Letter from Mrs. Hollenbeck

Transitions and New Beginnings: Celebrating Our Faculty and Welcoming a Familiar Face to the Studio

Change is a natural part of any vibrant educational community, bringing both bittersweet goodbyes and exciting new chapters. Today, we are sharing some significant transitions within The Experiential School family as we bid a fond farewell to two beloved educators and celebrate the growth of another.

Fond Farewells: Thank You, Ms. Trayer and Ms. Nicole

We are announcing the departure of two exceptional faculty members who have left an indelible mark on our community: Takeya Trayer and Nicole Cooper. Both of these educators have contributed immeasurably to the success and warmth of our program.

• Takeya Trayer has inspired our community with her deeply creative spirit and adventurous approach to teaching during Studio classes. Notably, Takeya was an integral part of the team that envisioned, created, and developed the atelier concept at The Experiential School, drawing beautiful inspiration from the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Her legacy of wonder and exploration will continue to influence our spaces.

• Nicole Cooper (affectionately known as Ms. Nicole) has filled our classrooms with her remarkably kind demeanor and an undeniable love for children. Her gentle guidance provided a nurturing foundation where our youngest learners felt safe, valued, and loved every single day.

We will miss them both dearly, and we are profoundly grateful for the dedication they poured into our students.

Welcoming Our New Studio Teacher: Ms. Maddy Schnettler

As we look to the future of the Studio, we are thrilled to announce that Maddy Schnettler has accepted the role of Studio Teacher at The Experiential School!

Many of you already know Ms. Maddy from her wonderful work as our Junior Kindergarten Teaching Assistant, or from her earlier days supporting our community as an ES Extended Day Teacher. She is incredibly excited to bring her extensive arts background into the ES in this new, dynamic capacity.

About Ms. Maddy

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Maddy moved to St. Petersburg in 2019 to attend Eckerd College, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts. Her deep passion for nurturing creativity in young minds has been evident in every role she has held at Shorecrest.

"I am eager to continue growing with The Experiential School, and I look forward to cultivating an educational environment for the students that truly supports and celebrates the arts." — Ms. Maddy

To further support her new role and ensure our curriculum remains deeply rooted in play responsive practices, Maddy is currently pursuing an advanced degree in Innovative Early Childhood Education at the University of Colorado Denver. Through this program, she will be diving even deeper into contemporary research surrounding the Reggio Emilia approach—perfectly positioning her to carry forward the incredible atelier traditions of our school.

Bright Futures Ahead

Please join us in wishing Ms. Trayer, Ms. Nicole, and Ms. Maddy all the absolute best as they open these exciting new chapters in their personal and professional lives. We are so lucky to have such an extraordinary community of educators dedicated to inspiring our children!

Tomorrow is the last day of school, and we will have early dismissal. Watch for a special Shorecrest News tomorrow with summer info & updates! (Parents of JK, remember to read the Lower School / Kindergarten details for next year.)

Kindly,

Adriana & The Experiential School Team

Adriana Portella Hollenbeck

Head of The Experiential School of Tampa Bay

ahollenbeck@shorecrest.org 

727-456-7541

New Multi-Factor Authentication Requirement for your FACTS Account 

Beginning May 27, 2026, FACTS will require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all non-student users when logging into their online account to access FACTS SIS. This new security process will be implemented for access via a website or through the Shorecrest app.

FACTS recommends that all users utilize a free authenticator app, such as Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, or Google Authenticator -- OR receive an authentication email containing a unique code when logging in. Your current username is your unique email address on file with Shorecrest.

Many of you are already familiar with the MFA process from accessing the FACTS Financial portal.

If you have any questions related to the process, please see this attachment or contact FACTS at 1-866-441-4637.

All-School Calendar

Experiential School Contacts