The original concept for the Greenhouse grew from Jennifer Spacek's experience as the first music teacher for a similar ministry in the western suburbs of Philadelphia in 1988. Finding nothing comparable when they moved to Chicago, the Spaceks began praying for a resource for parents in this area. In 1999, Tom Spacek approached leaders at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton about launching a Cla
ssical Christian learning center. With their blessing, Tom gathered a team of nine people who prayed, planned and prepared. 18 months later, the Greenhouse opened its doors on September 12, 2001. That first year saw 35 students (grades 1 to 6) from 20 families served by a faculty of five. A second one-day program was added in 2002 and classes were added for grades 7 and 8. In March 2004, the Greenhouse was incorporated as its own Illinois not-for-profit corporation and is now recognized by the IRS as federally tax-exempt. That fall, we added our third one-day program too. The Rhetoric (high school) program was started in fall 2007, with 14 students. We've added new cohorts each year since then - now offering two cohorts for each grade (9 through 12). In December 2014, the Greenhouse launched a three-year capital campaign to enhance our academic programs, secure a suitable facility and extend our mission to more families. We purchased our Wheaton facility in Hoffman Park in September 2015, moving in officially in August 2016. In fall 2016, we also added a fourth core day program. Today, the Greenhouse serves more than 250 students from 130 families, representing 40 churches throughout the area.
