From Combat Readiness to Classroom Readiness
Odessa, TX – Backed by an 11-year career in the United States Air Force – including time as a certified military instructor at Lackland Air Force Base and NCOIC of Education and Training at Hickam – Abel Nunez is bringing a new kind of school to the Permian Basin.
It’s called Nerd Academy, and it’s not your typical private school.
Founded by Abel and his wife Raquel – a former nurse and homeschool educator – Nerd Academy is a grassroots rebellion against broken systems, low expectations, and one-size-fits-all teaching. The school serves K–5 students with a focus on early literacy, STEM, AI, and local relevance through PetroSTEAM.
“In the military, I taught real-world skills in high-pressure environments,” says Nunez. “You couldn’t afford for a lesson to go in one ear and out the other – it had to stick, because lives depended on it. That same urgency and clarity now shape how we teach our students.”
“At Nerd Academy we’re not training for combat readiness. We’re training for life readiness – by making education relevant to the world they’re growing up in and the world they’ll inherit. That’s why we introduce AI and prompt engineering in elementary school. That’s why we teach them about oil and gas – not just as vocabulary, but as the industry that powers their hometown and shapes the globe.”
“Our goal is to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders early – not just academically, but mentally, emotionally, and practically. We train hard during school hours so they aren’t buried in homework after. We don’t assign homework, because we believe kids still need time to be kids.”
Built for the Kids Who’ve Been Overlooked
Nerd Academy was created for families tired of watching their kids fall through the cracks – especially those labeled “behind,” “disruptive,” or “not GT material.” The school rejects those labels entirely.
Instead of separating students by perceived ability, Nerd Academy leaves the door open for every child to show what they’re capable of. Some will exceed grade-level expectations. Others will show talent or passion in areas outside the standard curriculum. In either case, the school builds personalized learning pathways – guided manually by instructors or supported by AI-powered platforms that adjust to student performance in real time.
Students aren’t locked into rigid lanes. They’re observed, supported, and challenged.
And they’re not judged by surface impressions. Nerd Academy trains its staff to stay vigilant against the halo effect and “what you see is all there is” bias – harmful mental shortcuts that often shape how children are labeled in traditional classrooms.
“We don’t hand out participation trophies,” Nunez adds. “We just believe every child deserves a shot to prove what they can do – without being boxed in by someone else’s assumptions.”
Progress is tracked through a custom-built four-part training folder system, adapted from the six-part evaluation process used in military instruction. It allows for precise monitoring of academic skills, project mastery, critical thinking, and growth over time.
Because at Nerd Academy, students aren’t just taught – they’re trained on relevant, real world skills.
Real-World Teaching. Real Results.
With a curriculum rooted in literacy-first instruction, hands-on learning, coding, engineering, and early exposure to oil and gas concepts, Nerd Academy helps young students see how education connects to the real world around them – and the future they want to build.
And while many schools rely on prepackaged curriculum, Nerd Academy designs its instruction from the ground up – using military-level training principles, personalized learning pathways, and culturally responsive teaching.
“This isn’t a test prep factory, and definitely not a rigid environment,” Nunez explains. “We’re training future coders, builders, and leaders. But before that, we’re restoring their confidence – and giving them the tools to read, reason, and rise.”
Open Enrollment Now Underway
Nerd Academy is currently enrolling K1 & K2–5 students for the 2025–2026 school year, with limited spots available. Tours can be scheduled by calling (432) 257-3030, and interested families are encouraged to apply early.
For more information or press inquiries, contact:
Abel Nunez
Co-Founder, Nerd Academy
(432) 257-3030