Let the Children Lead the Way

The Legacy of Ohana

By Anna Gilchrist | Photography courtesy of Ohana Institute

When Lettye Burgtorf first set out to homeschool her children, the area along Scenic Highway 30-A in Northwest Florida was hardly the flourishing community it is today. Schools were few and far between, leaving families with limited educational options. From her own home, Burgtorf began to teach her two children with her own curriculum, never imagining the movement that this small beginning would set into motion.

Word spread quickly through town, and friends, and even friends of friends, began asking if she might teach their children. What started as a group of two quickly grew to eight, and before long, dozens more, until Burgtorf’s humble lessons evolved into the Ohana Institute and Ohana Day School, which today serve over two hundred students.

Ohana Day School at Grand Boulevard marks the second location for Ohana students ages 3 to 5.
Photos by Hunter Burgtorf

Ohana was never a business plan. “I’m a mom first. I didn’t study business,” Burgtorf admits. Alongside her husband Allen, Burgtorf co-founded the Ohana Institute, growing the concept out of their shared passion for students and a deep understanding of how to connect with them. This passion is what roots the school’s foundation, a model of personalized education, carried out through love and an understanding of each student’s purpose.

At the heart of the Ohana philosophy is the belief that students thrive when they follow their passions in the right environment from an early age. When students do what they love and feel safe in their environment, they are happier and more willing to learn. The school’s STEAM program (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) reflects that vision, allowing each student to build their own academic paths based on personal interests, whether it’s aerospace, robotics, or whatever they take an interest in. In fact, Ohana students have the rare opportunity to fly a plane as part of their aerospace course, thanks to being the only school in Florida with a partnership with Space Florida. The results speak for themselves. Ohana students have notably earned scholarships in athletics like volleyball and golf, placed in the top three of a national debate competition, and spoken at the annual Model UN conference in New York.

The music program also shines as a signature part of the Ohana experience. The Rock on the Road program guides students through the entire process of writing, recording, and performing original music over the course of a school year. Their work comes together in a week-long tour, bringing students’ music to community events, festivals, and other schools. The program has had outstanding support from many renowned artists, even welcoming Lee Brice to perform as a fundraising event, with Ohana’s very own ROTC band as his opening act. The program’s success inspired Ohana to share it with other schools, extending the joy of learning music beyond their own classrooms.

Experiential learning is embedded in every step of Ohana education, no matter what path students take an interest in. Each student completes 72 hours of internship experience, helping them explore real-world applications of interest or discover new ones. Additionally, Ohana is a strong advocate for cultural learning, taking students and their families abroad to explore places like Italy, Tokyo, and Australia.

Teachers are integral to the Ohana model, bringing a genuine enthusiasm and passion for teaching that fuels student engagement. “When they’re excited about teaching, the kids are excited about learning,” Burgtorf says.

This energy is what drew Julie Martin, co-founder of Ohana Day School, to the community. After transferring her son from another school and witnessing his joy for learning reignite at Ohana, she quickly knew she wanted to be part of that mission. “It was through my child that I knew that this was the place I wanted to be,” Martin explains.

While the Ohana Institute was thriving, Burgtorf and Martin recognized a growing need for holistic education at an earlier age. During COVID, they launched the first Ohana Day School at 30Avenue in Inlet Beach, designed for children ages 3 to 5. Similar to Ohana Institute, Ohana Day School follows the unique SHELL Model—focusing on Safety and Security, Holistic Education, Experiential Learning, Loving Yourself, and Loving Others—providing beautiful, play-driven spaces where young learners feel happy and heard.

At Ohana Day School, teachers thoughtfully design engaging lessons and experiences that allow children to learn through play and curiosity. Every week is new and exciting, filled with transformative activities to capture each child’s interest. One day, students step into the life of a veterinarian by “adopting a pet,” crafting a custom collar, and practicing letter formation. The next day, they may be exploring apples using all five senses: experimenting to see which varieties float, tasting different kinds, and learning about the apple life cycle.

By encouraging children to experiment and think critically, Ohana Day School makes learning meaningful, guaranteeing that students retain knowledge through real-world experience.

Ohana Day School at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach, Florida, is now accepting new students.

The program’s success quickly prompted the opening of a second, larger location at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach, where Ohana Day School continues to thrive. The beautiful space built out by Grand Bay Construction provides an inspiring environment for children to explore new ideas and engage in hands-on learning.

Ohana’s impact has not gone unnoticed, garnering the attention of Kaplan, an international leader in education and training services for schools and other businesses. Today, Kaplan and Ohana Institute have joined forces to bring Burgtorf’s vision for personalized, holistic learning to an even larger audience. With Kaplan’s support, Ohana plans to expand throughout Florida and beyond, reaching New York and other areas in need of innovative education. The partnership also promises to expand the STEAM program, providing broader academic and college preparatory resources for Ohana students, such as SAT/ACT prep materials.

Ohana Day School students learning about pirates and having a fun experience on their latest field trip. | Photos by Hunter Burgtorf

From its grassroots beginnings as one mother’s homeschooling journey, Ohana has grown into a nationally recognized model of education built on a love for learning. Through the Ohana Institute and Ohana Day School, the Burgtorfs, Martin, and their teams of teachers have reignited the joy of education, proving that it doesn’t have to fit in one box to be meaningful. Instead, it can support each student’s passions through experiential, personalized learning to shape their academic success—and their confidence and character along the way.

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Visit OhanaInstitute.org and OhanaDaySchool.org to learn more and reach out about enrollment opportunities!