Inspiring & Empowering Compassionate, Global Learners
Cornerstone Learning Community (CLC) has nurtured compassionate, well-rounded preK through 8th-grade students for over 25 years. We teach, learn, play, and communicate with one another according to our 7 Core Virtues: Compassion, Giving, Honesty, Self-Discipline, Perseverance, Respect, and Responsibility.
At Cornerstone, we strive to create an environment that reflects the larger world, fostering inclusivity and collaboration.
Our students explore visual art, music, language acquisition, library, STEM, gardening, and environmental education in addition to math and social studies.
Cornerstone is more than a school, it’s a community. In addition to our students engaging with the local community, families are encouraged to get involved as on-campus volunteers and field trip chaperones, and to attend monthly school-wide Community Sings where students perform, share, and educate each other from our outdoor stage. The PTO sponsors regular events that bring the CLC community together for pumpkin carving, movie night, and joke and poetry night.
Thanks to our IB Programme, CLC graduates leave Cornerstone set up for high school success. Cornerstone graduates are consistently among the top of their local high school graduating
To inspire and empower compassionate, global learners.
To “inspire” learners, we meet them where they are, individualize instruction in an environment and with experiences that are developmentally appropriate to them, and create space for their voice to be heard.
To “empower” learners, we strive to balance structure and choice by setting high expectations while also giving learners the power and agency to make decisions. We engage learners in authentic and meaningful tasks that have real impact on the world, help them understand and leverage their own power to positively impact their community.
Academic achievement isn’t our primary goal. It is a by-product. The real work is to nurture “compassionate,” humane, and caring people. The foundation of this work is made up of seven core virtues: compassion, giving, honesty, self-discipline, perseverance, respect, and responsibility. These core virtues shape our work and compel us to pursue both social and environmental justice in our service efforts.
By “global” we refer to an international-mindedness. Our project-based curricula make planet-wide connections to help students see and understand our globalized world and know the people who shape it. However, we also focus on “global” as it pertains to the whole learner. Our community creates a safe environment (physically, socially, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually) for learners to take risks, make mistakes, reflect, and learn in real and transformative ways far beyond the limits of traditional subject areas.
“Learners” are the very center of our practice. We create an environment where those learners thrive. Our academics are rich with novel experiences — field trips, projects, and integrated subjects.
In everything we do at CLC, we incorporate our seven Core Virtues, adopted from Ernest Boyer’s The Basic School program. They are: Perseverance, Self-Discipline, Responsibility, Honesty, Respect, Giving, Compassion.
Our Core Virtues are seen in the classroom, on the playing field, and within our community of staff, students, and parents. They are the guiding principles by which we teach, learn, play, and communicate with one another.
In 1999, a group of teachers and parents began to envision a school. For the teachers, the school would be one in which a learner-centered focus continues beyond preschool—a place where the joy of learning prevails. The founding parents envisioned a school as a place where their children would be challenged and respected, a place where intrinsic motivation and creativity would be valued more highly than standardized testing and a rigid curriculum. The result was Cornerstone Learning Community (CLC), located in Tallahassee, Florida, a prek through 8th-grade school founded on a commitment to holistic, innovative, experiential, and compassionate education.
Among the early influences on the school’s curriculum and philosophy were Manhattan Country School (MCS), Ernest Boyer’s Basic School model, and play-based early childhood education. MCS strongly encouraged civic involvement and social justice, created a safe and vibrant community by limiting class sizes to 18 students, and immersed students in farm experiences that taught life and interpersonal skills beyond the classroom. Cornerstone adopted each of these educational components, and they continue to contribute to the school’s unique community and philosophy. Boyer’s Basic School model gave CLC an emphasis on character education (reflected in the school’s seven virtues) and an approach that treats parents as partners and teachers as leaders. Our early childhood program aligned itself with play-based, learner-centered experiences and a strong appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Many of our early teachers drew from curriculum and values developed in Reggio Emilia schools in Italy.
