When our son Brody was born, our educational plan consisted of ensuring we were living in an area with "good schools." It quickly became apparent that this plan would not work for a variety of reasons. Brody is intelligent, sensitive, funny, gentle, and kind, and when placed in an environment with many other students, he deliberately fades away. We saw it so clearly in all of his preschool photos: when students lined up, Brody moved back.
And no one noticed. Not his teachers, not the administrators, not his classmates.
We realized that, in a public school setting with large class sizes and loud classmates, Brody would spend his entire educational career disappearing. We explored every local private school and found each to be a mismatch for one reason or another: insufficiently challenging, developmentally inappropriate (too much seat time for littles), large class sizes, etc.
Brody is a funny, charming, bright little guy who engineers amazing roller coasters in Minecraft, who uses phrases like, "I have a hypothesis," and who is a little bit different than his peers. He's a 2e child; he's gifted and he has also, at various stages received some combination of speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. In a traditional school setting, he masters the content in record time and waits patiently for everyone else to catch up. He's bored but compliant.
After years of searching for just the right school for Brody, we realized that, not only were we ideally suited to create this school for him, but that this was something we were called to do, not only for Brody but for other children like him: kind students, quick learners, and quirky kiddos. We're so excited to bring TRUE gifted education to the Williamsburg area.
With over 20 years of experience in K-12 education, Ms. Glass combines a true passion for teaching and honing her craft as an educator with deep knowledge of curriculum. She has an ACSI professional elementary certificate and a level 1 International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) certificate, and her experience includes teaching grades from Pre-K through high school. Ms. Glass has taught overseas in China and Brazil, and she is excited to integrate instruction about different cultures and countries into the instructional program. She is fluent in Portuguese and is completing her second Master's degree, in Elementary Education.
She believes in hands-on, active learning centered in real life experiences. Her previous projects with her classes include making a replica of the Great Wall of China, using real bricks and mortar, making commercials, timelines, and exploring history through family trees.
We are currently hiring for a classroom aide for the 2024-25 school year! If you are interested, learn more and apply here!
We have a location for the 2024-25 school year! The Williamsburg Community Chapel, located at 3899 John Tyler Hwy in Williamsburg, has very graciously agreed to host us in Room 211.
One of the ways we accommodate our young learners is by acknowledging their need to MOVE! Students have the option to use the stretch bands at their desks, to kick and swing those little feet as much as necessary.
With flexible learning environments, our students can choose to stand while working, instead of sitting down.
Students have the autonomy to choose a work position that makes them most comfortable: seated (with or without a stretch band), standing, or relaxing on a comfy cushion.
As learners move through learning stations and subjects, we incorporate hands-on learning and movement to keep them engaged!
Young learners need frequent breaks and opportunities to learn important social skills through play-based interactions. Our new location allows us to provide multiple recess breaks each day, in a safe and fun environment.
Learn more about our philosophy of learning, including specific course offerings.
Learn more about our admissions process and tuition here.
Heather Peltier, Ph.D.
With over two decades of experience in K-12 education, Heather Peltier has served in roles ranging from teacher, instructional coach, curriculum specialist, and district- and state-level administrator. She previously served as Chief Assessment Officer for the Tennessee Department of Education where she supervised t
Heather Peltier, Ph.D.
With over two decades of experience in K-12 education, Heather Peltier has served in roles ranging from teacher, instructional coach, curriculum specialist, and district- and state-level administrator. She previously served as Chief Assessment Officer for the Tennessee Department of Education where she supervised the design, administration, and reporting of their large-scale state assessment program. She has served as federal peer reviewer for state assessments for the US Department of Education since 2016. She received her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Florida and has an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Florida State University.
Brandon Craig, Ph.D.
From teaching fourth grade in Baltimore City Schools to serving in leadership roles including district administrator and Director of Psychometrics and Assessment Development for the Tennessee Department of Education, Brandon Craig has over ten years of experience in education and assessment. He holds a Ph.D. in Educati
Brandon Craig, Ph.D.
From teaching fourth grade in Baltimore City Schools to serving in leadership roles including district administrator and Director of Psychometrics and Assessment Development for the Tennessee Department of Education, Brandon Craig has over ten years of experience in education and assessment. He holds a Ph.D. in Educational Measurement and Research from the University of South Florida, an MPH in Biostatistics from the University of South Florida, and an MFA in Children's Literature from Simmons College.
Brittany Hague
With a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Gifted Education from the University of Central Florida, Brittany Hague has 15 years of experience in the elementary classroom setting. She is certified to teach Pre-K to 6th Grade and holds a Reading Endorsement, ESOL Certificate, and Gifted Endorsement.
Elizabeth Bronson
Elizabeth Bronson
Elizabeth Bronson is a dedicated educator with a rich and diverse career spanning more than 25 years across the K-12 spectrum. Her journey began in Special Education classrooms, where her passion for inclusive education, especially in language and literacy, led her to delve into Gifted Education and English Language Arts.
Currently, Elizabeth is contributing her expertise to a federally funded Javits grant, Project GLIMPSE, where she is involved in groundbreaking research aimed at advancing educational opportunities for gifted students from diverse backgrounds. Her dedication to educational equity and excellence has been a driving force in her pursuit of higher education. Elizabeth is currently completing her Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) at the University of Central Florida, with an expected graduation date in 2026.
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The Da Vinci Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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