Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Morales.
Hi Andrea, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a first-generation U.S.-born citizen and the first college graduate in my family. My path has never been easy, but it has been deeply formative. I grew up in a single-parent household with limited financial resources, little access to professional guidance, and frequent housing instability. Healthcare, dental coverage, and even healthy lifestyle choices were not guaranteed—they were luxuries. Programs like CHIP were my first exposure to how public policy can directly change lives, and that sparked my early passion for public health and policy.
Navigating college applications and FAFSA largely on my own was daunting, but I persisted. I attended the University of South Florida while working full time and earned my Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, with the goal of pursuing a career in public policy and health administration. Although I aspired to a master’s degree focused on public-sector policy, my family’s financial reality required me to make a pragmatic decision. I ultimately enrolled in the Master of Health Administration program at the University of Central Florida, knowing it would allow me to enter the workforce more quickly while still aligning with my mission-driven goals.
During my final semester, I completed an internship at a major healthcare system based in Orlando in the Simulation Department—an area I knew nothing about at the time. Despite not being a “technical” person, I found my stride by blending operational leadership, outcomes measurement, and community impact. With the mentorship of exceptional leaders, I quickly mastered the technical aspects of simulation while bringing a value-based lens focused on patient outcomes, ROI, and workforce development. I was hired full-time as a Simulation Operations Specialist, earned my CHSOS certification within six months, and shortly after advanced to Manager of Simulation, later obtaining my CHSE certification and becoming a subject matter expert.
As I grew in leadership, I also expanded the role of simulation beyond hospital walls. Recognizing the growing demand for STEM and healthcare careers—and the limitations of traditional public education systems—I launched community outreach and youth engagement initiatives. I created “The STEAM Experience,” an immersive, hands-on program exposing K–12 and college students to STEM careers through real simulation technology and experiential learning. I presented this work at a national simulation conference in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life continued to evolve—marriage, children, and for the first time, financial stability. I was able to purchase a home for my mother so she could retire with the security she had never known. Then, in February 2022, just two months after the birth of my second child, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. It was the most difficult season of my life, but also the most profound. Surrounded by family and community, I fought—and survived. That experience permanently reshaped my perspective and sense of purpose.
Being given a second chance at life made one thing clear: I needed to give back in a meaningful, scalable way. That calling led to the creation of STEAM Minds Academy Corp., a nonprofit organization founded in November 2023, dedicated to expanding access, exposure, and opportunity in STEAM education for students who, like me, start with limited resources but limitless potential.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but I believe the challenges are what have made the journey meaningful and rewarding. As a nonprofit organization, securing sustainable funding has been one of our greatest and ongoing hurdles. At the same time, operating as a private school means relying heavily on state scholarship programs to cover student tuition, and the unpredictability of funding timelines requires constant adaptability and careful financial planning.
Another challenge has been credibility—particularly early on. Being a younger founder in spaces traditionally led by more established leaders meant I often had to work harder to be taken seriously. However, those obstacles pushed me to lead with results, build strong partnerships, and let impact speak louder than perception. Each challenge has ultimately strengthened both my leadership and the foundation of the organization.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about STEAM Minds Academy Corp.?
STEAM Minds Academy Corp. is a nonprofit, private K–12 microschool located in Kissimmee, Florida. Our mission is to empower every learner through high-quality STEAM experiences and strong community partnerships. At our core, we exist to expand access, exposure, and opportunity for students who may not otherwise have access to innovative, future-focused education.
What we do—and what we specialize in—is preparing students for the evolving workforce by exposing them early to high-demand, high-paying STEM careers, including pathways that do not require traditional four-year college degrees. STEAM represents Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math; we intentionally include the Arts because creativity, curiosity, and imagination are essential to innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking in today’s world.
Our educational model is built around individualized and personalized learning, recognizing that every student learns differently and has unique interests and strengths. We integrate project-based learning to ensure students are not only mastering academic content but also developing real-world skills relevant to modern and future careers. In addition to serving our enrolled students, we offer enrichment workshops and STEAM experiences to homeschool families and the broader community looking to supplement their educational journeys.
Social-emotional learning is foundational to everything we do. We believe academic success is inseparable from emotional well-being, confidence, and self-awareness, and we intentionally support both students and families in this area.
What sets us apart is our philosophy and our intentional focus on career exploration and readiness. While many schools delay career exposure until late middle school—or don’t offer structured career readiness at all—we begin STEAM industry exploration in elementary school, formal career exploration in sixth grade, and career readiness programming in high school. We also offer Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses designed to align with workforce needs that exist today and those still emerging.
Brand-wise, we are known for making STEAM education accessible. Many STEM-focused schools in the greater Orlando area are cost-prohibitive, oversubscribed, or operate through competitive lotteries with long waitlists. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we are proud to serve one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida and to be rooted in the Kissimmee community—where data shows that early STEAM exposure can drive long-term economic mobility and help disrupt cycles of generational poverty, just as education did for me.
What I want readers to know is that STEAM Minds Academy is more than a school—it is a model for what future-ready, community-centered education can and should look like.
What are your plans for the future?
Looking ahead, our focus is on sustainable growth and long-term impact. We will continue to pursue grant funding and strategic partnerships to strengthen our programming and expand access for students and families. A major priority for us is completing the Cognia accreditation process, which will further validate our academic model and position us for responsible scaling.
Longer term, I look forward to establishing a permanent home for STEAM Minds Academy by purchasing land and building our own campus—one that includes purpose-built learning spaces, a playground, and a cafeteria designed around student well-being. Food security remains a critical issue for many of our families, and one of my personal goals is to eventually provide daily breakfast, lunch, and snacks as part of tuition, ensuring students can focus on learning without basic needs becoming a barrier.
Ultimately, our future plans are centered on creating stability, equity, and opportunity—so students not only succeed academically, but thrive.
Want to be part of building the future of STEAM Minds Academy? Learn how to support their vision here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/building-the-dream-powering-potential-the-steam-minds-building-fund
Contact Info:
- Website: www.steammindsacademy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steam_minds_academy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558516360255#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/steam-minds-academy-corp/
