How We Got Our Name

The Rachael Academy of Education (R.A.E) is a Local Southern Illinois non-profit community service agency created by Mary Anderson. R.A.E. is named after Mary Anderson's deceased mother, Rachael Stevens, and although the organization has the words Academy of Education in the title, R.A.E is not an actual school. R.A.E. believes in educating others to break stigmas and advocating for others to facilitate positive change. That is why the agency is named The Rachael Academy of Education.

Our Founding Values

Rachael Stevens was a dedicated, hardworking, caring social worker for fourteen years before passing away on December 22, 2022. Rachael believed in helping others and advocating for those without a voice, and it is those same values and beliefs that R.A.E follows and implements today.

Our Goals

Mary created The Rachael Academy of Education to honor her mother, to help others, and to help the local community. R.A.E. was created to give people a place to feel supported, a place where people's concerns are heard without judgment, and a helping hand through hard times. That is The Rachael Academy of Education's goal, that is what we are doing, that is what will continue to do, and that is our story.