Dr. Mercy Nyman –Headmaster & Founder

Mercy Nyman began her education career in 1985. She has held positions both inside the classroom, teaching every age group from infants to adults, for 20 years, and outside the classroom as an education administrator since 2005. She conceptualized and founded The Key to Learning, a student-centric, holistic and non-traditional educational experience for students of all abilities, in 2017.

Nyman received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Saint Thomas University in 1989. She received her first Master of Arts in Early Education in 1991 from Nova Southeastern University, her second and third Masters of Arts in Supervision and Administration and in Curriculum and Instruction in 2007 from the University of Phoenix, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Educational Leadership in 2013. Nyman’s post-doctoral work is focused on behavioral analysis, specifically the nexus of non-heteronormative behavioral qualities and learning.

She is the author of Dynamics in Early Education, How High Can You Fly curriculum guide, Early Literacy One Letter at a Time, and Oral Language Development and High-Stakes Testing.

Nyman lives in Clermont, FL with her loving husband, Keith Winn, their terrier mix, Bailey, and their tabby cat, Jamie. Her daughter, Kristen Nyman, lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and works at a big technology firm.

Cathy Hernandez — Administrator

Keith Winn — IT Director & Interim Assistant Principal – Secondary

Keith Winn did not start out in the computer field.  A long time aviation buff, he attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he obtained a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering 1989.  After using computers to design aircraft components for the US Navy and several aerospace companies, he decided in 1996 to leave the aerospace industry and work with computers full time.  His first computer job was working for a small computer company as a technician running cables and troubleshooting computers and networks.  This soon led to a jobs at Ryder Systems, Willow CSN and RightForce before helping found Wurlwind Solutions. He then left Wurlwind Solutions to begin teaching Math and Science in 2015. In 2017, when The Key started, he was the first Teacher.  As The Key grew, he designed and built the IT infrastructure needed to support the students, Teachers and Staff. He continues to fully support the infrastructure along with every aspect of the school that supports the mission and vision of The Key.

Winn lives in Clermont, FL and is the husband of the Founder & Headmaster, Dr. Mercy Nyman.

Jessica McGill — Assistant Principal – Elementary

Jessica McGill graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies from Principia College. During her time in college, she volunteered at a local elementary school in their third grade. She also spent a semester working in Early Childhood Education and helping teachers develop hands-on lessons for 3 and 4 year olds.

Since starting her career at The Key to Learning with Dr. Nyman, she has been the Lead Teacher of fourth and fifth grade; and has helped the elementary and secondary staff implement creative and collaborative lessons in the classroom with a focus on differentiation. In the last few years Mrs. McGill has joined the Leadership Team in an effort to help the school grow. As Assistant Principal she will now be able to effectively reach wider, giving the staff the tools and ideas to reach every student’s needs.

Before working at The Key to Learning with Dr. Nyman Mrs. McGill was a Coordinator of Operations at Disney’s Animal Kingdom working with guests and training cast members. During her time at Disney, she met her husband and since then they have moved to Groveland, FL where they live with their daughter and dog.