the Apogee strong orlando team

Coach Erica

Erica is a devoted wife, mother, and visionary who answered the call to create something radically different in education. What began as a deep desire to lead her family with intention quickly grew into a mission to reshape what school could be--not just for her children, but for others as well. Motherhood transformed Erica’s view of learning. Watching her children grow into their unique gifts made her realize that the traditional model was not what she wanted for her family. She dreamed of a place that ignites passion, builds curiosity and character, and equips kids with real-world skills that are valued just as much--if not more--than academics. Guided by faith and fueled by purpose, Erica stepped into the unknown alongside the Apogee affiliate network and founded Apogee Strong Orlando: an environment that nurtures leadership, freedom, and responsibility in every young leader.

Today, Erica leads with the same heart she brings to her home--full of grit, love, and an unwavering belief in the next generation.

Program Director/Ember Coach

Coach Nick

A father on a mission to change his family’s legacy through educational sovereignty. Nick believes that grit, purpose and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ can overcome any obstacle. His journey led him to establish Apogee Strong Orlando--a school built to equip future generations with the tools to lead, serve, and thrive. Grounded in discipline, guided by God, and committed to lifelong learning--Nick is passionate about disrupting traditional education and creating a community where families grow stronger together.

Principal/ Ignite Coach

Coach Jessica

Jessica is a passionate educator with nearly a decade of experience in teaching Health and Physical Education. A proud graduate of the University of Central Florida, she earned her degree in Pre-Clinical Health Sciences in 2012. Jessica is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a joyful spirit who loves to laugh and dance, and a dedicated mother. Driven by faith and the support of her family, Jessica found her calling in education--a path that has deeply shaped her character and purpose. She believes in the power of meaningful connections, especially with students, and emphasizes relationship-building as a cornerstone of effective teaching. Her professional strengths include curriculum development, strategic lesson planning, and leading professional development sessions for fellow educators and coaches. Jessica brings both heart and expertise into every classroom, inspiring others through her authenticity, energy, and unwavering belief in the impact of education.

Evaluation & Compliance Coordinator

Coach Ann-Marie

Ann-Marie is originally from the UK and brings a unique blend of warmth, creativity, and real-world experience to her work with children. With a background in Montessori education and a strong foundation as both a business woman and a mum of two boys, she approaches each day with heart, intention, and a deep love for helping children grow. She creates a nurturing environment where children feel safe to be themselves, explore freely, and develop confidence through movement, nature, play, and meaningful connection. Ann-Marie is passionate about guiding each child to discover what excites them and helping them build a lifelong love of learning.

Ember Coach

Coach Diana

The creator of Discovery Youth Gardens, a program designed to connect children with nature through hands-on gardening and outdoor learning. As a homeschooling mom, I found my passion in the garden, watching my own children’s curiosity come alive outdoors inspired me to help other families do the same. My goal is to empower children to grow food, explore the natural world, and learn through discovery. I’ve partnered with Apogee Strong Orlando to bring this program to their students and to homeschooling families in our community.

Discovery Coach

Tim Kennedy

Tim’s hard work and passion have resulted in an extraordinary life. Green Beret, UFC Fighter, and Television Host are all among his career highlights, but perhaps not as personally meaningful as Husband, Father, and Patriot. Tim is a great example of being unapologetically American!

The Patriot

Matt Beaudreau

As a lifelong educator Matt has a reputation as a provocative thought leader in educational and personal development practices. He is a two-time featured TEDx speaker and he was named Corporate Trainer of the Year at Stanford University, having spoken to over 250,000 people .

The Educator

ASO FOUNDERS

Nick & Erica Montes

As lifelong Floridians, we both followed the traditional public school route, just like the rest of our families. From a young age, we were taught that checking all the “boxes” was the key to success. First, grade school, then college, and finally, a rewarding career. Work hard for a reputable company, and hopefully, retire early to enjoy the fruits of our labor. We kept checking off one box after another, only to realize we were trapped in a game we didn’t fully understand.

After completing our Doctorates and more than five years in our careers, something didn’t feel right. We were locked in by an invisible force. Student loans pushed us to work harder, so we spent most of the week working toward someone else's goals, leaving us with little time for what really mattered—our family. When we finally asked for a few days off to spend quality time together, we had to wonder: is this really the life we want?

Then, everything changed when we had two beautiful children. Our priorities, dreams, and goals shifted. Our focus now became their future—how could we give them the best opportunities and set them up to THRIVE? It became clear: the path we were on wasn’t the one we wanted for them. We couldn’t agree to someone watching our kids 6+ hours a day, especially if their values or intentions didn’t align with what we envisioned for their growth. The traditional education system felt like a gamble, and we wanted no part of it.

This realization led to a major shift in our family's mindset. Our journey toward sovereignty began. God brought Apogee into our lives, lighting a fire in our hearts. Our mission now is to serve—our children and the families in our community. We believe strong families create strong communities, and those communities will nurture strong future generations.

We’re thrilled to take the first step in bringing the Apogee vision and mission to life within our Central Florida community!

OUR WHY

IT STARTS WITH WHY

The driving force behind this journey is our two young children, Isabella and Mateo. We quickly realized the current school system wasn’t the path we wanted to follow, which led us to dive deeply into education. The more we explored, the further we veered from the traditional route. This led us to ask ourselves: what do we truly want for our family? What should the true purpose of education be?


For us, the answer became clear—education should not only empower children to discover their true calling, but also equip them with the skills to thrive through life’s challenges. We want more than just textbook memorization. We desire an education free from politics and agendas, one that fosters growth rather than mere compliance. We envision an education that’s applicable to life—helping our children become who they are meant to be, find their passions, and develop their unique inherent genius.

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THE PHILOSOPHY

GET INSPIRED

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to

have tried to succeed.”

–Theodore Roosevelt-