A Day in the Life at ROA

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Why Us

Our Team

"Teaching is not about answering questions but about raising questions-

opening doors for them in places that they could not imagine"

-Yawar Baig

We would like to think of ourselves as facilitators, motivators, or guides.

Learners are encouraged to take more control of their learning process.

Our role is to embrace each child's unique qualities, equip and support them

with resources to be problem solvers and creative thinkers even through failures,

empowering and motivating them to find what they want to accomplish in the world.

Sherryl was born in the Philippines, raised in South Florida in a multicultural home; her dad is from Trinidad, and her mom is from the Philippines. Her mixed culture was vital to her love of art, with her advanced drawing and painting skills spilled into the digital world. Sherryl was fortunate to attend and graduate from the Digital Animation and Visual Effects School in Orlando and CG Masters Academy in BC, Canada. Her son had traveled with her during this time which lead them to the world of homeschooling. This opened up Sherryl's eyes to what a child is capable of when given agency over their learning.

After a decade of large-scale projects throughout, she was fortunate to have traveled around the country and world, absorbing different landscapes. Her career took a turn into the digital world of Film and Gaming. Sherryl founded and ran Hands-On STEAM Studio & Gallery for 8 years together with her engineer husband; a unique space that offered STEAM (Science Technology Engineering ART Math) activities for all ages, from preschool-adult. She found that the classes engaged diverse and independent creatives to be successful. Throughout the years, it developed experience-driven communities, bringing teams together, encouraging young makers to explore limitless possibilities- empowering minds, launching businesses, and transforming her neighborhood into a better place to be.

Sherryl had completed an AMI Montessori Elementary 6-12 Certificate.

She enjoys planning days out to create connections between what Learners are learning and the real world. Her wish is to bring about inspiration, new vibrancy, and increasing engagement using arts across disciplines into our studios-ultimately a love of learning.

Sherryl Morgan

Our Team

Art Guide

Kathy grew up in Miami. She is a military child of Japanese and Costa Rican descent. She moved to Jacksonville in 2017 to be closer to family. She's a proud mother of an 11 year old son whom she had raised as a Montessori child. She first learned about the Montessori method in her twenties while working part time at an AMI Montessori School, where she became mesmerized with how much a child can learn given the right tools. Witnessing them develop independence with the freedom of choice.

Kathy holds a Bachelor's Degree in Law and Forensic Science from Florida International University. Her intention was to enter the police academy but longed for something that nurtured her tender heart and spirit. She decided to change the course of her life and instead pursued training in a Montessori program at Loyola University. She has taught in a Toddler classroom for 7 years, a Primary classroom for 7 years, and in Lower Elementary for 9 years.

Her current Spark Learners at ROA seek her out for her special hugs and heart for listening, and understanding. She enjoys getting to know each child, especially on what has become an ROA tradition- playdates with a Learner on weekends.

During her spare time, she is an avid Crossfit enthusiast, she loves baking with her family and with our Sparkers whom she affectionately calls her "babies", go on family mini vacations visiting historical places, and living a healthy lifestyle.

“When a child is given a little leeway, he will at once shout, ‘I want to do it!’ But in our schools, which have an environment adapted to children’s needs, they say, ‘Help me to do it alone.’”

-The Secret of Childhood