Sparrow Academy

10/14/2026

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Jared Burke! 🌟

Today, we’re celebrating Jared Burke, who has been part of our Sparrow Academy family for three years and stepped into the role of Assistant Principal this year! We are so grateful for his leadership and the impact he makes on our students and school community.

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Jared is the youngest of four siblings and has called Lakeland home for nine years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Ministerial Leadership from Southeastern University. Jared and his wife, Kimber, have two beautiful children, Bailey and Gemma. ❤️

Jared enjoys CrossFit and running—and he’s currently training for a 50-mile race! When he’s spending time with his family, you might find him enjoying a movie night, swimming with his children, bowling, or playing pool. Want to brighten his day? Peanut Butter M&M’s are a favorite! 🍫

Jared, thank you for investing in our students and helping build a culture where children feel valued, supported, and encouraged to grow. Your commitment makes a difference, and we are blessed to have you in our Sparrow family!

Help us celebrate Jared and show him some love in the comments! 💙

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

💪✨ OUR THEME OF THE WEEK: “GOD GIVES ME STRENGTH!” ✨💪

This week at Sparrow Academy, we are focusing on the powerful truth that we don’t have to face life in our own strength—God gives us the strength we need!

Our theme verse is Philippians 4:13:

📖 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

We’ve had some incredible conversations with our students about what this verse means in our everyday lives. There will be times when things feel difficult, when we feel tired, when we’re afraid to try, or when we wonder if we have what it takes. But God reminds us that He is with us, He strengthens us, and He equips us to do what He has called us to do! 🙌

Our strength doesn’t come from having all the answers or getting everything right. Our strength comes from CHRIST!

So this week, we are encouraging our students to walk into every classroom, every challenge, and every opportunity knowing:

💛 God is with me.
💪 God gives me strength.
🙏 God will help me do what He has called me to do.

At Sparrow, we want every student to know that they are capable, they are called, and with God’s strength, they can keep moving forward—even when the road gets hard!

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!” — Philippians 4:13

10/05/2026

We are praying for all involved in the tragic accident this morning!

10/05/2026

🌟 STAFF SPOTLIGHT: LAUREN & NAUDY! 🌟

Today, we’re excited to shine our Staff Spotlight on two incredible members of our administrative team: Lauren Cary, our Student Advocate & Enrollment Specialist, and Naudy Torres, our Dean of Students! 💛🦅

🌸 Meet Lauren!
This is Lauren’s second year at Sparrow Academy, and she has become such an important part of our Sparrow family! Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Lauren has called Lakeland home for the past seven years. Lauren has a Bachelor's degree in Criminology.

When she’s not serving our students and families, Lauren enjoys working out, spending time with friends, and fresh flowers. 💐 And here are a couple of fun facts you may not know—Lauren plays the saxophone AND played lacrosse in college! 🎷🥍

Want to brighten Lauren’s day? Bring her some yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit! 🍓

🏀 Meet Naudy!
Naudy is originally from Orlando and is proud of his Venezuelan and Puerto Rican heritage. He attended four years of Leadership College at Grace City in Lakeland and has lived in Lakeland for the past six years.

Naudy brings incredible energy and passion to Sparrow! He enjoys working out, spending time with friends, listening to music, dancing, watching movies, traveling, coaching basketball, cars, Formula One racing, and photography. 🏎️📸🏀 He also has a heart for ministry and aspires to become a pastor one day.

Want to make Naudy’s day? Chips with guac or queso—or a Barebells protein bar—will definitely do the trick! 😋

💍 But there’s one more thing that makes this dynamic duo extra special...

Lauren and Naudy are engaged to be married this January! ❤️ We are so excited to celebrate this beautiful season of life with them!

Lauren and Naudy are both a tremendous blessing to the Sparrow Academy community. Their passion for students, willingness to serve, and commitment to our mission have already made an incredible impact on our students, families, and staff.

We are so thankful for you both! Your Sparrow family is cheering you on—in leadership, in life, and as you prepare to begin this exciting new chapter together! 💛

Help us show Lauren and Naudy some Sparrow love in the comments! 🦅💛

09/22/2026

💙 I HAVE A HEART TO SERVE! 💙

We are so excited about our theme this week at Sparrow Academy: “I Have a Heart to Serve!”

