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.
Ms. margarita Escobar
I bring more than 12 years of experience in education, with a background spanning classroom teaching, curriculum development, instructional coaching, and academic leadership. I joined The Walden School in 2024 and currently serve as Academic Director, supporting the academic program across grade levels while working closely with teachers, students, and families.
I am passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and connection. Much of my work focuses on developing interdisciplinary curriculum, supporting teachers in bringing ideas to life in the classroom, and ensuring that our academic program continues to grow while remaining true to Walden’s progressive philosophy.
What I value most about my role is the opportunity to look at education as a whole, from the experiences students have each day to the ways we support teachers and build relationships with families. I believe learning should feel purposeful, connected, and responsive to the children in front of us, and I am proud to help shape an environment where both students and educators can continue to grow.
Academic Director
Ms. Holly Glakin
After serving as a kindergarten teacher at The Walden School last year, I am excited to step into my new role as Administrative Assistant. I bring years of experience in administrative support, along with the unique perspective of having been part of the Walden community as an educator.
I am inspired by Walden’s values of collaboration, connection, empowerment, adaptive resilience, empathy, and balance. In my role, I strive to bring those values into each day by building meaningful relationships, supporting our students, families, and staff, and helping create a positive and welcoming school community where every child can thrive.
Administrative assistant
ms. Ashley Crawford
I bring 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 expand my knowledge and grow as an educator.
Throughout my career, I have been passionate about creating learning environments where children feel supported, confident, and excited to explore the world around them. I believe in nurturing the whole child and creating meaningful learning experiences that encourage curiosity, independence, creativity, and connection.
I am excited to be part of The Walden School community and to teach in an environment that values each child as an individual. I look forward to supporting my students as they grow academically, socially, and emotionally while helping them recognize and celebrate all that they are capable of.
Lower Primary Teacher
Ms. carly Schmidt
I am entering my second year teaching at The Walden School, where I work with our 2nd and 3rd grade students. I graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Integrated General Studies and a minor in Early Childhood Development.
I believe that every child learns in their own unique way, and I strive to create a classroom where students feel supported, encouraged, and excited to learn. I enjoy bringing learning to life through hands-on experiences that allow students to explore, create, ask questions, and make meaningful connections.
One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching students grow in confidence and discover what they are capable of. Whether they are mastering a new skill, expressing themselves creatively, or approaching a challenge in a new way, I love being part of those moments and helping each child grow both academically and personally.
Lower Primary Teacher
Ms. Emily Pounds
Upper Primary Teacher
I am a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a degree in Social Sciences and minors in Psychology, Sociology, and Intercultural Communication. My background has shaped my belief that learning is most effective when it is meaningful, accessible, and connected to the individual student.
I strive to create a classroom where students feel safe to ask questions, share ideas, think critically, and learn from one another. I believe students should have an active voice in their learning and be encouraged to explore ideas in ways that build curiosity, confidence, independence, and a genuine love of learning.
Creativity is also an important part of who I am as an educator. I have been involved in community theatre since I was eight years old and currently direct a middle school theatre troupe and choreograph for a local dance program. I also enjoy dance, scrapbooking, and thrifting. I love bringing that creative perspective into the classroom and finding opportunities for students to express themselves while making meaningful connections to what they are learning.
Ms. 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
I bring nearly two decades of experience in education, beginning my teaching career in New York City. I am a graduate of the College of New Rochelle, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I am also continuing my own education through graduate studies in Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Quantum Physics.
As a lifelong learner, I enjoy reading, problem-solving, and taking on new challenges. I bring that same mindset into the classroom through student-centered, concept-based learning that encourages curiosity, inquiry, and critical thinking. I believe every student has a unique way of thinking and deserves an academically safe environment where they feel comfortable exploring ideas, asking questions, taking risks, and feeling valued.
Outside of education, I am a basketball enthusiast and played collegiate basketball during my undergraduate years. I value the perseverance, collaboration, and growth that come from both academics and athletics, and I strive to bring those qualities into my work with students each day.