community where every child is supported, challenged, and inspired to reach new heights.

How do you think about luck?
Good luck has been a huge part of my journey, both personally and professionally. I think of it as an energy force—something I can sometimes harness and sometimes simply feel around me. When I tune into that energy, I trust my gut to guide me toward what serves me and away from what doesn’t.

One example is when, in college, I desperately needed a car but couldn’t afford one. Out of nowhere, I had this feeling that I should try my luck on a game show. I applied to *The Price is Right*, got on the show, and won a car! People thought I was crazy, but I just knew deep down it was the right move.

The same instinct guided me when we were building the micro-school. Even during the toughest moments, I told my cofounder, ‘I can feel this is the right thing.’ And every time I listened to that inner voice, I was rewarded.

I’m not sure if that’s truly luck or simply trusting yourself and the energy around you. To me, in part, being lucky is about having the courage to act on those gut feelings, even when the path seems uncertain.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://desertsunranchacademy.org
• Instagram: @desert_sun_ranch_academy