Indi-ED

10/15/2026

Friends help friends learn how to spell new words! 🔠

10/15/2026

Less than two weeks until our first Open House of the year!

Register here and join us if you're interested in learning more for the 2027-28 school year. And if this month doesn't work for you, we also have future options available. ✔

10/12/2026

Our middle schoolers had a fantastic experience learning at Clam Bayou Nature Preserve last week. 🐟🌿

It was a very fun way to see the biological adaptations they are learning about, right in their own area.

To actually get their hands on fish, while collecting data just like scientists.

To learn about the importance of the mangroves to provide protective habitats for marine animals in the beginning of their lives, as well as all of us during hurricane season.

To observe the fascinating microscopic plankton from the Clam Bayou water!

10/08/2026

The variety of what our teachers and students can accomplish in one week is beyond impressive.

There is improv class, starting new books and reading together on rainy days, group math practice and coral reef model building, and even trips to one of our local ecosystems (stay tuned for more on our time at Clam Bayou). On top of all of their other academic lessons!

Beyond these exciting moments you can directly "see", what's even more impressive is all of the deeper learning and relationship-building taking place.

When the kids are completing these lessons, activities, and outings, they are learning more about themselves and each other. Strong relationships create a safe environment where students are not only more willing to share their ideas and perspectives, they’re also eager to listen to others.

And that’s the foundation of meaningful collaboration and constructive dialogue.

If you didn't already, check out this month's blog for more on this!

10/06/2026

It's that time! Our first Open House of the year is coming up.

Come join us if you're interested in learning more for the 2027-28 school year.

10/05/2026

In this month's blog, we share how we weave relationship-building into everything we do. From leading daily meetings and intentional discussions, to connecting with local business leaders and celebrating milestone events.

"At Indi-ED, we’re not just teaching students how to succeed in the future. We’re helping them build the relationships and skills they need to thrive in the present—both in and out of the classroom."

This month we celebrated big. We (and by we I mean our families, teachers, staff, and students) all pulled off a huge surprise. You see, this year is Mrs. Pethe’s 10th year with us and we wanted to have a surprise celebration for her. By transforming our school into a forest and Jane Goodall-inspi...

10/01/2026

🌲 We surprised Mrs. Pethé today!

🎉 Honoring her 10 years of pouring into all that makes Indi-ED who we are was a joy.

❤️ We celebrated with some of her favorite things: students, families, her family, nature, camping, and adventure.

📚 To know her is to love and appreciate her.

❤️ Endless thanks, Mrs. Pethé.

09/29/2026

A few weeks ago, Mrs. Laurenzi was invited by St. Petersburg's Business Professional Women to speak about spaces that unlock potential and creating opportunities for future leaders.

As usual, it was another opportunity to get our students in the room to practice their networking, professionalism, and public speaking.

These 4 young ladies stepped up and from the sounds of the groups' reflection below, crushed it!

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"Our September luncheon with Christine Laurenzi, Founder & Director of Indi-ED, was an inspiring reminder of what can happen when young people are trusted, challenged, and given the opportunity to lead.

Christine shared her vision for education and the innovative approach behind Indi-ED, an experiential independent micro-school where students are at the center of their learning, real-world experiences become the classroom, and young people are encouraged to discover their strengths, develop their voices, and take ownership of their education.

But the true stars of the luncheon were four remarkable Indi-ED students, all just 11 and 12 years old. Much of the presentation was delivered by the students themselves, and they absolutely captivated our membership with their intelligence, poise, confidence, and impressive social skills. They spoke thoughtfully about their experiences, their education, and the opportunities they have been given to learn by doing, collaborate, solve problems, and take on leadership roles.

Watching these young women confidently engage with a room full of professional women was a powerful demonstration of Christine’s philosophy in action. Rather than simply telling us about the potential of young people, the students showed us what is possible when that potential is nurtured and given room to flourish.

For more than 20 years, Christine has challenged traditional ideas about what students can accomplish. Through Indi-ED, she has created an environment that demonstrates how the spaces we create for young people can shape confidence, creativity, leadership, and success.

The luncheon left us not only inspired by Christine’s vision, but genuinely impressed by the next generation of leaders sitting right in front of us. These four young women reminded us that age does not determine the ability to contribute, communicate, lead, or make an impact.

Thank you to Christine Laurenzi and the incredible students of Indi-ED for giving BPW St. Petersburg-Pinellas such a memorable and thought-provoking program—and for showing us firsthand what can happen when we create spaces that unlock potential."

09/28/2026

The most EPIC sleepover at The Florida Aquarium! 🐠⭐Where beautiful memories were made and a lot was learned along the way.

During our marine science unit, we've been learning about all the complexities of marine ecosystems, along with vertebrate and invertebrate anatomy and adaptations. Being able to get up close and personal with so many different species is always a treat!

Experiences like learning directly from the scientists and care teams at the aquarium, dissecting a squid, and observing some of our native species at nighttime helps deepen our knowledge even more.

09/24/2026

Throwback to this time last year, at one of our favorite places, the library! 📚

Getting out into our community is a regular part of our schedule, and we love visiting the libraries of St. Pete for multiple reasons. We can gather books of all types, get help doing research for projects, connect to new people including our wonderful librarians, and just pause to reflect.


City of St. Petersburg, Florida