Notice: Campus renovations are in the final stages. Rolling admissions are paused during construction & all newly admitted students will begin on or after July 15, 2025.
Transparency is foundational.
Community is our compass.
Commitment shapes the journey.
Roots + Growth
Located in Brasilito, Guanacaste, Ceiba Nova is an alternative education method utilizing a credentialed private teacher & private facilities. Rooted in student-centered exploration, relationship-based learning, and rhythm-aligned education, Ceiba Nova serves a small community of learners — with a strict cap of 25 students total, including both in-person and hybrid/remote learners.
​
At any given time, a maximum of 10 full-time, in-person students may be onsite. Hybrid and remote learners may visit the physical campus occasionally to access resources or attend specific experiences, but all families are kept apprised of these visits. This transparency fosters a sense of safety, trust, and community, as well as reinforces the daily structure required as a support & developmental foundation for neurodiverse learners.
​
Ceiba Nova will not expand beyond this one-room, relationship-based model. When your family joins Ceiba Nova, you can count on stability: your child will not lose their teacher mid-year due to institutional politics, and you won’t return from a break to find the school permanently closed. We are committed to consistency, sustainability, and long-term presence in the lives of the families we serve. If demand increases, we will not enlarge this location. It is possible but not planned that if need warrants, Ceiba Nova may partner with other qualified educators interested in opening affiliated pod sites aligned with our philosophy. These independent sites would use Ceiba Nova's curricular tools and values framework but each be led by a primary teacher with their own pod of students. Unlike many private school models, Ceiba Nova’s mission is simple and steadfast: to provide the highest quality holistic education to those who need it most — in a way that remains truly sustainable for both families and educators.
Designed for Discovery
​​​
Ceiba Nova is located on private property in a gated community, offering security, green space, and a peaceful learning atmosphere. The schoolhouse is a single-room learning environment with:
-
Individual workspaces that flex to support solo, small group, or community learning
-
In-room bathroom with a locking door
-
En-suite kitchen with access to fresh snacks and water
-
Outdoor sink and handwashing station
-
Emergency eye-wash station & other safety equipment
​
The property features 1/3 acre of cross-fenced outdoor space, including:
-
A play area
-
Garden beds
-
Seasonal creek
-
Grassy soccer/play zone
-
Walking distance to playground, basketball courts, & beach.
-
Schedule access to private pool at the residence next door for swimming lessons & activities.
​
The campus is undergoing renovations to further enhance safety and experience. A new roof, covered porch, and re-imagined outdoor spaces are in the final stages. For this reason, rolling admissions are paused & newly admitted students will be deferred to an end-of-July start date.
Ceiba Nova is not just a "school".
It’s a shared space for wonder, growth, and personal discovery — on a human scale.
Pathway Coordinator + Expeditionary Leader
Ceiba Nova is led by Jen (she/her/they/them), Pathway Coordinator (Administrator) and Expeditionary Leader (Teacher). With a Master's in Library & Information Science and a rich professional background in education, inclusive technologies, government innovation, and literacy access, Jen brings a dynamic and deeply student-centered lens to learning design.
​
Her career includes roles as a public librarian, inclusive tech strategist, credentialed educator, and educational nonprofit director. She has taught in traditional and alternative environments and specializes in designing adaptive, neurodiverse-friendly curriculum rooted in authentic learning. Jen has also served on nonprofit boards and holds multiple certifications in data analysis, machine learning, and educational technology.
​
She brings not only experience, but a profound commitment to creating learning environments where every learner is seen, supported, and free to explore with purpose.
"When I stopped thinking 'that’s something only others can do' and started failing with purpose, I began succeeding with agency."