Junior High

Why we’re different at Island Prep Middle School

Cross curricular learning is an important focus at Island Prep Middle School, and will be included as often as possible throughout the school year. We firmly believe that children learn better by doing, rather than rote memorization or simply studying for summative assessments and tests. A hands-on approach is key to learning enjoyment as well, and students have the opportunity to learn as much about the world and themselves when they are challenged with a variety of creative projects across multiple disciplines. Learning should be exciting and engaging!

What will be offered to students in the middle school grades (6 – 8)?

• Small class sizes
• Core classes: English/Language Arts; Mathematics; Science; Social Studies
• Spanish, Physical Education (tennis, golf, basketball, etc), Art History
• Electives tailored for student choice including environmental sciences, journalism, financial (FACS), literacy, technology, surf team, debate, chess and others
• Individualized instruction, including an accelerated learning path
• Community and family partnerships to support academic success

We are committed to being fully involved in your child’s education every step of the way!

By incorporating one on one teaching with small group lessons, learning tailored to the individual student, and knowledge of what the students need to be successful in their own education, we hope our students leave our school with the ability and desire to thrive in all of their educational endeavors. We want our students to find excitement in knowing they have the power, competence and confidence to learn at their own pace and in their own way.

Middle School Department Chairs:

Mrs. Brooke Bilotta:
Mathematics, Science

Mrs. Jennifer Piniarski:
English/Language Arts, History

Our middle school leadership team consists of highly qualified and trained teachers who have been a vital part of Island Prep School for several years. Both Mrs. Bilotta and Mrs. Piniarski taught a variety of subjects in public schools for many years prior to joining Island Prep, and between them have over 30 years of experience in education. Mrs. Bilotta also has a background in business and finance, while Mrs. Piniarski has a background in policy development, social work, and behavior analysis. We are proud to have such an experienced team to offer our students an exceptional quality of education in middle school.

MRS. DARMER

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

After 4 years at Wilmington University studying Primary Education, Mrs. Shannon Darmer moved her family to St. Augustine working in early childhood education. She eventually made her way to Island Prep where her kindness, understanding, leadership skills, and love of children advanced her quickly into a position in the administration. As the Director of Operations, she has excelled at leading our staff toward their goal of exceptional education. Her experience with the Non-Profit Junior Achievement Program of Delaware making statewide curricula choices has been an asset to our school, as we continue to explore ways to ignite curiosity and engagement within each student.

MRS. DIESL:

ENRICHMENT TEACHER AND EDUCATIONAL COORDINATOR

Mrs. Gina Diesl joined Island Prep after taking a break from her 11-year teaching experience at Hartley Elementary School where she was named teacher of the year. Local to Florida Gina attended Flagler College graduating with her degree in education. Gina loves to travel, is a wonderful mother to an 11 year old son, and is an active member of the community sitting on several boards for education over the years. As the enrichment teacher for the school, she incorporates her love of travel, culture art, and the outdoors seamlessly into the lessons for students taking a thematic approach to these subjects and helping students apply them to their own experiences and express who they are through their work. As the Educational Coordinator, Gina works closely with the teachers to help them realize and reach their potential in their chosen field. Her success in team-building and her deep passion for education is reflected in the engagement of each of the students in our school.