Hali Larsen

Smarty Pants Academy

By Abraham Tinklepaugh

Devotion to family and community are what drive Pleasant View mother-of-six, and expert business innovator, Hali Larsen.

While searching for a school for her children, Larsen decided to sell her furniture and design business, and the Smarty Pants Academy began. Its students have ranked in the top 10% after they leave for the last 13 years.

Larsen is a self-starting 20-year success story who’s founded more than six different companies.

She built the Smarty Pants Academy around her mother’s educational practices, a retired Charter School principal with a Special Education endorsement. “She’s been my mentor for fifteen years,” Larsen said.

“Teaching is a lot like starting a business; you can build on fundamental skills just like in business. Scope and sequence are the same, they’re just applied differently. It’s not what we teach, it’s how,” Larsen said.

What you may not know about the highly qualified teachers you’ll find at Smarty Pants is the exorbitant amount of time and care hitting the needs of each student requires. Which is also why Smarty Pants staffs a Student Success Specialist to address student social, emotional, and sensory needs. Because, as Larsen says, education is an intricate process.

Seeing an unanswered need to provide extracurricular activities for underprivileged students in our area, Larsen says living in such a tight-knit community of people willing to help makes her want to find more ways to give back.

In partnership with Kristy Pack of Pack Tax and board members that include Heather Woodland of the The Barn Golf Course, Jared Hadley Real Estate, and Weber High school teacher and inspirational speaker, Amber Hodges, Hali has launched The Pledge Jar, a nonprofit whose goal is to bridge that gap by providing children with access to activities like dance and soccer through business partnerships in our community.

CONTACT INFO (801)458-1691 • smartypantspreschoolutah.com