Today, we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Hantman.
Andrea, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey started back in 2017 as an instructor of Mommy and Me programs and advocate for early childhood development and education as well for families and children with unique abilities and special needs. I taught music and movement classes, not teaching music, but using music to teach, I created PatuqueTime a messy sensory integration play program and Aprendiendo en Español! a program for familes with dual languages at home that wanted to practice and reinforce one of the parents Spanish mother’s primary language, then I founded “PlaySchool Academy” an umbrella for all my programs. In 2020, during the pandemic years, I got involved in homeschooling when children return to school virtually. I knew that we could offer more to them, and I decided to homeschool with the support of a friend who had been on that route before.
Mrs. Iman, owner and founder of Kind Academy, was always there for me; we supported each other as her vision for non-traditional education took off. While we continued homeschooling our kids, I realized that I needed a little more support from tutors to help me with the academic aspect. Then, it is when I went to look to create learning pods to provide my kids with a good academic and a healthy social environment. Last year, Mrs. Iman launched a program to support other educators starting up their own micro-schools. I had the honor to be part of her first cohort. In our first class, an old friend and I bumped into each other.
Gaby from Popcorn Academy was looking into the endeavors of homeschooling her kids and offering bilingual programs to the community. She and I combined efforts and got into the adventure of opening a center for education and wellness services in Coral Springs. Together we co-founded PLAY a safe space for children and families seeking an innovative approach to education. PLAY stands for Passion Learning Approach Year-round. We embrace children of all ages, from infants to teens.
As well as their parents. We focus on passion-driven learning that’s tailored to each individual’s interests and strengths, nurturing their unique talents in an inclusive, supportive environment. Our goal is to empower children’s individuality and cultural diversity.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not a smooth road! It does not matter how much you know about something or how much experience you have. There is always something new we need to figure out. In the beginning, it was finding the right space and location. That comes with financial worries. Funding programs like ours can be challenging on their own. Thankfully, we received a grant from VELA, an organization supporting innovative education models like PLAY!
Thanks to this grant, Gaby and I were able to get started. Secondly, another struggle has been finding educators to join our vision. However, at the end of each day, every single challenge we go through is worth it when we see how we are changing one life at a time, starting with our own children. Families are happy, and kids want to keep coming to PLAY. That is the best reward we can have.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
Gaby and I are moms and educators/entrepreneurs. We support and advocate for alternative, individualized, and innovative education, fostering uniqueness, diversity, cultural traditions, and language preservation. We specialize in inclusivity, neurodiverse, and cultural connections.
We are known for building community and offering resources. We are proud most of what we have become and the labor we have been doing by changing lives. What set us apart is the caring and understanding way we support others and our holistic, passion-driven learning approach, plus the one-on-one learning system we have developed.
Any big plans?
Our plans are to be able to serve a larger range of age groups. Support other educators and entrepreneurs and offer programs that suit all abilities.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.playschoolacademy.com
- Instagram: @playschoolacademyfl
- Facebook: @playschoolacademyfl
- Phone: 786-368-8979
