How It All Began

These little bundles of joy you're looking at are the starting point. You might think these girls are sisters, but they are actually best friends. These girls met at a wonderful preschool called Heritage Montessori School in Phoenix, ran by our good friend, Allison! However, that school ended after Kindergarten. Two of these girls were in Kindergarten at the time, and we were worried about where they would go to school next.  As parents we worked together to explore options, but just couldn't really find the right fit.

 

Audrey, Addy's mom always mentioned that she knew her daughter may struggle in a public school setting due to Selective Mutism, and a recent Autism diagnosis. One of her fears was that she would get lost in the shuffle with upwards of 30 kids in a class. Audrey has taught for 15 years in the classroom, and her saying this carried weight. 

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From there, Desert Roots Learning was born; in the struggle of keeping friends together, bringing families together, and creating a safe academic environment for our kids to thrive in. We believe all students thrive when their minds, body, and nervous systems are regulated.​ We value friendships, family, community, academics, mental health, well-being, and having fun! It is hard to share the raw story, because it is filled with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty. However, I hope by sharing our story, you relate and find something you can resonate with. ​

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I can say as a father, I wouldn't send my kids here if I didn't trust Audrey. She is a licensed teacher of 15 years, and her heart is in the right place. She is filled with compassion, and has a fire within to educate, bring personalized learning, and help students in meeting grade level learning goals. She has so many methods, strategies, and fun activities to get kids excited about learning. I know my kids are in good hands when they come here, and that is why they come here, and will continue to grow with Desert Roots Learning.

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Since our own kids are here, we plan to make this their forever home. We plan to add grades each year. So right now, we serve grades K-2, but as the kids get older, we will add grades. So in other words, you get the chance to grow with us. We welcome all friends, learners, families, neurodivergent, neurotypical, anyone, we just ask that you bring compassion, and laughs to our community. 

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-Andre Abrams - a passionate dad