Our Dedicated Team

Our founder, Shavonne, spent over seven years of experience working in K-12 independent day and boarding schools, as well as higher education, on the east and west coasts. In that time, she held multiple roles including registrar, academic adviser, and students with disabilities (SSD) coordinator. While employed at a boarding high school, she built strong relationships with students and learned that many of them felt pressure to earn high grades or faced learning differences that brought about physical and mental health issues. The rigorous setting affected their overall confidence, making them feel inadequate compared to their peers. The interactions with these students reminded Shavonne of her own experience as a high-achieving student with an undiagnosed learning difference, anxiety, and chronic asthma that led to regular absences from public-school student and overcompensation through high marks to make up for what she felt were personal deficiencies. Teachers and classmates believed she was a good student, but did not know that her quiet nature covered up a growing disdain for school. Shavonne earned a bachelor's and master's degree, as expected of her, but quietly faced internal struggles and often procrastinated as coursework grew more difficult. An official diagnosis of inattentive ADHD in her early thirties provided much needed clarity and the ability to move forward with grace. Iaomai Academy was founded to provide a relaxed academic environment for high-achieving students and students with mild learning differences to work at their own pace and unlock their true potential. Microschools offer a nurturing environment in which to educate and socialize neurodiverse students as the small size enables educators to see them as individuals with unique needs. Shavonne learned about microschools in 2022 through research on alternative education options and was overjoyed to be accepted into the KaiPod Catalyst program in 2023 to launch Iaomai Academy. It is her mission to partner with you to provide a place of acceptance, support, and hope to your children as they navigate academics and personal growth throughout their childhood and adolescent years. Thank you for considering Iaomai Academy and we look forward to learning more about your child's needs.