We all begin somewhere.
Lynnhaven School is Richmond's only progressive education, co-educational independent high school, founded in 2010 by education leader Dr. Johnathan Harris. Dr. Harris grew up in rural southwest Virginia, and as the youngest of five children, he often felt like school was in the way. What he wanted to be doing was playing outside on his farm, playing baseball, or working at the "animal hospital" where his late mother had worked. His sister, Jennifer, felt the same way.
Jennifer loved animals and grew a passion for helping people, which led to a nursing career. She felt that learning was fun, but that school itself just wasn't built for her. Dr. Harris and Jennifer would talk about what the "perfect" school would look like. Small, fun, hands-on, free of bullying, problem-solving at the core of learning, and teachers who could connect with and care for their students. It needed to be a safe place.
Dr. Harris always kept those conversations tucked away in his memory. While he was in college, preparing to be a teacher, Jennifer passed away after years of health complications. After teaching and working in administration for a little over a decade, Dr. Harris knew one thing - the system wasn't working. And the dream that started between him and his sister surfaced again. Dr. Harris knew the only way to actualize what he and Jennifer envisioned was if he created it. Dr. Harris wanted to build a HAVEN "that accepted students for who and where they are, cared for them as individuals, worked with their hopes, embraced their dreams, and stayed with them along their journey." Lynnhaven was born. "Lynn" in memory of his sister, Jennifer Lynn Harris, and "Haven" represent the safe place of refuge they always wished school could be.
On the commuter train to Alexandria, each day and night, Dr. Harris wrote out his plan for what would become Richmond's first micro-school. A school rooted in progressive education and founded on the belief that all individuals can effectively engage in a community as their true selves.
Jennifer loved animals and grew a passion for helping people, which led to a nursing career. She felt that learning was fun, but that school itself just wasn't built for her. Dr. Harris and Jennifer would talk about what the "perfect" school would look like. Small, fun, hands-on, free of bullying, problem-solving at the core of learning, and teachers who could connect with and care for their students. It needed to be a safe place.
Dr. Harris always kept those conversations tucked away in his memory. While he was in college, preparing to be a teacher, Jennifer passed away after years of health complications. After teaching and working in administration for a little over a decade, Dr. Harris knew one thing - the system wasn't working. And the dream that started between him and his sister surfaced again. Dr. Harris knew the only way to actualize what he and Jennifer envisioned was if he created it. Dr. Harris wanted to build a HAVEN "that accepted students for who and where they are, cared for them as individuals, worked with their hopes, embraced their dreams, and stayed with them along their journey." Lynnhaven was born. "Lynn" in memory of his sister, Jennifer Lynn Harris, and "Haven" represent the safe place of refuge they always wished school could be.
On the commuter train to Alexandria, each day and night, Dr. Harris wrote out his plan for what would become Richmond's first micro-school. A school rooted in progressive education and founded on the belief that all individuals can effectively engage in a community as their true selves.
Our Fearless Founder
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Dr. Johnathan Harris was Head of School of Lynnhaven School from 2012-2023 and is an influential and dynamic education professional dedicated to crafting high-quality educational experiences for all learners, from gifted students to those with specialized needs. He currently serves as an education consultant for Heron Education, which is a boutique education firm he founded in 2022. In 2012, out of a necessity to fill a gap in the educational landscape, Dr. Harris founded Lynnhaven School, a private micro high school designed to provide an unparalleled education for gifted students, those identified as twice exceptional, and those seeking a small and inclusive learning environment, including students with ADHD and other learning differences. Dr. Harris has an earned Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership & Organizational Innovation from Marymount University. He also has a Master of Education in Special Education and currently is a licensed special educator for the Commonwealth of Virginia. For over two decades, Dr. Harris has navigated the complex facets of special education, particularly focusing on students with ADHD and dyslexia. His experience spans, demonstrating an unyielding commitment to inclusivity and individualized learning strategies. As an Adjunct Faculty and Lead Doctoral Faculty Mentor at Marymount University, he continues to influence the next generation of educators, carrying forward his passion for inclusive education. His dedication and impactful contributions have earned him recognition from high-profile state officials and made a lasting impression on the broader field of education. Dr. Harris’s work is a testament to his belief in the potential of every student as well as adult, a vision he brought to life throughout his career.
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Throughout their high school journey, students, like seashells, may have felt broken or lost. But Lynnhaven School is a sanctuary, a place where they can grow, heal, and become whole again.
- Dr. Johnathan Harris
