Independent Day School in Carrollwood is a small school on quiet Orange Grove Drive that's evolved into an academic powerhouse. 

Independent Day School's mission is simple: allow children to excel in learning, develop a love of learning and foster the self-confidence needed to succeed.  The school integrates effective teaching techniques with leading research, and embraces a Multiple Options Results Education, or M.O.R.E approach.

Headmaster Dr. Joyce Swarzman explained the idea.

"Research has shown that there is more than one type of intelligence and one style of learning," she said. "This approach allows children to learn the way they learn best, together in one classroom."

Proof of the M.O.R.E. program's success? The school received the national Blue Ribbon in education award as well as having been recognized for excellence in teaching.  In fact, Independent Day School's entire staff was recently certified in the gifted curriculum, and the school has trained over 6,500 educators in their teaching techniques, Swarzman said. 

The school draws educators who recognize the need for high teaching standards.  Kim Fowler, a first and second grade teacher, began her career in the public school system and has been at Independent Day School for 14 years. 

"I was the go-getter, with a do-whatever-it-takes mentality," she says of her early teaching career.  But at Independent Day School, she says, "everyone is that teacher." 

The staff meets weekly for study sessions, where they discuss the latest research and ideas in education, Fowler says.  Through these meetings, and continual training, the staff at Independent Day School demonstrates the importance of becoming life-long learners, an ideal they pass on to their students. 

The merits of Independent Day School are evident to parents as well.  As a mom of two current students and one recent graduate, Stacy Leeds knows firsthand the exceptional way the school promotes academic and emotional education. 

"Everyone has a unique respect for each other," she says of the relationship between students and staff. 

Leeds says she has been so impressed with the academic programs.

"Projects and assignments are very worldly connected. They require students to use all the academic disciplines, and learn about what's going on in their world," she said.

The school was recently host to Chinese exchange students, and has partnerships with schools around the world that allow children to communicate with each other via the Internet. 

Independent Day School's staff is preparing students to be successful in the future through academic excellence and global awareness. 

As Headmaster Swarzman said, the school may be beautiful on the outside, "but what's really beautiful are the things happening inside the classroom."