This week, we are leaning into meaningful conversations about the incredible impact we can have when we choose to serve others. Scripture reminds us that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

There is something powerful about living with a generous heart. The life of the generous gets larger and larger! When we give our time, our encouragement, our kindness, and our talents to others, our sphere of influence grows—and so does our opportunity to make a difference in the world around us.

Serving doesn’t always require a grand gesture. Sometimes it looks like helping a friend, encouraging someone who is struggling, noticing a need, or simply choosing to put someone else first.

At Sparrow, we want our students to know that they have something valuable to give! ❤️

Let’s set our hearts to look for opportunities to serve this week. Together, we can make a difference—one act of kindness at a time!

“I Have a Heart to Serve!” 🫶

09/16/2026

🌟 GOD HAS GREAT PLANS FOR ME! 🌟

We are SO excited to share this week’s theme with our Sparrow students: “God Has Great Plans for Me!” 🙌💙

What an important truth for every child to know and believe! God sees them. God knows them. God loves them deeply. And He has GREAT plans for their lives!

No matter what their story has looked like or what challenges they may face, their past does not determine their future. Their lives have purpose, their stories have meaning, and they can walk forward with hope because their hope and future are secure in Christ! ✝️

Our prayer this week is that every Sparrow student begins to see themselves through God’s eyes—loved, chosen, valued, and created for a purpose.

📖 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

🕊️ God Has Great Plans for Me!

09/15/2026

💙🐦 WELCOME TO THE SPARROW FAMILY, MICHELLE! 🐦💙

To our wonderful Sparrow Friends and Family—we are so excited to introduce you to our new Office Manager, Michelle Borden! 🎉

Michelle is a proud mom to three amazing children—David, Annabelle, and Matthew. And here’s a little insider information: if you ever want to brighten her day, iced coffee and M&M’s are a pretty great place to start! ☕🍫😊

When Michelle isn’t at Sparrow, she loves spending time with her children, thrifting, crocheting, enjoying time with friends, and studying the Bible. ❤️📖

For most of her life, Michelle has served in children’s and youth ministries, and she has a genuine heart for connecting with families and making people feel seen, valued, and welcome. We know that heart will be such a gift to our Sparrow community!

Michelle will also be the friendly voice on the other end of the phone when you call Sparrow and one of the first smiling faces you’ll encounter when you visit our office. 🥰

Please help us give Michelle a BIG Sparrow welcome! We are incredibly blessed to have her join our team, and we are excited for all she will bring to our students, families, and staff.

Michelle, welcome to the Sparrow Family! We are so thankful you are here! 💙🐦

09/14/2026

💛 A GREAT BIG THANK YOU! 💛

Today, we want to celebrate three very special members of the Sparrow Academy family—Angie, Cecily, and Natalie Nunn!
While our hearts are sad that their family will be moving to Kentucky, we are also excited to celebrate this next step in their journey. They have contributed so much to the culture of Sparrow Academy and have loved our students so incredibly well. Their kindness, dedication, and joyful presence have made a lasting impact on our entire school family.

Angie, Cecily, and Natalie, you mean more to us than words can express. We are deeply grateful for everything you have done, and you will always be a treasured part of the Sparrow family.
Our prayers go with you as you begin this new chapter. May God guide your steps, bless your family, and fill your journey with wonderful new opportunities and beautiful memories. Kentucky is gaining three very special people! 💛🕊️

Please help us show the Nunn family just how much they are loved and appreciated!

09/03/2026

🌟 Happy Labor Day Weekend, Sparrow Families! 🌟

To our wonderful Sparrow Families, we wish you a happy, safe, and relaxing Labor Day Weekend! ❤️💙

Please remember that we will be closed Friday, September 4th through Monday, September 7th. We hope you enjoy this special 4-day weekend making memories, soaking up quality time, and enjoying every moment with your friends and family! ☀️🎉

Take time to rest, recharge, laugh, and make memories that last a lifetime. We’ll see you back refreshed and ready for another wonderful week together! 🥰

Have a safe and joyful Labor Day Weekend, Sparrow Families! 🇺🇸✨