03/13/2024
Who are we? That is a question we have been getting asked a lot, so I thought it was time for the answer!
❤️🧡💛💚💜💙 ❤️🧡💛💚💜💙
I'm Heather Marie, the founder of Kindness Academy and have lived in Warrensburg for the last decade. I studied early childhood and elementary education in college and have worked in positions with children since graduating in 2008.
I have coached youth sports at Warrensburg Parks & Rec, volunteered with Girl Scouts, Free Mom Hugs, Optimist Club and am a founding member of Johnson County Christmas Cheer.
I moved here originally when I was hired on as the Food & Nutrition Services Director for the Warrensburg School District. I spent 7 years at the District improving meal access and choices for students, expanding access to summer meals and after school snacks for our low-income families and implemented farm to school and farm to table programs.
When I left the district I moved on to a Youth Residential Treatment Facility, where I was extensively trained in Trauma Informed Care. I worked with at-risk youth daily, teaching them cooking and other various life skills.
From there I worked with the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education auditing Charter Schools & Residential Care Centers for compliance. This is where I was first introduced to the concept of charter schools.
During this time, my oldest daughter had been struggling greatly with the transition from a small daycare to the Warrensburg School District. She has sensory issues and separation anxiety, and the loud, large school didn't have the same personal feeling it did as our small daycare had. Teachers were insensitive to her needs. Disruptive and sometimes destructive students were left unchecked and my concerns dismissed. Many days left both of us crying by the time we got to school.
I now see the same situations unfolding with my youngest, who started Kindergarten this year. I am friends with several people in the Warrensburg community who have neurodivergent children or those with special needs that are going unmet.
I see posts and know friends whose children are being bullied constantly, without repercussion, no matter who they contact within this district. I see them all struggling to be heard and seen and I am tired of sitting idly by.
Check out the current ranking on the Warrensburg School District. https://moschoolrankings.org/district/?id=1005 The data directly from DESE's MSIP 6 can also be found here: https://apps.dese.mo.gov/MCDS/home.aspx
❤️🧡💛💚💜💙Kindness Academy is how we fight back for our children, our grandchildren and our future.❤️🧡💛💚💜💙
👏Our children should not be afraid to go to school to learn.👏
So who am I?
I am a mom, an education advocate and humanitarian who is on a mission to give our community a secular , inclusive, PUBLIC educational option. An option that will embrace differences, focuses on finding the right learning strategy for each individual child and uses social emotional techniques to make sure we are raising a kinder, more understanding and inclusive group of humans.
If you would like to be involved, please shoot us a message here or email me at [email protected]
