Our journey began in January 2017, when our school’s founder, Dr. Mercy Nyman, decided to act on the growing need for education that unlocks success for students of all abilities. The following seven months tested the patience, resilience, and faith of the initial volunteer team that formed The Key to Learning. In February 2017, Dr. Nyman took residence at Hope Academy, thanks to the generosity and grace of Pastor Tony McCoy, with an initial three volunteers and twenty-two students under the vision to create a place for students to feel secure, cared-for, and celebrated as they are. During the following four months, The Key to Learning team sought funding, staff, location, and formalization as a school with the Department of Education and the State of Florida.  

The Key to Learning received its formalization with the Department of Education in April 2017, its articles of incorporation and approval as a non-profit organization (only one week after applying) in May 2017. In June 2017, Dr. Nyman petitioned before the City Council of Minneola to approve a location for the school to exist for one year. Initially, the Council members denied the petition. Not five minutes later, and after the powerful testimony of a former Minneola Mayor, the Council approved the petition.  

Once the team received this approval, the roughly fifteen Key to Learning volunteers bought and assembled furniture, hand-painted walls, and transformed the location of what was formerly a tile shop into a welcoming and exciting learning environment. The team became masters of creativity- tackling challenges like safety, curriculum design, and providing all the needs for these students in the month and a half remaining before the school opened its doors. The Key to Learning opened the doors to its first location in August 2017 with 92 students and 11 staff members. In January 2018, the Key secured and transferred to its current, permanent location—a 13,000 sq ft facility that was formerly a fire school. But even getting approval from the City of Groveland was a tough process as our team sat through many City Council meetings over numerous months.  Even with city council members in doubt and most likely not approving of us to move forward, a kind gentleman came forward, whom none of us knew, and spoke up for us and our vision and mission for the school.  It was a blessing, and the council finally approved us. 

In March 2018, the Key sought and received accreditation through the Florida League of Christian Schools. The following school year, beginning in August 2018, the Key had 125 students and established its first clinical setting for what was called the “Fab Five”- a group of students who required an individualized learning program. The 2018-19 school year saw its first graduating senior class. In the 2019-20 school year, the Key had 146 students. The school year finished with its second graduating classes and saw classes transform to all virtual for the final three months of the school year as the world navigated an unprecedented pandemic in the digital era. The 2023-24 school year had 165 students and saw another graduating senior class. The school year had three intensive cohorts, two clinical setting groups, and one class that we call “Crew 4:7” which focuses on attaining life skills. In 2024-25, we added another cohort to accommodate students with mobility and intellectual disabilities. We currently serve 180 students. In 2025-26, the school purchased the property that we had been renting for 8 years securing our future at our current location. 

Each year, we continue to grow. The journey of the Key to Learning is, above all, a testament to the faithfulness of God and His will being done through willing servants. The staff at the Key has always done and will continue to do heroic work and be champions for every student.