Mission

Our mission is to provide each child with special needs the opportunity to be the best person he or she can be and to help each child function more independently by guiding him or her spiritually, socially, academically, physically, and emotionally.

History

The Morning Star School in Orlando, Florida, was formed in 1960 with six students in a small home on Leigh Avenue. The Sisters of Saint Joseph, a religious order from St. Augustine, Florida, knew that through skill, through patience, and through love, the limitations some children are born with can be reduced or even overcome. It was their dream to develop an educational program for the mentally, physically and emotionally challenged child with emphasis on loving God and each other and also growing towards full participation in society. From the earliest inception of the school, no one was refused admission because of race, creed or inability to pay fees or tuition.

Sister Elizabeth Marie Stoup
In 1964 Sister Elizabeth arrived at the small school in Orlando. Sister Elizabeth Marie never had a doubt that mentally challenged children could learn in an academic setting and become productive members of society. For over four decades, Sister Elizabeth Marie steadfastly shaped the lives of more than 1,500 students as principal of Morning Star School.

In recent years she planted the seeds for Bishop Grady Villas in St. Cloud, an assisted-living campus that provides recreation, education and job placement to mentally challenged adults. Sister Elizabeth Marie, now assistant general superior of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, retired as principal of Orlando's Morning Star School in 2002, but she still works as a teacher and administrative assistant at the school.

Miss Kathy Harding
In 1974 Miss Kathy Harding came to Morning Star and began her teaching career. With the exception of 2 years due to parent obligations and having to live in Tallahassee (for 4 years to earn her Ph.D.), she has spent her career teaching at Morning Star School. Miss Kathy primarily taught reading, phonics and language arts.

In 2002, Miss Kathy became principal of Morning Star School, a position she still holds. She has earned an M.Ed. in Special Education and later earned an M.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Family and Consumer Science Education from Florida State University. The school, adminstered by the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, continues to provide academic and spiritual education for mentally challenged individuals from 3 to 21 years old.

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Contact Us :: Sitemap :: Morning Star Auxiliary

Morning Star School: 954 Leigh Avenue, Orlando, FL 32804
Phone: 407.295.3077 Fax: 407.522.1700
Email the Principal: Miss Kathy Harding
For website inquiries, contact Michele Pliner