Our beliefs

We believe there are many different routes to an answer, to educate a child, and to express intelligence. We believe children learn more in real life environments than within confines of a building.  We ultimately believe that life is "school". 

We believe in the process more than the product. To us, the “what” is not necessarily as important as the “how” or “why”.  We believe in pressing pause and living a life less ordinary…looking closely at things… and seeing the exquisite nature of development unfold. Curiosity stimulates the spirit. 

We believe when spirits soar, learning does too.  We take pride in helping to uncover someone’s potential they had been too afraid to acknowledge even existed. ​
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We believe humanitarianism and kindness are non-negotiable teaching points that can be woven into most every curriculum lesson. 

And we believe that whether the decision is for one year, or forever, homeschooling can build confidence and skills for a lifetime of success.
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I received a Master's Degree in Child Development from the Erikson Institute in Chicago, IL and my Bachelor's Degree is in Speech Communication, with an emphasis in Communication Disorders, from Iowa State University. I hold a Montessori Teaching Diploma and am a certified Florida Educator. I've long been a curious student of life and am commited to professional development so that I can better support the growing needs of children and families in today's complex world.  To further this personal mission, I have recently started the training to become a Parenting Coach! I'm wildly excited about offering this next-level support to parents (and educators) through this extension of educational services. 

Now that all the certifications have been addressed, I will admit to you that I feel I have learned far more from the "school of life" than any institution I've attended. Education happens all around us, every moment of the day, regardless of whether or not we are seated at a desk, inside a school. Education is relative to a person's openness to explore, their curiosity to seek and understand.

I am proud of my diverse professional background. I haven't taken a traditional, linear path to teaching. I've been an advocate for children for more than two decades in a variety of roles and settings.  I've worked with children in preschools, hospitals, Head Start/Early Head Start, philanthropies, and school settings. I have been an administrator of non-profit organizations and a director and teacher in private schools. Throughout it all, I've connected with, and supported, children and families on their learning journeys and helped them look with wonder at the world around them. 

As a parent I have personally experienced and witnessed the benefits--and challenges--of a Montessori program, a neighborhood public school, homeschooling,  a magnet school, and a private school. I currently have a teenager in an IB high school program. Having experienced so many academic options allows me to share from, and draw upon, an insightful perspective. In fact, this is one of the reasons I offer School Placement Support. 

I completely understand if you'd like to hear other parents' perspectives or talk with me in-depth personally. I'm equally happy to share references with you if that would help you in your decision-making process, simply use the "contact me" link to submit your request.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about me.
I promise to return the favor someday. 
~Amy

A bit about Amy...
​​Amy Morrison - UpsideDown Educator and Founder