Colossal Academy Featured on Local 10’s Mom to Mom
- Shiren Rattigan
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
We are thrilled to share that Colossal Academy was recently highlighted on Local 10’s Mom to Mom segment with Nicole Perez, showcasing how our school is offering South Florida families a fresh, human-centered approach to education.
A Different Kind of Classroom
At Colossal Academy, students don’t just sit in desks and memorize facts — they learn by doing. Core classes expand beyond traditional academics to include cooking, gardening, fashion design, and even surfing. By blending rigorous academics with hands-on experiences, our students are prepared not only for college but for life.
Founder Shiren Rattigan, a fifth-generation educator, created Colossal Academy after working across private, public, and Montessori schools. She envisioned a school that embraced the whole child and encouraged curiosity, creativity, and real-world skills.
“They’re building their own businesses and making their own profits and learning how to be financially literate,” said Rattigan during the interview.
Balancing Rigor with Real-World Learning
Each day at Colossal Academy begins with a strong academic foundation — math, science, language arts, and history — and transitions into afternoons filled with passion projects and entrepreneurship opportunities. Students might be making natural dyes, crafting herbal remedies, or cultivating a garden while still mastering algebra, geometry, biology, and chemistry.
As Rattigan explains:
“We deeply balance rigor with real world, so our students are doing algebra, geometry, and language arts, but also learning biology and chemistry within the context of gardening and projects.”
Stories of Transformation
The Mom to Mom segment also highlighted the story of Madeline Moorman, an eighth grader who found her stride at Colossal Academy.
“It feels good to use my hands and have tactical things to do throughout the day because I can’t sit still. I like going outside. I like having fresh air,” Madeline shared.
Her mother, Alana Dola, recounted the struggles her daughter faced in traditional schooling before finding success and confidence at Colossal:
“We’d spend hours sitting out in front of classrooms with her crying, not wanting to go. She wasn’t thriving. Now, she’s free to be herself — and she’s thriving.”
Meeting Families Where They Are
Colossal Academy offers flexible learning models to fit the needs of families:
A traditional five-day in-person program
A three-day hybrid option
A fully virtual program
Tuition is supported by Step Up and AAA scholarships, ensuring accessibility for families who seek a more personalized education for their children.
A Growing Movement
The feature also noted a rising trend: homeschooling in Florida has increased by 46% in the last five years, with more than 155,000 students homeschooled in 2023-24. Families are increasingly seeking flexible, creative approaches that allow children to thrive — and Colossal Academy is proud to be part of that movement.
✨ We are so grateful to Mom to Mom and Nicole Perez for shining a light on our school and mission. At Colossal Academy, we believe education should empower students to connect with their passions, their community, and the world.
👉 Want to learn more?
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