Welcome to Open Minds Academy!

We founded OMA with the philosophy that all children can achieve success when taught effectively. We individualize and customize every service we offer to target the specific needs of each child. Our certified teachers work arduously to ensure they meet the academic and social-emotional needs of their students.

For students enrolled in traditional schools back home, we work to coordinate with their schools’ teachers and administrators so as to mirror their classmates’ routines and curriculums. For those who require online distance learning programs, we develop academic plans that facilitate familiar relationships between tutors and students while maintaining the flexibility of remote learning. We offer flexible scheduling—both in person or virtual—in our continued attempt to accommodate the distinct needs of our students and their families.

At OMA, we customize each child’s academics within a school-like environment that is perfect for young students. By attending every component of our students’ scholastic lives, we eliminate any concerns over lessons lost or assignments missed. We uphold the highest quality of education while engaging young minds at an exciting, fun-filled, and individualized atmosphere.

Our goal is for everyone to be learning, engaged, and having fun!

 
 
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Director of Academics

Sara Frost, M.Ed

 

Sara Frost holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and a Master’s Degree in Reading Education, grades K-12. She holds her teaching certificate in grade PreK through 3rd grade. She comes to OMA with many years of experience working with children of all ages in and out of the classroom. Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious. Sara lives in Wellington with her husband, Brian, and children, Ethan and Addison.

 
 
Tyler-bio

Director of Operations

Tyler Shernoff, M.Ed

 

Tyler Shernoff holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Emory University and a Master’s Degree in Education and School Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in the Wellington Equestrian community since 2010 and is passionate about customizing education programs to accommodate student athlete’s unique needs. Tyler lives in Wellington with her children, Anna and Evan.

Other specialists

Equestrian Education Consultant

Maggie Alexander
Office 561-948-2040 ext. 3 
Cell 508.527.9473
maggie@alexanderacademics.com

Maggie holds a BA and MA from The George Washington University, and completed part of her master’s work at Boston College. She also has a certificate in College. She also has a certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. Maggie was an NCAA Division I athlete, captain of her squash team, and a student-athlete tutor during college. After graduate school, Maggie spent a season as an assistant coach and recruiter at Wellesley College, and then worked in admissions as a road warrior in the Boston area, before moving to Florida to pursue a career in education at the secondary level. Maggie spent four years as an Academic Director, tutor, and college counselor at Palm Beach International Academy, before moving to Florida to pursue a career in education at the secondary level. Maggie spent four years as an Academic Director, tutor, and college counselor at Palm Beach International Academy, before moving onto a five-year tenure as the Head of School at Score Academy. Maggie has extensive experience advising students how to strengthen their academic and extracurricular profiles, and has enjoyed great success over the past ten plus years helping students find the best college matches.

Maggie is an accomplished equestrian with more than 30 years of experience in the sport, and

continues to compete in the hunters and jumpers in Wellington and Ocala, Florida. Maggie brings a combination of equestrian and educational expertise to the OMA team, with a keen understanding of the balancing act and extensive travel required (for students and parents) to compete on the equestrian circuit. She represents OMA at equestrian events and advises families in the equestrian community on accessing customized academic solutions for elementary and middle school students during the Winter Equestrian Festival.   

In addition to her love for equestrian sports, Maggie follows professional tennis and basketball, as well as college football. Maggie is devoted to making the world a better place for human and animalkind. She enjoys cooking, concerts, traveling, and supporting animal rescue organizations.


Sheresa L.T. Fairclough

Ph.D., NCSP
sheresafairclough@gmail.com

cell: 561.714.1550

Dr. Sheresa Fairclough is a licensed and Nationally Certified School Psychologist working for the School District of Palm Beach County as well as within the private sector.  She obtained a Master of Art degree in Special Education from the University of Florida and a Master of Art degree and Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from the University of South Florida.  Additionally, she holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling from Florida Atlantic University.  Dr. Fairclough has experience working with children birth through high school as well as young adults in their college/career years.  She has taught students with learning disabilities and emotional/behavioral disorders in Hillsborough and Palm Beach Counties.  Dr. Fairclough has also served as a K-1 teacher for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  She spent some time working for the USF/Tampa General Hospital Early Intervention Clinic conducting developmental evaluations for children birth to 3 and worked for the Charter School Resource Center assisting charter schools throughout the state in developing and monitoring interventions for struggling students.  Dr. Fairclough has served as the President of the Palm Beach Association of School Psychologists.  She is a developmental and educational consultant for an international mission’s organization and assists families with behavior modification for school age children in the public and private sectors.  Dr. Fairclough specializes in conducting psycho-educational evaluations including but not limited to giftedness, learning disabilities, processing skills, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and emotional/behavioral disorder.  

Jennifer Valentine

Ed.S., NCSP

JenniferValentine26@gmail.com
561-429-5791 (office)
561-543-2111 (cell - text is the fastest way to reach me as I am often out at school sites)

Jennifer Valentine is a Florida licensed and nationally certified school psychologist who was trained in the School Psychology program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She has experience working with children of various ages, backgrounds, and exceptionalities from pre-kindergarten through post-secondary school and in various settings, including the Palm Beach County Public School System, private practice, and local mental health facilities. Jennifer is a current member of her local, state, and national professional organizations and has held various positions on those boards including president (local) and newsletter (state). She specializes in psychoeducational evaluations to help develop the most appropriate educational programming and planning for children with varying exceptionalities, including but not limited to giftedness, autism spectrum disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders, learning disorders, global developmental delays, academic concerns, attention deficit disorder, information processing/memory concerns. She is available to meet for psychoeducational evaluations, parent conferences, and/or educational consulting during the week or on weekends.