Meet the Founder
The owner and founder, Amanda, is a Licensed School Psychologist dedicated to supporting children in their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral development. She has extensive experience working with families and school-based teams to integrate cross-curriculum lessons to foster prosocial skills, interpersonal relationships and empowering learning using research-based, strength-focused interventions for academics. Amanda’s previous roles has been partnering with school districts to strengthen systems of support, improve academic engagement, and reduce behavioral and emotional risk factors. Using a solution-focused, trauma-informed approach, she builds environments that promote long-term success both in school and in the community.
Assistant Director
Miss Pat, with 27 years in education, she brings a wealth of experience and a deep love for working with children. She began her career as a school bus driver and worked her way up to Transportation Director for a New Jersey school district, where she successfully led a team of 168 employees. Now retired, she continues to follow her passion for supporting and nurturing young learners. As a proud grandmother of three girls, she brings warmth, patience, and genuine joy to every child she works with.
Secondary Lead Teacher
Miss Jen has teaching experience since 2008, and brings a global perspective to the classroom, having taught in Canada, Australia, and the United States. Originally from Canada, she is professionally certified to teach English grades 6–12 and has worked with a wide range of learners across grade levels and academic abilities.
Her passion lies in experiential learning—creating engaging, hands-on opportunities that allow students to connect meaningfully with English Language Arts. Miss Jen spent five summers teaching English through an International Summer Abroad Program, further enriching her approach with cross-cultural experiences.
Outside of the classroom, Miss Jen is a proud parent of two boys and enjoys spending time with family, friends, and exploring new places. She loves baking, crafts and adventure sports. Miss Jen believes that creativity, curiosity, and connection are at the heart of both great teaching and a fulfilling life.
Lead Elementary Teacher
As a homeschool graduate herself, Miss Holly brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to her role at Blooming Scholar. She pairs this foundational understanding of alternative education with five years of classroom teaching experience spanning both Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and General Education settings. This diverse background has shaped her patient, student-centered approach, enabling her to seamlessly adapt lessons to support each child's unique learning and behavioral needs. Her true passion lies in cultivating a hands-on, inclusive environment where every student can thrive.
Outside of the classroom, Miss Holly is a nature lover at heart. She thrives when spending time outdoors—whether she is taking long walks, enjoying a day at the beach, or capturing the beauty of the world through photography. She also enjoys traveling to new places, baking gluten-free treats, and relaxing at home with a great fiction or fantasy book, alongside her husband and their cat, Nova.
Elementary Teacher
Miss Rachel is committed to inspiring a lifelong love of learning while helping students build the confidence and skills they need to succeed. She is a dedicated educator with experience teaching students from Pre-K through elementary school, including both general education and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) settings. She is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging learning environments where every child feels valued, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential. Miss Rachel's background includes supporting students with diverse learning needs, implementing individualized strategies, and promoting both academic achievement and social-emotional growth.
Outside of school, Miss Rachel loves spending time with her three children and embracing an active, family-centered lifestyle. She enjoys being outdoors and has a love for animals. In her free time, she also enjoys creative hobbies that allow her to unwind and express her artistic side and reading.
Intern
Miss Nikole is a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Forensic Science. She will graduate in December 2026 and plans to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree in CMHC (clinical mental health counseling).
She is passionate about supporting children’s academic, social, and emotional development by creating a positive, engaging, and encouraging learning environment. Miss Nikole values building strong relationships with students and their families and strive to help each child feel confident, supported, and excited to learn.
Music Teacher
Miss Monica brings decades of musical experience and a deep love for teaching to our co-op’s enrichment program. With a degree in clarinet performance and a minor in piano from Northwestern University, she has performed as a principal clarinetist with orchestras such as the Charlotte Civic Orchestra and the DeKalb Symphony, while also teaching and directing music programs for students of all ages. As a former music academy owner and experienced instructor, Monica adheres to the basic tenets of The Mozart Effect by Don Campbell, in which studies have shown that music instruction increases cognitive ability and spatial intelligence. Her philosophy of awakening your child's mind, health and creativity by engaging in joyful opportunities of exploring music through rhythm, creativity, and expression blends beautifully with our nature-based learning environment.