We’re Not Just Educating Children—We’re Preparing Them for Life.
It’s time to rethink education!
The world has changed, but schools haven’t. At Developing Minds, we equip children with what truly matters—critical thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and real-world skills. This is learning reimagined. This is the future of education.
Opening Fall 2025 for the 2025-2026 School Year
Serving students ages 4-10 in Lake Nona, Orlando
What Developing Minds Offers
No grade levels
Learning is based on ability and readiness
Multi-age groups
Children learn from and mentor each other
Inquiry & Project-Based Learning
Real-world skills, not just facts
Play-Based Education
Backed by neuroscience
The child as center of instruction
Learning is based on ability and readiness
Think outside the box
We prepare creative thinkers
Art, music, and engineering
Seamlessly integrated into the learning process
No homework
Unless it's meaningful and nurtures the learning path
Experiential Learning
We connect learning with real life.
Spanish Lessons
Expanding their world and opportunities
Built in Therapy services
Speech, OT and learning intervention as part of our day
Afternoon Workshops
Afternoon aftercare programs reimagined
A One-of-a-Kind Education – Unmatched
What Makes Us Different:
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Flexible Seating. No constant testing. No outdated models. No homework. No traditional school system.
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Children learn through experiences, play, and real-world applications.
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Academics are learned through life experiences and connections, not just memorization.
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Our students don’t just "do school"—they LOVE and OWN their learning.
Meet Our Founder & Lead Educator
Mariana Carazo – Founder, Head of Learning Center, Pedagogy & Curriculum
Mariana Carazo is not just the founder and Head of Learning Center at Developing Minds—she is the heart and visionary force behind a bold educational revolution. With a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Teaching from Columbia University and over two decades of experience leading curriculum innovation and pedagogical transformation, Mariana has devoted her life to redefining what learning can be. An expert in play-based, inquiry-driven education, she has built her own learning lab from the ground up—transforming a humble garage into a thriving learning center and proving that true learning flourishes when children are given freedom, purpose, and joy. Her mission goes far beyond opening a learning center—Mariana is pioneering a movement to restore childhood, replace outdated practices with brain-aligned teaching, and create learning environments where each child is empowered to think, lead, and love learning. Her story is one of courage, creativity, and commitment to a future where education meets the needs of this century—not the last.
Meet Our Educators & Learning Support Team
Our Educators: Experts, Mentors, and Facilitators of Learning
At Developing Minds Learning Center, our educators are not just teachers—they are facilitators, guides, and experts in their fields who empower children to take ownership of their learning.
📌 We don’t lecture. We inspire, guide, and create experiences.
📌 We don’t force learning. We make it meaningful and engaging.
📌 We don’t follow outdated methods. We use cutting-edge research in child development and education.
📌We are passinate for what we do
Our Team
Salecia Host
Salecia Host is an experienced educator and early childhood literacy specialist with a global background in teaching, Admissions and educational leadership. With over two decades of experience, she has worked across Australia, the USA, Finland, and China, advocating for 21st-century play-based education that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and child-driven learning. Holding a Master of Education in Play Based learning, Salecia wrote her thesis on the Finnish Curriculum and Pedagogy.
Salecia is dedicated to fostering strong connections between school, family, and community, recognizing the importance of family involvement in supporting the child's inquiry and growth. Her expertise spans curriculum development, teacher training, and playful literacies, reinforcing her belief in the teacher’s role as a facilitator of meaningful, hands-on learning experiences.
Dominique Jones
Dominique Jones is a Board Certified Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist with over a decade of experience supporting children from infancy to young adulthood, in various setting including private practice, public, charter and private schools. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from the University of Central Florida and her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. Dominique holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and is licensed in Florida.
Dominique is deeply passionate about early childhood education and development, recognizing these years as a critical foundation for learning and growth. She specializes in helping infants and children improve feeding, speech and language abilities. Her dedication extends to mentoring fellow professionals, hosting workshops, and engaging parents, caregivers, and educators to foster a collaborative approach to child development. Dominique thrives on creativity and community connection, and she believes that knowledge, communication, and education empower individuals to reach their full potential.
Kristin Reiche
Kristin Reiche is a bilingual special educator, educational therapist, and reading specialist with more than two decades of experience supporting children with diverse learning needs. She is widely recognized for her expertise in evaluating and addressing challenges related to reading, writing, math, and executive functioning, applying evidence-based strategies rooted in the science of learning and child development.
Originally from Costa Rica, Kristin has partnered with several prestigious private schools, delivering specialized educational services and interventions. She also founded and directed her own educational practice, where she focused on learning assessments, targeted intervention programs, and early childhood education leadership.
With a compassionate and insightful approach, Kristin works closely with families to understand each child’s unique learning profile and develop personalized strategies that promote success at school and at home. Her mission is to empower children to become confident, capable learners—one skill at a time.
Kristin Reiche
Learning Center Schedule & Enrichment Programs
📌 Regular Learning Center Hours:
Monday - Friday | 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Learning at Developing Minds is dynamic, immersive, and balanced.
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Mornings: Inquiry-based core subjects (math, science, literacy, and humanities through play & projects)
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Midday: Social-emotional learning, movement breaks, outdoor exploration
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Afternoons: Arts, engineering, Spanish, music, and creativity-based workshops
No homework. No forced memorization.
Just meaningful, hands-on learning.
Early & Afternoon Enrichment Options
📌 Early Care: 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM
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A calm, structured start to the day with storytelling, morning movement, and quiet activities.
📌 Afternoon Enrichment: 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
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Students can choose from special afternoon classes and programs designed to extend their learning through hands-on experiences.
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Programs include arts, STEM workshops, music, movement, and creative labs.
We believe in balancing structured learning with unstructured exploration, so our afternoon enrichment programs offer both guided experiences and open-ended play.
Limited spots available for afternoon enrichment—more details will be shared upon admissions.
Integrated Learning Support Team – Supporting Every Child’s Success
Our Learning Specialists Team is an integral part of our learning center. From the moment a child enters our admissions process, we assess their learning needs, strengths, and areas for growth to ensure they receive the necessary support in the most effective way.
✔️ Every student is assessed during the admissions process to determine their specific learning needs.
✔️ If a child requires additional support, services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, or learning interventions will be integrated into their daily learning center schedule—not outside of learning center hours.
✔️ We collaborate with families to create an individualized learning plan that ensures every child thrives in our program.
With extremely limited spots available, this phase of our project will carefully select families who align with our mission of rethinking education.
Limited Spaces Available – Submit Your Admissions Request Today!
The Science & Research Behind Our Model
Why This Works
Kids who learn through play and projects retain 3X more information than those who memorize.
Inquiry-based learning leads to higher problem-solving skills and real-world adaptability.
Emotional intelligence and mental health support lead to happier, more confident learners.
