Star Lab logo

Celebrating each child’s vast potential

Our Story

Welcome to Star Lab, a world-class neighborhood school dedicated to learning and joy!

We draw upon decades of experience in education, cutting-edge scientific research, and a deep respect for childhood to create the school of the future. Star Lab combines new and old methods to create a unique program that you and your child will love.

Our students’ families are our true partners, and we honor your goals as we work together to support your child’s academic, physical, and social growth.

Watch the Star Lab Enrollment Video on YouTube
Children in tie-dyed, fringed T-shirts dance across a wood-floored room; a girl with blue beaded braids smiles in the center.

Our Mission: Learning + Joy

We help all children perform on or above grade level by using:

  • Personalized attention and feedback
  • “Just right” lessons, tailored to student readiness
  • Direct instruction for students to learn new content
  • Lots of practice to make learning permanent

Our Method

45-minute academic lessons

A girl in a green Star Lab T-shirt poses on the floor beside wooden animal puzzle pieces laid on picture cards.
Children around a table laying out number cards while a teacher leans in to help.
Children sitting on a rug printed with numbered circles, holding up small whiteboards.
A teacher and children working with wooden Montessori materials on floor mats in a classroom.
A girl in a star T-shirt holds a pencil to her chin at a table, with picture books on a shelf behind her.
  • Two children in Star Lab T-shirts on a blue playground slide, one laughing with her mouth open.

    Free Play Every Hour

  • A smiling woman in a climbing harness beside a child in a harness next to a tree trunk.

    Relationships

  • Children in light-blue shirts raise their arms; one wears a red paper tie.

    Arts & Creativity

  • Children sitting cross-legged on a rug with numbered circles in a classroom with wooden shelves.

    Mindfulness

  • A child crouches beside colored hoops laid on an outdoor play area by a black fence.

    Exercise as Medicine

Our Faculty

Our Team

We work to ignite potential and illuminate minds

  • Alison Rini, smiling, with long light-brown hair, outdoors.

    Alison Rini

    Founder and Head of School

    Alison has taught elementary grades in New York City, the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix), and Sarasota, Florida since 2000. She has been a principal and assistant principal at Island Village Montessori, Pine View School for the Gifted, and Cranberry Elementary School. Helping your children learn and grow at Star Lab is her dream come true. She loves to read and make new friends.

  • Nan Gramaglia, smiling, with shoulder-length dark hair and a blue Star Lab T-shirt.

    Nan Gramaglia

    Teacher

    Nan Gramaglia is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience in the field, holding a librarian degree that enriches her approach to teaching. Nan has worked in both international schools and Montessori settings, bringing a diverse and well-rounded perspective to her students. Nan loves cooking, reading, traveling, and working with children.

  • Natalia Pal, smiling, in a green T-shirt in front of a classroom wall of posters.

    Natalia Pal

    Teacher

    Natalia has 20 years of experience teaching preschool, elementary, and Montessori students. She was born in Argentina and is bilingual in Spanish. Outside the classroom, Natalia enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids. They love going to the beach, watching movies, reading, and engaging in outdoor sports. Natalia is also passionate about nutrition and promoting healthy eating habits.

  • Sabina Valery, smiling, with long curly brown hair, outdoors.

    Sabina Valery

    Admissions Director/Reading Coach

    Sabina was raised in Venice and earned a Master’s in teaching in Virginia. She has many years working in public and charter schools, and is passionate about providing students with the foundational skills they need to learn and grow! Outside of school Sabina loves spending time at the beach, taking dance classes, and reading.

  • Candice Lamb, in glasses and a yellow Star Lab T-shirt, against a plain wall.

    Candice Lamb

    Teaching Assistant

    Candice loves children and has extensive experience in multigenerational care. Star Lab is her first time in a classroom teaching position, and she is an incredible assistant to Ms. Nan in our Kindergarten.

  • Emma Meyers, smiling, with short dark hair and a green T-shirt.

    Emma Meyers

    Teaching Assistant

    Emma grew up as a Montessori kid and she has taught at all age levels including teaching lower elementary at a Waldorf school. She has joined our 1st/2nd grade classroom at Star Lab 1, where she shares her love of nature and crafts with our students.

  • Danette Williams, smiling, in a yellow T-shirt in a classroom.

    Danette Williams

    Caterer

    Danette loves to cook and feed people healthy food. She is excited about introducing children to new flavors and exposing them gradually to different recipes. She loves to support the community through her nonprofit, Newtown Nation. She is committed to serving every person with dignity and uplifting young and old.

  • Yolanda Nash, smiling, in large glasses, a close-up selfie.

    Yolanda Nash

    Teacher

    Yolanda is from Queens, NY, and she moved to Sarasota in 2013. She has owned and operated yoga studios for twenty years, leading classes for all levels from children to adults. She is passionate about teaching and dedicated to inspiring high levels of learning. She has two teenaged children and she loves cooking, going to the beach, and practicing yoga.

  • Erin Foss, smiling, in glasses and a light-blue Star Lab T-shirt, against a blue wall.

    Erin Foss

    Teacher

    Erin is a Sarasota native with a Masters degree and 8 years experience teaching English Language Arts and tutoring in literacy. She is passionate about helping students grow in curiosity and learn to love language and storytelling.

    When she isn’t teaching, Erin loves backpacking, reading, writing fantasy and sci-fi, and dancing of all kinds.

  • C’Dara Manuel, laughing, in a wide-brimmed sun hat.

    C’Dara Manuel

    Teaching Assistant

    C’Dara has worked in many leadership roles in the community as well as coaching youth sports. She started at Star Lab as a camp counselor, and has now moved to support children in the classroom in our 2nd/3rd grade. C’Dara also drives the school van for the campus shuttle as well as community field trips. She has high standards for our students because she believes in their ability.

  • Susan Harvin-Peterson, smiling, in a light-blue T-shirt outdoors.

    Susan Harvin-Peterson

    Teaching Assistant

    Susan has worked in education for decades and loves to teach children to read. She grew up in Newtown and provides so much interesting historical information about our community. Ms. Susan teaches reading and specials in our 3rd-5th grade class.

  • Kareem Robinson, in a black T-shirt, standing with two children in a classroom.

    Kareem Robinson

    Facilities Support

    Kareem came to Star Lab 2 to help with the logistics of sharing space with our partner organizations. He keeps everything running behind the scenes so our teachers can focus on instruction, and everywhere he goes he makes things better. Our boys are excited about their first male teacher!

Star Lab Board of Directors

Our Foundational Partner: Sarasota Housing Authority

Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) is dedicated to providing quality affordable housing to enhance the lives of residents and promote their independence.

SHA’s belief in Star Lab and support for our programs has been transformational. Together we are committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through world-class elementary education. We are so grateful for SHA’s resources and connections that have allowed us to open our doors at Janie’s Garden and expand to the Boys & Girls Club.

Sarasota Housing Authority Info
Sarasota Housing Authority, SHFC and YouthThrive Sarasota Housing

Providing inspiration & opportunity for children to soar.

A girl with long braids arranges flag picture tiles on a wooden tray at a table.
A boy in a red Star Lab T-shirt peers through a wooden frame of hanging colored bead chains.

A school for extraordinary children

Children in orange aprons paint clay and pictures at a table covered with a plastic cloth.
Three children in green and blue T-shirts stand on a lawn looking up at the sky, one pointing, with trees and a truck behind.

Partners & Supporters

Star Lab is a subsidiary of the 501c3, ReDefine This Inc. Star Lab admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Star Lab complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex when recruiting and hiring exceptional faculty and staff who are aligned with our mission.

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