Our Story
If we ask in perplexity, why do so many men and women seem incapable of generous impulse, of reasoned patriotism, of seeing beyond the circle of their own interests, is not the answer, that men are enabled for such things by education?
— CHARLOTTE M. MASON —
In 2024, as the third of our four children graduated, we began dreaming about our next chapter. Over 20 years of homeschooling, we had gained invaluable knowledge and experience. Among various ideas, we found ourselves drawn to launching a private school model not yet available in our area. Through several open doors, the Lord guided the timing of this new ministry.
Friends familiar with the Ambleside method encouraged us to visit Ambleside Ocala, where the “living education” we witnessed perfectly matched our vision. Charlotte Mason’s belief that “self-education is the only education” had already proven true in our own home. Her approach—presenting students with a feast of ideas rooted in the good, true, and beautiful—deeply resonated with our family’s values.
Additionally, since adopting our daughter, we had been on a two-decade journey studying brain neuroplasticity. Three years before discovering Ambleside, we had taken a deep dive into Christian brain rewiring. Realizing that Charlotte Mason was decades ahead of her time in understanding neuroplasticity offered the ultimate confirmation that this was the right model for our endeavor.
Faith Community Church in Seminole has been a foundational supporter, generously hosting Ambleside Pinellas as a church ministry for our inaugural year. In 2026, we officially opened our doors with nine students in a combined Kindergarten and first-grade class.
As Ambleside Pinellas continues to grow, we are overjoyed to be part of a movement that renews hearts and minds—including our own. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has come alongside us to turn this God-given vision into a reality.
Kyle and Michelle Cullum