The conception of our school began as a conversation in the summer of 2007, surrounding the boundless possibilities of early childhood education in the Atlanta Metro Area. The school’s founder was deeply committed to creating a program that addressed the need for quality care and innovative approaches to early childhood education, while fostering children’s awareness and respect for the environment and the natural world. We are inspired to fashion a community of learners, where children are viewed as “citizens of today.” We envision a world where every child is able to dream and reach his or her fullest potential.
This optimism to leave the world better than we had found it was the inspiration for our name. The Highlander School draws on the rich and vibrant culture of the southeast and honors the Highlander Folk School of Tennessee, founded in 1932, to educate and empower adults for social change. Students such as Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and others flocked to the school as it acted as a safe haven for dialogue and non-violent resistance to social injustices. Our hope and illuminating dream is that The Highlander School will embody this same spirit of freedom and cultivate a community of learners who are thirsty for knowledge.