When schools re-open in August, families in North Lake County will have the chance to choose a new, innovative option for elementary-age students. And many families will be able to choose it at little to no cost.
CREATE Conservatory, a private, non-profit elementary school specializing in STEM education through arts education, is officially coming to Leesburg. When it opens in August, approximately 25% of their students will be attending with a scholarship thanks to the generous support of donors from our community.
CREATE Conservatory is a K-5 school designed to meet the needs of gifted, talented, and/or creative children in Lake County and will specialize in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education through arts integration. The school is the brainchild of Nicole Duslak, an award-winning educator with a BFA in Theatre and two master’s degrees in education. An arts integration specialist, she has assembled a team of local educators, business owners, and artists who have spent the last year working to bring the school to North Lake County.
At CREATE Conservatory, students will study core subjects like science, English, reading, and math, but they will learn and demonstrate mastery of those subjects using the arts. As Mrs. Duslak explains, “CREATE Conservatory will provide an alternative to public school options where all children are expected to fit into a mold, learn the same way, and complete paper and pencil tests to prove knowledge acquisition.”
The team behind CREATE Conservatory firmly believes that all children have the right to a high-quality education regardless of their ability to pay, so providing scholarships for deserving students has always been a core part of their mission.
Thanks to the support of generous community members and corporate sponsors, they have been able to secure more than $35,000 in scholarships for the 2020-2021 school year. The application process for both the school and the scholarships is currently open, and more information can be found on the school’s website at www.CREATEConservatory.com.
Those interested in learning more about the school can do so via the website, by contacting the school at CREATEConservatory@gmail.com, or by attending one of the school’s upcoming online information sessions. More information on those online information sessions can be found on the school’s Facebook page.
