Young Innovators Is Making News

We are a private preschool and educational daycare providing premier early education and child care for families.

Our proprietary curriculum Innovation Advantage (R) gets children and adults passionate about learning turning classrooms into innovation parties

The Young Innovators team has been innovating childcare for a long time – and it hasn’t gone unnoticed! 

Check out some of the articles and Videos.

Young Innovators Fishhawk is now locally owned and operated

Exciting News from Young Innovators Fishhawk!
We’re thrilled to welcome Mrs. Tanisha, an experienced educator from Hillsborough County, and her husband, Shawn, as the new owners of our school!

With years of experience in both early childhood education and operations, they bring deep community roots and a passion for nurturing future innovators.

Our amazing teaching team remains unchanged, and the Young Innovators corporate team will continue to support us behind the scenes.

Grounded in early brain development research, our curriculum gives young children the chance to:

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Her Table, Her Rules podcast

In the saturated world of entrepreneurship, few voices echo with the clarity, courage, and conviction of Marnie Forestieri, the visionary founder of Young Innovators Academy. In her guest appearance on the Her Table, Her Rules podcast by Julie Peters, Forestieri doesn’t just share her story—she dismantles outdated models of education. She offers a blueprint for building mission-driven businesses with measurable impact.

Marnie Forestieri isn’t just building schools—she’s building a movement. One where creativity matters more than compliance, and children are seen not just as students, but as changemakers. If you’re launching a business, redefining your brand, or searching for your deeper purpose, study what Marnie’s doing. Young Innovators Academy is designing the future—and it starts with the next generation of innovators.

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Yahoo Finance

Central Florida is the first location in the nation for a new pilot program that will explore new ways of learning for local preschoolers. Sponsored by The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County (ELCOC) and led by the Orlando-based Young Innovators Academy and EPIC Innovation Collective educators, the Empowering Communities to Shape Their Worlds project uses the maker-centered learning approach, which puts students, parents and teachers in the driver’s seat, at the center of creating their own learning experiences.

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Orlando Sentinel

Central Florida preschools look to boost learning by getting kids tinkering and building

A new program informed by Harvard University research is looking to improve preschool education in Central Florida by encouraging young children to assume a “maker mindset.”

Launched last month, the Empowering Communities to Shape Their Worlds program is an educational approach that relies on building and tinkering.

“The maker mindset is that there’s always a new and better way to produce and improve what we make,” said Marnie Forestieri, CEO of the Young Innovators Academy, whose three preschools in Orange and Seminole counties area are included in the program.

Marnie Forestieri isn’t just building schools—she’s building a movement. One where creativity matters more than compliance, and children are seen not just as students, but as changemakers. If you’re launching a business, redefining your brand, or searching for your deeper purpose, study what Marnie’s doing. Young Innovators Academy is designing the future—and it starts with the next generation of innovators.

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Orlando business journal

This Orlando entrepreneur hopes her digital platform can revolutionize the childcare industry.

Forestieri pivoted her business plan to address the most prevalent issues in childcare, including high costs to parents and high turnover rates among teachers.

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Orange observer.com

BUILT TO LAST

My journey as an early childhood entrepreneur began as an administrator and educator who practiced a teaching technique called ‘direct instruction.’ This teaching strategy expects children to gain a predetermined skill acquisition sequence, teaching learners what they need to know to succeed in school. I knew in my heart this was not the way our kids should learn, especially during the preschool years- because they weren’t learning: I saw kids suffer, break down and fail, use worksheets, learn through repetition, walk away frustrated and disempowered.

I recognized there had to be a better way to teach young children how to pursue their passions and, at the same time, prepare them to succeed in formal school.

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WFTV Visits Young Innovators Academy

Central Florida is the First location in the nation for a new pilot
program that will explore new ways of learning for local preschoolers. Sponsored by The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County (ELCOC) and led by the Orlando-based Young Innovators Academy and EPIC Innovation Collective educators, the Empowering Communities to Shape Their Worlds project uses the maker-centered learning approach, which puts students, parents and teachers in the driver’s seat, at the center of creating their own learning experiences.

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Channel 9 Visits Young Innovators to Explore the Power of Maker-Centered Learning

Channel 9 Visits Young Innovators to Explore the Power of Maker-Centered Learning

Orlando Florida Young Innovators, a pioneer in progressive education, proudly announces that Channel 9 will be visiting our campus to learn more about the groundbreaking approach of Maker-Centered Learning. This visit is a significant milestone in recognizing the innovative educational strategies that are shaping the future of learning.

Unlock the Power of Maker-Centered Learning in Your Classroom! 🚀

Maker-Centered Learning transforms students into active participants in their education by engaging them in hands-on projects that encourage exploration, creativity, and innovation. This approach moves beyond traditional teaching methods to provide a dynamic and interactive learning environment.

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Making Headlines in the Orlando Sentinel

When young innovators grace the front page of a major publication like the Orlando Sentinel, it’s more than just news—it’s an inspiration. These students have demonstrated exceptional creativity and problem-solving skills. Their achievements offer concrete examples of how dedication and innovative thinking can lead to remarkable outcomes.

The stories featured often highlight The Importance of Creative Learning Environments for fostering innovation among young people. These settings encourage students to think outside the box and approach problems from various angles. Schools and community centers that offer resources like makerspaces and coding labs are instrumental in this process.

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Unlocking the Genius: Marnie Forestieri 's Ted Talk Goes Viral

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Orlando, Florida — April 1, 2024 — Orlando-based  author, early childhood educator and award-entrepreneur Marnie Forestieri Zettler,  delivered a powerful Ted Talk titled ‘How to Awaken the Genius out of Your Kids”   that recently launched on the official TEDx YouTube channel.
 
