About

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About

The mission of The Island Academy of Hilton Head is to provide preschool through 12th grade students with a collaborative, challenging, and creative learning environment empowering them to be contributing citizens.

We seek to ensure that all students participate in their own education. We provide a unique learning opportunity by partnering with our community, focusing on mastery over grades, and teaching children how to become curious lifelong thinkers and doers who explore and create in and beyond the classroom.

At The Island Academy, students:

are known and respected as unique individuals.
engage in small-group, collaborative learning supported by master teachers.
experience tailored instruction and care thanks to our intentionally small class sizes.
learn through a rigorous, integrated, project-driven curriculum, designed to support creativity, innovation, mastery, and life-long love of learning.
participate in purposeful field trips and community partnerships where students actively explore, engage with, and learn from the world around them.

Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8:45 am until 3:30 pm and Friday 8:45am until 1:30pm.

Integrated Support for Every Child

At The Island Academy, we believe that every student learns best when they are supported as a whole person. That’s why we intentionally create time and space within the school day for students to work with tutors, therapists, and other support professionals—right here on campus.

Whether a student benefits from occupational therapy, speech services, academic tutoring, or emotional support, we welcome outside specialists to partner with us during the school day. This collaborative approach minimizes disruption to learning, ensures consistency, and makes support feel like a natural part of the school experience—not something extra or separate.

By opening our doors to the experts who know your child best, we’re able to create a personalized and empowering environment where every student can thrive.

Calendar

School Calendar for 2025-2026

We are excited about this extraordinary year so far and to come! Stay updated with events this school year. If you cannot find for what you are looking, contact us! We love hearing from you.

Our Team

Mary Ann Cyr, Head of School, Middle and High School Teacher

Mary Ann is one of the founders of The Island Academy. She has her B.A. in Economics and Russian History from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.A. in Education and History from Tufts University, and a C.A.G.S. in Computers in Education from Bridgewater State College. In addition, she held Principal’s and Superintendent’s licenses from Massachusetts.

Mary Ann has taught at all levels including college, worked as a computer software trainer, and owned a private school for ten years in the Boston area.

In addition, she authored a monthly column called Women’s Work in the Business Journal of Southeastern Massachusetts, hosted a weekly television program by the same name, invented and developed the board game, olelo, and has served on numerous philanthropic boards.

She and her husband, Gerry, are parents to three sons, Adam, Nathaniel, and Gabe, and grandparents to Jack and Benjamin.

Tiffany Fish, Director of Operations and Programs/Summer Camp Director

Tiffany Fish joined our team May of 2021 and serves as our Summer Camp Director and Director of Operations and Programs. Tiffany attended Indiana Wesleyan University and graduated with a B.S. in International and Community Development.

Prior to her position at The Island Academy of Hilton Head, Tiffany served as the Summer Camp Manager and Career Pathways Coordinator at Open Doors Academy in Cleveland, OH where she taught social emotional learning strategies, community service, core competencies to adulthood, and college and career readiness to students in kindergarten through seniors in high school. Additionally, in that role, she was able to work with and collaborate with multiple youth development and workforce development partners in Cleveland. Tiffany's heart is for nonprofit leadership, education, and youth development.

Outside of work Tiffany enjoys photography, going to sporting events, playing volleyball, and spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their son, Lincoln.

Deiha Torin, Early Childhood Director/Lead Teacher

Deiha Torin moved to Hilton Head Island with her family in 1996 from Pennsylvania. Deiha has her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and holds a South Carolina teaching certificate. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience with children ages 3-5, Deiha most recently served as the Director and lead teacher at Island Lutheran PreSchool for twenty years.

Deiha’s passion for the wonder and magic of early childhood honors the child’s right to play, to be collaborators in learning, and to dream. She honors the journey for children as investigators, life changers, and advocators. She nurtures children to build their own ideas, an art that requires incredible intentionality and heart.

In her spare time, Deiha has led several Girl Scout troops on HHI ranging in age from 5-18 years old. She enjoys cooking, working in her yard, traveling with friends and family.

Kendall LaMantia, Assistant Teacher and Art Teacher

Kendall LaMantia graduated from High Point University in May 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Prior to joining The Island Academy she was a floating teacher at First Presbyterian Day School and she worked as a Paintbox Activities Attendant at Montage Palmetto Bluff! Kendall is passionate about working with children and helping them achieve their goals.

In her free time, she loves crafting! Kendall believes creativity and imagination have no limits. When she’s not crafting you can find her behind a camera lens, as she is the owner of Kendall LaMantia Photography. She also loves coffee, the color pink, babysitting and spending time with family and friends.