Today we’d like to introduce you to L’niarae Blevins.
Hi L’niarae , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I actually launched Spotlight Scholars as a small afterschool club. My goal at the time was to create a safe and engaging environment where children could explore academics, nature, and creativity in a way that felt joyful and meaningful. What began with just a handful of students quickly grew into something larger! families began sharing how much their children were not only learning but also thriving, regaining confidence, and rediscovering excitement for school.
My own background is in both education and the arts. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in Theatre, and I’ve always carried that love for performance, storytelling, and creativity into the classroom. That passion, combined with my Montessori training, inspired me to design a program that blends hands-on academics with enrichment opportunities that nurture imagination and confidence. Over time, that modest afterschool club transformed into a full private microschool.
Today, Spotlight Scholars is officially registered with the Florida Department of Education and serves 1st through 3rd graders in Baldwin Park. We’re located at a facility called PediaBloom that has other providers such as Occupational therapists,Speech and so much more.We follow the county calendar while infusing our days with project-based learning, nature exploration, and arts integration that make education feel like an adventure. In addition to our full-day private school model, we also offer pods designed to support homeschoolers,providing flexibility for families while ensuring every child experiences a rich, personalized education.
My vision has always been to cultivate a space where learning feels alive, where children are both academically challenged and creatively inspired. Watching students flourish in this environment has been the most rewarding part of the journey.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. I launched Spotlight Scholars at a time when microschools and private tutoring were really on the rise, so there was both opportunity and competition. In the very beginning, my enrollment numbers were very low, even for a microschool, and that was a challenge. Starting small meant I had to wear many hats at once, from teaching to administration to marketing, while still making sure every child felt like they were part of something special.
What kept me going was my belief in the vision. Each time I saw a student gain confidence, fall in love with learning, or get excited about a project, it reminded me that growth takes time and consistency. Those early struggles shaped the program into what it is today and made me more determined to build a school that families could truly enjoy!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Spotlight Scholars is a private microschool for 1st through 3rd graders in Baldwin Park. We blend Montessori inspired academics with creativity, nature, and the arts, creating a learning environment where children feel safe, confident, and excited to learn. More than a school, Spotlight Scholars is a community where learning feels like an adventure.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is making Montessori accessible. I truly believe this is the best way for young children to learn because it honors their natural curiosity and independence while giving them the tools to grow with confidence. Montessori is still not widely known or understood, and it has become my mission to not only teach using these methods but also to create communities where families can experience the power of this approach together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SpotlightScholars.com
- Instagram: @SpotlightScholars
- Facebook: @SpotlightScholars