In her presentation, Marnie unlocks the secrets to tapping into the innate genius of children, arguing that every child is born with unique gifts waiting to be nurtured. Her message underscores the importance of creating environments and experiences that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving from an early age to prepare children for a world of constant change.
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Grow Florida

Meet Young Innovators Academy, a 13th Annual GrowFL hashtag#FLCTW Honoree! 🏆⭐️ Young Innovators Academy is revolutionizing early childhood education development. Their people-centered curriculum integrates new trends in education and takes cutting-edge learning concepts to the next level, ensuring every young learner achieves their highest potential.
 
Marnie Forestieri Zettler, CEO and founder, says her advice for fellow business owners is to, “Never stop iterating your ideas. In today’s fast-paced world, things are constantly changing and evolving. What may have worked in the past, may not be as effective now. It’s important to continuously adapt and improve your business strategies.” Continue reading here: https://lnkd.in/eARaV8sb
 
The 13th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch is brought to you by Duke Energy Corporation and Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. Celebrate with us! Limited tickets remain. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ea2kZ6rE
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Orlando-THe YOung innovator team women

Dr. Debby Mitchell, a former UCF professor, leads the curriculum department in collaboration with practitioners in the classroom. By generating answers in the innovative and practical spirit in which they teach, they built the foundation of Young Innovators’ educational philosophy:
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Orlando-THe YOung innovator team women
Orange Observer

Orange Observer

Trick-or-treaters got an early start on Halloween at Young Innovators Academy Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Winter Garden school. Families had a chance to peruse a line of decorated cars that offered games and candy. Kids also had a blast in loving on animals in the petting zoo, and the preschool celebrated the grands opening of its outdoor classroom.

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ORANGE OBSERVER​

Young Innovators Academy held an open house Saturday, July 29, to introduce students and prospective students to the Winter Garden campus. Families met the teachers and checked out the classrooms for the early-childhood program that includes preschool and VPK.
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Orange Observer

Young Innovators Academy is featured on the Observer, recognized there had to be a better way to teach preschool young children how to pursue their passions and, at the same time, prepare them to succeed in formal school. Because of this realization, her passion was born to make a difference.

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Tampa bay times

 Young Innovators Academy’s unmatched preschool approach helps preserve the creative confidence and robust learning power of the early years to help students grow the knowledge, skills, mindsets, and values that will help them become confident lifelong learners.
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Young Innovators-Enables Its Learners To Become Autonomous And Critical Thinkers

Young Innovator’s mission is to instill an appreciation for art and STEM disciplines in children from ages zero to five. Drawing on children’s natural curiosity, our company enables its learners to become autonomous and critical thinkers, preparing them for the careers of the future.

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Orlando Business Journal

 Young Innovators Academy is featured on the OBJ Home Page and With a Full-Page Article. Read this latest OBJ article to see the innovative childcare movement that Marnie is creating.
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Oprah Magazine

Featured in Oprah Magazine, the Young Innovators team has been changing the face of early childhood education for a while and continues to disrupt the industry to make childcare focused on educating the next generation of makers, doers, and innovators.

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Stanford University

Always Aiming to Innovate, Young Innovators CEO Marnie Forestieri focuses Her Energy on Education and talks about the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative.
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Orlando City Magazine

Orlando City Magazine Recognizes Marnie Forestieri as a Woman Who Moves the City
The magazine highlights how Marnie is an education entrepreneur, teacher, author and speaker on a mission: to inspire the next generation of innovators and prepare them for careers of the future. She is considered a Woman Who Moves the City.

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Empowering Communities to Shape Their Worlds

Central Florida is the first location in the nation for a new pilot program that will explore new ways of learning for local preschoolers. Sponsored by The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County (ELCOC) and led by the Orlando-based Young Innovators Academy and EPIC Innovation Collective educators, the Empowering Communities to Shape Their Worlds project uses the maker-centered learning approach, which puts students, parents and teachers in the driver’s seat, at the center of creating their ownlearning experiences.
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Hispanic Executive

Hispanic Executive

Marnie is Recognized by the Hispanic Executive as Someone Always Aiming to Innovate
They feature her career path of focusing her energy on preschool education with a new model for early-childhood education.

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Hispanic Executive

Central Florida is the first location in the nation for a new pilot program that will explore new ways of learning for local preschoolers.
Sponsored by The Early Learning Coalition of Orange County (ELCOC) and led by the Orlando-based Young Innovators Academy and EPIC Innovation Collective educators, the Empowering Communities to Shape Their Worlds project uses the maker-centered learning approach, which puts students, parents and teachers in the driver’s seat, at the center of creating their own
learning experiences.
 
The 8-month long pilot program launches Friday, June 14 at Young Innovators Academy
campuses in Oviedo, Winter Garden and participating Early Learning Coalition Centers in
Orange County. To kick off the program, educators, parents and community partners toured
 
the Young Innovators Academy campus in Winter Garden to get a firsthand look at the maker-
centered model in action, meet the educators, including Dr. Edward Clapp, as well as Dr. Scott
 
Fritz, CEO, ELCOC and Young Innovators founder Marnie Forestieri who, through the Young
Innovators Foundation brings this innovative program to the Orlando community.
“Outdated teacher instruction models no longer serve children and traditional memorization and teacher directed learning hinder their creative potential,” says Marnie Forestieri, CEO and
Founder of Young Innovators Academy. “To truly empower communities, we need to shift our
focus from traditional education methods to a more child- centered approach.”
Watch the Channel 9 story
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