How one mom created a new microschool for neurodiverse kids
Sep 27, 2024
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Danielle McLean, co-founder and executive director of Keystone Education Center, shares her inspiring journey creating a microschool for neurodiverse children in Vero Beach, Florida. She discusses the unique educational challenges faced by her autistic twin boys and other students. The conversation highlights the hurdles of starting a new school, from navigating local regulations to crafting personalized curricula. Danielle emphasizes the significance of community support and innovative financial models that enhance educational opportunities for families in need.
The creation of Keystone Education Center arose from the founders' frustrations with conventional schooling that failed to meet neurodiverse students' needs.
Despite facing significant regulatory challenges, the founding team remained persistent, highlighting the importance of flexible frameworks for innovative educational initiatives.
Deep dives
The Launch of Keystone Education Center
Keystone Education Center was recently established to cater to neurodiverse students aged 9 to 13, with a plan to expand to high school levels. The impetus for creating Keystone arose from the founder's personal experiences as a mother of six neurodiverse children, who faced challenges in finding suitable educational opportunities. The founding team, composed of passionate educators and stakeholders, worked collaboratively to build a school that meets the specific needs of these students, incorporating creative teaching methods and compassion in the curriculum. The initial launch welcomed 17 students and relied heavily on local school choice programs in Florida that provide funding for families to choose their educational settings.
Challenges in Public Education Transition
A major concern for the founding team arose from the transition from elementary to middle school, where the educators felt limited by district requirements that often did not reflect the unique educational needs of neurodiverse students. Discussions with experienced teachers revealed frustrations related to the inability to customize curricula to meet the students where they were at academically. Such experiences motivated the founders to create a new educational environment that would focus on providing personalized support rather than adhering strictly to standardized curriculums. The teachers’ willingness to leave conventional settings to join the new initiative highlighted a shared belief in creating an adaptable learning space for students.
Innovative Curriculum Development
Keystone Education Center emphasizes individualized education by developing Education Success Plans (ESPs) for each student, tailored to their unique goals and learning styles. The school employs various curriculums and methods, including project-based learning, to promote student engagement and collaboration. Teachers are encouraged to be innovative, choosing from multiple curricula and leveraging technology to foster personalized learning. With a focus on continuous evaluation and adaptation, the school seeks to address the diverse needs of its students through a dynamic teaching approach.
Navigating Regulatory Challenges
The journey to opening Keystone Education Center was fraught with unforeseen regulatory hurdles, particularly regarding fire codes and occupancy regulations that did not align with their model of education. Initial outreach to public agencies resulted in confusion, which nearly derailed the school's launch due to alleged non-compliance with codes governing educational institutions. However, through persistent advocacy, community support, and assistance from a local senator, they eventually secured the necessary approvals to operate. Despite these challenges, the persistence of the founding team underscores the need for flexibility within regulatory frameworks to support innovative educational models.
Despite frustrating regulatory barriers, Danielle McLean and her cofounders launched Keystone Education Center in Vero Beach, Florida this fall. The microschool currently serves 17 neurodiverse students ages 9 to 13—including Danielle's autistic twin boys. The team plans to add a high school in the coming years. Two of Danielle's cofounders left their jobs as local public school special education teachers to build and work at this school. All of Keystone's students attend with tuition support from Florida's school choice programs.
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