Who We Are
Our Vision…
We envision a community of learners that values construction of knowledge through creativity, curiosity, academic challenges, and an appreciation of the natural world and the arts. We strive to develop confidence and character in reflective, compassionate citizens.
Brentwood has been fostering creativity, curiosity, and character for more than 50 years.
Our Mission
A Supportive Community:
At Brentwood, we believe school should be welcoming, fun, and engaging. We foster a sense of belonging through personal relationships with students and families.
Meaningful Curriculum:
We know students best construct knowledge when teachers are free to plan flexibly and adapt to student interests and needs. We believe school should offer a wide variety of experiences to develop well-rounded people who will positively impact the world.
A Well-Balanced Life:
We believe childhood should be filled with opportunities to develop character, confidence, creativity, and kindness in concert with academic skills. Lessons should be developmentally appropriate, challenging, and should happen in structured environments as well as during free exploration.
History of Brentwood
In 1971, Doctors Al and Judy Block, local professors of Education, sat at their kitchen table and finalized plans to open a school. Their vision was a school dedicated to knowing each family and child personally while meeting high standards of education. Thus, Brentwood was born right here on the very campus where we continue to work, play, build relationships with families, and deliver quality education today. In its first few years, Brentwood only had a few classrooms - all devoted to preschool age children.
“We value relationships and quality, student-based learning decisions.”
In 1981, Bob and Sue Schackow assumed the leadership of Brentwood School and carried on the mission of personal connections and meaningful learning for the next 40 years. In those decades, the school grew both in buildings and in grade levels. We now serve students aged 2 through 5th grade. Two of the buildings on campus were once homes for the Blocks and Schackows during their interims as directors, lending personality and character to our special campus. Bob and Sue’s family home even had a swimming pool that children still enjoy when we open it up each summer for Brentwood Summer Fun campers.
Jennifer Morton joined Bob and Sue as part of the leadership team over 20 years ago. Then, as Bob and Sue began looking toward retirement, they sought the ideal person to take on their leadership role at Brentwood, and found the perfect match in their niece, Lynn Schackow. Today, the school is under the leadership of Lynn Schackow, Jennifer Morton, and Ginny Knoll. Though our campus and curriculum evolve, the same tenets the Blocks set out to achieve remain true. We value relationships and quality, student-based learning decisions.
Bob Schackow with a group of students in the 1980’s.
Hello Brentwood Community and Future Mighty Oaks!
Director’s Message
I am so happy you’re interested in knowing more about life at our special school. I love to start each day greeting families on ‘the map’ and seeing all the smiles on kid and grown-up faces as they arrive for another day at Brentwood – and I’m happy to greet you virtually here.
Our school family is a happy one because we balance academic rigor with hands-on experiences and plenty of outdoor play. We value curiosity, foster independence and help children develop their problem-solving skills in a respectful, responsible, honest, hard-working, kind, inclusive and polite environment. We maintain that character development is as important as academic growth – and both flourish here. When you look around our campus you see children who feel safe and seen.
All of this is possible because of the exceptional Brentwood teachers and staff. Our educators invest in our school community through their growing experience, enthusiasm, professional development, and the caring nature they foster in classrooms each day. In addition to classroom lead and assistant teachers, the Brentwood faculty includes talented specialists in Art, Music, Physical Education, Spanish, Library Skills, Computer Science, and hands-on Science Labs.
Brentwood’s history is full of countless learning moments, hugs, smiles (and a few tears) of thousands of children. We take seriously that families entrust us with their little people, and we feel honored to be an extension of your family. If you are already part of our community, we are glad you’re family. If you’re new to Brentwood – we can’t wait to meet you!
Lynn Schackow
Brentwood School Director
“My small family has found a large family and a supportive community here at Brentwood - a school that builds wonderful, well educated children.”
E. Greer, parent
Code of Ethics
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Brentwood School protects the health and welfare of every student in its care pursuant to Florida law.
All employees and agents of a public school district, charter school or private school have an obligation and legal responsibility to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators, which affects the health, safety and welfare of a student.
Failure to report misconduct may result in penalties up to termination of employment and revocation of an educator’s certificate.
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Report professional misconduct to:
Lynn Schackow, Director
(352) 373-3222
