For more than 20 years, Adventureland Kids has served families in Ascension Parish with a proven approach to early childhood education. Now, founder Jasmine Williams is expanding that vision through Magnolia Roots Academy, a reimagined model designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s children.
After more than a decade in the industry, Williams began noticing a shift around 2018: more young children entering preschool already diagnosed with developmental differences and in need of additional support. Rather than maintaining the status quo, she saw an opportunity to grow alongside those families. Magnolia Roots Academy was born as a thoughtful rebrand, one that blends education and therapy into a seamless, child-centered experience.
At the heart of Magnolia Roots is a “whole child” philosophy. While traditional models often separate therapy and classroom learning, Magnolia Roots brings them together. By collaborating with providers offering ABA, speech, occupational, and feeding therapies, children receive comprehensive support, all while learning alongside their neurotypical peers. The result is a more natural, inclusive environment that better prepares children for real-world classroom success.
The program emphasizes sensory-aware classrooms, predictable routines, visual supports, and gentle transitions—key elements that help children feel safe, understood, and ready to learn. Using curricula like Experience Curriculum and Heggerty, Magnolia Roots balances academic rigor with hands-on, curiosity-driven exploration.
For Williams, inclusion isn’t a program, it’s a culture. Each child’s plan is individualized, built around their strengths, needs, and developmental goals. One previous student, Eli, entered the program struggling with transitions and group activities. Through intentional support, he gained confidence, built peer relationships, and discovered a love of reading, eventually thriving in a traditional school setting.
Magnolia Roots is designed to remove barriers for families and place children at the center of care. By uniting education, therapy, and community, it creates a village of support, empowering every child to grow, belong, and bloom.