RELATIONSHIPS ARE OUR FOUNDATION AND OUR SUCCESS.
Creating a community where collaboration and success are possible starts with our amazing team.
Dr. Carol Mikulka
Founder
Dr. Carol Mikulka is the founder of Walden Community School. Born in New Jersey, she spent her childhood in Argentina and Venezuela and graduated from high school in Puerto Rico. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Florida and trained in psychiatry at Columbia Presbyterian College of Physicians and Surgeons and St. Luke’s–Roosevelt Hospital in New York, including a fellowship in Public and Administrative Psychiatry.
As a board-certified psychiatrist, Dr. Mikulka has extensive experience working with adolescents, including leading an inpatient adolescent program for teens with significant social-emotional needs. Her work led her to study self-esteem, how it is protected or damaged, and how competition can diminish a child’s natural desire to learn.
Everything shifted when she became a parent. She felt a responsibility as both a parent and an educator to protect each child’s sense of self. She questioned narrow definitions of success and believed it should also include social growth, emotional strength, creativity, curiosity, and self-awareness. When she saw her own children beginning to lose their sense of wonder and curiosity in competitive school environments, including her daughter describing being told to “read for stickers,” she knew there had to be a better way.
This understanding led her to envision an environment built on cooperation, connection, and a deep love of learning. In 2002, she founded Walden Community School with this vision at its core. She sought to create a school grounded in collaboration and a cooperative spirit, one that avoids unnecessary competition. Her goal was to build an environment where children learn through inquiry, creativity, discussion, and real experiences, a place where their intrinsic motivation is protected and where learning feels joyful, meaningful, and connected.
Dr. Mikulka’s vision continues to guide Walden today as a community where every child is seen, valued, and encouraged to love learning.
Margarita Escobar
Margarita Escobar brings 12 years of experience in education, with a specialized focus on Project-Based Learning (PBL).
Margarita’s work centers on fostering academic excellence through creative problem-solving. She is passionate about using PBL to inspire students to engage deeply with real-world challenges and become active, thoughtful citizens.
In 2024 she joined Walden Community School, where she is excited to align her expertise with the school's mission and vision.
Academic Director
Ms. Holly Glakin
Holly Glackin brings five years of teaching experience working with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. She has served as a virtual tutor specializing in the Science of Reading and has experience teaching children with unique abilities.
In 2025, Holly joined Walden Community School as the kindergarten teacher, where she loves being part of a child’s first school experience.
She is inspired by Walden’s values of collaboration, connection, empowerment, adaptive resilience, empathy, and balance, which she strives to reflect in her classroom each day.
Admin
ms. Ashley Crawford
I have 11 years of experience in early childhood education and hold a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. I am currently pursuing my Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, continuing to grow my knowledge and skills as an educator.
I was born and raised in Kentucky and spent five years living and teaching in Virginia before recently moving to Florida with my fiancé. We are excited to call Florida home and are enjoying exploring all that the area has to offer!
Outside of school, I love reading, visiting theme parks, and spending time with my family. Teaching has always been my passion, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Walden Students as they learn, grow, and discover the world around them. I am excited to be part of a school community that shares my values and commitment to supporting the whole child.
I can’t wait to get to know each of my students and their families and to make this a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and meaningful memories. I am looking forward to watching each child grow in confidence and celebrate all the amazing things they can do!
Lower Primary
carly Schmidt
This is Ms. Carly’s first year teaching here at Walden Community School and her very first year teaching overall! She recently graduated from the University of Central Florida with a major in Integrated General Studies and a minor in Early Childhood Development.
Ms. Carly teaches our wonderful 1st and 2nd graders and loves bringing learning to life through hands-on, engaging activities. She believes that every child learns in their own unique way, and her goal is to help each student grow by finding what works best for them.
Her favorite part of teaching is watching her students shine, whether it’s mastering a new skill, expressing themselves through creativity, or simply feeling proud of what they’ve accomplished. She’s so excited to continue growing with her students and making this school year one to remember!
Lower Primary
Ms. Emily Pounds
Upper Primary
I am a strong believer that learning is most effective when it is meaningful for
students, and I am confident that our class will be a safe and enthusiastic environment
that establishes a love for knowledge!
Some of my hobbies include dance, theatre, scrapbooking, and thrifting. I have been an
active member of my local community theatre group since I was eight years old and am
now a director of their middle school troupe. I also choreograph for a dance program
nearby.
I am a recent graduate from UCF, majoring in social sciences. My minors include
psychology, sociology, and intercultural communication. This background has allowed
me to understand the need for integrative and accessible learning. In our classroom,
students are encouraged to learn in their own way and bounce ideas off their peers. Our
classroom is a democracy where students are allowed to discuss concerns, question
authority in a respectful manner, and learn in their own manner and pace.
I appreciate your trust in me with your child’s education and safety and look forward to a
fantastic school year!
Britony Power
I graduated from the University of Central Florida and have been an educator for more than 10 years. Throughout my career, I have worked in multiple areas of education and have had the privilege of teaching students from kindergarten through high school. I believe every child has unique strengths, and I am passionate about supporting the whole child by creating a positive, engaging, and encouraging learning environment where all students feel seen, heard, and supported.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time outdoors and with my family. I have a son who graduated from high school this past May.
As a former collegiate soccer player, I bring teamwork, enthusiasm, and a positive, energetic spirit into my classroom every day. I strive to inspire my students to be confident learners, embrace challenges, and enjoy the learning process.
middle school teacher
Ms. Tiffany Mann
Ms. Mann is a College of New Rochelle Alumni with a bachelors in biology with a minor in chemistry. She started her teaching career in NYC and has been teaching for nearly two decades. She is a basketball enthusiast and played collegiate basketball during undergrad.
Ms. Mann considered herself a life long learner and enjoys reading, problem solving, and taking on new challenges. She is currently working on obtaining her masters in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration of quantum physics.
Ms. Mann uses student centered concept based teaching methods to encourage curiosity and inquiry. She believes that each student has a unique way of thinking and just needs an academically safe environment to explore, learn and feel valued.