A Letter from Our Founder
One of the greatest blessings of my life is that every day I get to bear witness to young lives blossoming under the care, teaching, and nourishment of Deeper Root Academy.
What I understand is that despite the despair that exists in the world—or perhaps, because of it—we must transform any and all of the systems that aren’t serving us. As achievement gaps continue to exist, particularly across diverse student populations like ours, we must do everything in our collective power to change that. These are the reasons I felt called to found Deeper Root Academy in 2014. I believe we are especially beholden to children, the most vulnerable amongst us. So we continually ask ourselves at Deeper Root Academy: how do we do better? What do our young learners need?
What truly sets Deeper Root Academy apart is our approach to going beyond traditional education by fostering a vibrant community of care and personalized learning for our young learners. Uniquely, we tailor each student’s experience, helping them build on their strengths while addressing areas for growth. By focusing on multiple intelligences, we seamlessly integrate these learning styles into our curriculum and real-world experiences. For our music- and body-smart students, we host annual performing arts events, providing a platform to showcase their natural talents and skills. These events are a vital part of our program, as they celebrate the unique abilities of our learners and encourage their creative development.
Meanwhile, our nature-smart students thrive in our school garden, where they can connect with the outdoors, nurture their love for living things, and learn about sustainable practices that positively impact the world. Beyond the classroom, we strengthen bonds with our families and the broader community through monthly workshops and activities designed to uplift and support everyone involved. Grounded in Christian virtues, Deeper Root Academy is committed to guiding students toward academic excellence while instilling values such as integrity, honesty, trust, equality, and shared success. Together, we nurture not just successful students but compassionate, well-rounded individuals ready to make a meaningful impact. Our goal is to empower every student to be their best selves, as life-long learners and architects of their shared futures.
Navigating this journey is even more meaningful when we do it together. This is why you may take note of the strong community presence at Deeper Root Academy. Inside the walls of our school, we unite the leadership and influence of local faith leaders, diverse educators, parents, caregivers, and neighbors to create an environment that fosters lifelong success for both students and the broader community. Central to this mission are three key pillars:
By focusing on these priorities, we aim to empower students for academic excellence while nurturing a sense of belonging, purpose, and leadership that extends well beyond the classroom. Together, we can build a foundation for meaningful and lasting success.
We’ve embarked on a new phase for Deeper Root Academy—an expansive new school property. This offers us the opportunity to make capital improvements to the student experience, have room to grow the student body, and invest in shared community spaces. I’m thrilled to be entering this new chapter with you all, and look forward to growing and thriving. It is quite simply a dream realized.
Sincerely,
Dr. Angela Kennedy
What I understand is that despite the despair that exists in the world—or perhaps, because of it—we must transform any and all of the systems that aren’t serving us. As achievement gaps continue to exist, particularly across diverse student populations like ours, we must do everything in our collective power to change that. These are the reasons I felt called to found Deeper Root Academy in 2014. I believe we are especially beholden to children, the most vulnerable amongst us. So we continually ask ourselves at Deeper Root Academy: how do we do better? What do our young learners need?
What truly sets Deeper Root Academy apart is our approach to going beyond traditional education by fostering a vibrant community of care and personalized learning for our young learners. Uniquely, we tailor each student’s experience, helping them build on their strengths while addressing areas for growth. By focusing on multiple intelligences, we seamlessly integrate these learning styles into our curriculum and real-world experiences. For our music- and body-smart students, we host annual performing arts events, providing a platform to showcase their natural talents and skills. These events are a vital part of our program, as they celebrate the unique abilities of our learners and encourage their creative development.
Meanwhile, our nature-smart students thrive in our school garden, where they can connect with the outdoors, nurture their love for living things, and learn about sustainable practices that positively impact the world. Beyond the classroom, we strengthen bonds with our families and the broader community through monthly workshops and activities designed to uplift and support everyone involved. Grounded in Christian virtues, Deeper Root Academy is committed to guiding students toward academic excellence while instilling values such as integrity, honesty, trust, equality, and shared success. Together, we nurture not just successful students but compassionate, well-rounded individuals ready to make a meaningful impact. Our goal is to empower every student to be their best selves, as life-long learners and architects of their shared futures.
Navigating this journey is even more meaningful when we do it together. This is why you may take note of the strong community presence at Deeper Root Academy. Inside the walls of our school, we unite the leadership and influence of local faith leaders, diverse educators, parents, caregivers, and neighbors to create an environment that fosters lifelong success for both students and the broader community. Central to this mission are three key pillars:
- Character Formation: We develop programs that build moral and ethical character, grounded in Christian values, to prepare students as compassionate and principled leaders.
- Global Perspective: We encourage students to embrace and respect diverse cultures, cultivating an inclusive mindset aligned with Christian teachings.
- Sustainability and Growth: We work to secure long-term funding to ensure the continued growth and impact of our educational initiatives.
By focusing on these priorities, we aim to empower students for academic excellence while nurturing a sense of belonging, purpose, and leadership that extends well beyond the classroom. Together, we can build a foundation for meaningful and lasting success.
We’ve embarked on a new phase for Deeper Root Academy—an expansive new school property. This offers us the opportunity to make capital improvements to the student experience, have room to grow the student body, and invest in shared community spaces. I’m thrilled to be entering this new chapter with you all, and look forward to growing and thriving. It is quite simply a dream realized.
Sincerely,
Dr. Angela Kennedy
About Our Founder
Dr. Angela Kennedy, a native Floridian, has dedicated her life to education, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders from the University of Central Florida, followed by a Master’s in Early Childhood Education, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from NOVA Southeastern University. Dr. Kennedy established the Phoenix Tree Educational Foundation, incorporating Deeper Root Academy to provide comprehensive educational programs for students from preschool through eighth grade. She spent more than thirteen years in Orange County Public Schools as a teacher, Reading, Instructional and Academic Coach, and coordinator for English Language Learners, where she was known for her commitment to student success. To create space for further supportive learning, Dr. Kennedy founded a tutorial service for pre-K through fifth-grade students in 2006, which was recently approved as a vendor for the State of Florida Supplemental Education Services. Further, she has served as an instructor at the University of Phoenix since 2007, facilitating student learning and professional development while continuously striving to empower individuals to reach their full potential. Dr. Kennedy is a passionate advocate for young learners and has made it her life’s legacy to advance student success.
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Learn more in this broadcast discussion below with Dr. Kennedy about Deeper Root Academy!
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