Throughout its 25-year history, CLC has emphasized character development, community involvement through service learning, environmental stewardship, and academic excellence. Over the years, Cornerstone student ambassadors have served lunches at local homeless shelters, campaigned for environmental causes, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, planted thousands of long-leaf pines to restore ecosystems, and designed fundraisers to aid those impacted by natural disasters. CLC continues to embrace environmental education and direct experiences through nature by sending individual classes to a local sustainable farm (Longview Farms), where the farm’s teacher leads students in activities that range from plant and tree identification to understanding sustainable farming practices. By adopting progressive and rigorous curricula such as the International Baccalaureate Middle School Programme, Cornerstone teachers continue to find new, creative ways to make learning both engaging and meaningful. As the school continues to evolve, students enjoy a diverse range of programs, including robotics, math and science competitions, music concerts, and plays. All of these programs, old and new, continue to distinguish Cornerstone Learning Community as an innovative and welcoming school that inspires and empowers global learners.
Cornerstone Learning Community is proudly accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), a mark of excellence in education.
FCIS accreditation reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in academics, leadership, governance, and operations. Through a rigorous and reflective process, our school demonstrates a continual dedication to growth, innovation, and accountability.
Being an FCIS-accredited school means:
We are honored to be recognized by FCIS and remain committed to offering an educational experience rooted in integrity, purpose, and continuous improvement.
Annmarie Small | ||
Dr. Bryan Williams | ||
Akira Hung | ||
Patty Backes | ||
Maggie Greene | ||
Karen Metcalf |
Edith Scheib | ||
Summer McTamney |
Ka-Nicia Harmon | ||
Theresa Hume | ||
Rachelle Ogletree | ||
Zachary Steaple |
Yeleina Erazo | ||
Marjorie Manoben | ||
Aedan Reed | ||
Nelly Garzon | ||
Rachel Webber | ||
Amelia Moore | ||
Nathan Hagaman |
Karen Metcalf | ||
Kristy Butgereit | ||
Nadiia Ozerova | ||
Kristen Duncan | ||
Dr. Kyle Killian | ||
Darien Buford | ||
Rebekka White |
Sky Feller | ||
Meg Fulford | ||
Nelly Garzon | ||
Patty Callender | ||
Meg Fulford | ||
Tetyana Skrypnyk | ||
Lisa Black |
Dr. Bryan Williams | ||
Julia Ferrell | ||
Harper Encinosa | ||
Marcos Zorio | ||
Aedan Reed |
Dr. Bryan Williams | ||
Josue Pierrilus | ||
Zachary Steaple |
Our alumni leave Cornerstone as confident, compassionate, and capable individuals who carry the values of curiosity, community, and lifelong learning into the world. Whether they go on to thrive in rigorous academic programs, lead in their local communities, or explore creative and global pursuits, our graduates consistently reflect the strength of their foundation here.
We are proud to see former students making a difference—guided by integrity, grounded in empathy, and inspired to keep growing. They remain a cherished part of the Cornerstone family, and their journeys continue to inspire the students who follow in their footsteps.
The Cornerstone Learning Community Board of Trustees is a dedicated group of volunteers committed to the long-term health and success of the school. Grounded in the values of collaboration, equity, and thoughtful stewardship, the Board works to uphold the mission of CLC: to nurture compassionate, curious, and engaged learners who will make a meaningful impact in their communities and the world.
The Board is responsible for:
As stewards of Cornerstone’s values, Trustees lead with humility, curiosity, and a deep respect for the voices of students, families, faculty, and staff. The Board strives to make decisions that reflect the diverse needs of the community while securing a vibrant and resilient future for the school.
Cornerstone Learning Community is a preK through 8th-grade private school in Tallahassee. Our mission is to inspire and empower compassionate, global learners. We are the area leaders in project-based learning, whole child development, and teacher leadership. Our faculty bring their passions to work every day to provide transformative learning opportunities.
Thank you for your interest in joining Cornerstone Learning Community. At this time, we do not have any job openings. We are always grateful for the talented educators and professionals who feel called to be part of our school community. If you would like to be considered for future opportunities, feel free to check back periodically or reach out with your resume and area of interest.
We appreciate your passion for education and your interest in Cornerstone!
We strive for a globally inclusive environment and seek faculty who reflect cultural and ethnic diversity. Cornerstone Learning Community does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.
