Dr. Angela Kennedy knew she could do more for children. A public school teacher and academic coach for 14 years, she was frustrated by the limitations the system put on her ability to reach kids in creative ways. So she took things into her own hands and started a private school called Deeper Root Academy
While teaching, Dr. Kennedy saw too many children whose needs weren’t being met in the public school system. Students who were gifted were often overlooked and not challenged. Students who struggled weren’t given enough time or different ways to show progress. Teachers who could have found creative solutions to help these children didn’t have the freedom and flexibility to do so.
Not surprisingly, Deeper Root Academy takes a unique approach—using an educational focus based on Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligence. According to this theory, people think and learn differently, so presenting materials in multiple ways can help enhance learning.
Teachers at Deeper Root Academy can utilize unique ways to evaluate different students. This gives them flexibility in their classrooms to meet the needs of individual students. And they’re constantly evaluating their lessons and assignments—asking “what is the purpose”—to ensure they’re not assigning busy work and the children remain engaged.
Deeper Root Academy also has a Christian component. While the curriculum is not faith‐based, students take a Bible class and go to chapel every week. Part of the school’s mission is to “teach our students to embrace their God‐given abilities and talents in order to develop their understanding of how they can positively impact our world.”
Without Florida’s school choice programs, Deeper Root Academy wouldn’t be where it is today. It might still exist, but only wealthier families would be able to afford it. And that wouldn’t line up with Dr. Kennedy’s vision—she wanted to be able to reach the children who really need her help.
Dr. Kennedy keeps the school purposely small, serving 81 kids in preschool through 8th grade, to ensure the quality stays high and to keep it more manageable.
Around 62% of students receive scholarships; while that’s a tremendous blessing, it doesn’t quite cover all of their costs. The school relies on donations and grants to make up the difference.
The phrase “one size doesn’t fit all” is often used in education circles to explain why children need more options. But Deeper Root Academy shows that this phrase fits teachers as well. By creating her own school, Dr. Kennedy was able to escape the limitations and frustrations she experienced while teaching at a public school. Many of her teachers also came from the public school and appreciate their new autonomy.
As school choice options expand, we can expect to see more teachers taking advantage of these programs to start new schools of their own. And that’s good news for teachers and for students.
