Welcome to Discovery Academy of Deland
At Discovery Academy of DeLand, we are proud to offer a nurturing and academically rich environment for children as young as 6 weeks old through VPK in our preschool, and from Kindergarten through 9th grade in our private school.
Formerly known as Stepping Stones Childcare & Preschool, our preschool has been a trusted part of the community since 1990. In 2022, we expanded our educational vision by launching our first Kindergarten group. We are blessed to announce that we are currently a 6 weeks to 9th grade private school and rebranded as Discovery Academy of DeLand in 2023 to reflect our broader mission.
Our goal is to provide the best academic and social environment possible for your child, while fostering a true sense of community among students, parents, and staff. We believe that open communication, shared ideas, and mutual support among parents, teachers, and children create a strong foundation for raising secure, confident, and capable young learners.
Many of our educational practices are innovative and student-focused. Our classes are designed around individual ability rather than traditional grade levels, encouraging personal growth and academic confidence. We believe that learning and fun should go hand in hand, and we strive to create an environment where each child feels loved, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.
At Discovery Academy of DeLand, we know that the emotional well-being of a child is just as important as their academic success. By providing love, security, and consistency, we help students thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
Together—with your partnership—we can make a lasting, positive impact on your child’s future. The foundation for strong relationships begins here, and we look forward to building that with you and your family.
Discovery Academy of DeLand - FAith BAsed Private SChool
At Discovery Academy of Deland we believe faith is an essential part of the human experience and therefore feel compelled to incorporate religious studies into our education. While the majority of our students and faculty identify as Christian, all major world religions are welcome in our school. We believe in acquiring knowledge of and respect for all faiths.
Ethics Conduct - Policies & procedures
1. Our school values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.
2. Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student's potential. Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.
3. Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:
a. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student's mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
b. Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
c. Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
d. Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's academic program.
e. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
f. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.
g. Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
h. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
i. Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.
4. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the community, employees of our school must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:
a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
b. Shall not because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization. – Our school is a Christian Faith Based School and will follow the rules of the Christian Accreditation Program.
c. Shall not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities. At Discovery Academy of DeLand, we believe that education is the key to unlocking a world of opportunity. Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that every student has the potential to achieve greatness, and we are committed to helping them reach their goals and aspirations.
d. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interferes with an individual's performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates
a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort
to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
e. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.
Training Requirement All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical conduct.
Reporting Misconduct All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors. Reports of misconduct of employees should be made to the principal and/or owner of the school. You may also contact your Human Resource Department at Engage PEO.
Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to the principal and/or owner of the school.
Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be reported to the
Office of Professional Practices Services. Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted in the handbook provide. And on our website at www.DiscoveryDeland.com.
Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect All employees and agents have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Call1-800- 96-ABUSE or report online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.
Signs of Physical Abuse The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.
Signs of Sexual Abuse The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively, fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight
suddenly, shy away from physical contact, or run away from home.
Signs of Neglect The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or
appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.
Patterns of Abuse: Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be
significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.
Liability Protections Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S. 39.203)
An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)
