New Boca School Tackles Teen Mental Health & Personalized Learning

BOCA RATON, FL – March 26, 2026 – As South Florida grapples with a growing need for educational alternatives, a new private school is opening its doors at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus with a dual mission: to provide highly personalized instruction and to directly address the escalating mental health crisis among adolescents.

Palm Beach International Academy, a Stanza Education School (PBIA SES), is celebrating its grand opening with an event that underscores its commitment to student well-being. The launch will feature a keynote address by local clinical psychologist and teen mental health advocate, Dr. Leah Katz, signaling a deliberate shift from traditional academic-only models to a more holistic approach to education.

A Response to a Growing Crisis

The school’s opening comes at a critical juncture for youth in the state. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), nearly 40% of Florida high school students have reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. While Florida has since controversially withdrawn from the national YRBS in favor of its own survey—a move critics say hinders long-term mental health tracking—the statistics highlight a profound need for supportive environments. Reports indicate that the share of Florida children with anxiety or depression has climbed significantly in recent years, with suicide now the second leading cause of death for teens aged 10-19 in the state.

PBIA aims to be part of the solution. “Families are increasingly recognizing that traditional school models don’t work for every student,” said Lori Kubach, Head of School at Palm Beach International Academy. “Palm Beach International Academy was created to meet students where they are academically, socially, and emotionally while providing the personalized guidance and flexibility they need to succeed.”

The inclusion of Dr. Katz at the school's launch event further cements this focus. A Boca Raton-based psychologist specializing in anxiety, trauma, and burnout in teens, Dr. Katz is slated to introduce her “4 C’s Framework,” a practical approach designed to help parents and educators foster resilience and emotional well-being in young people. Her presence brings a layer of clinical expertise to the school's foundational philosophy, which is built to support not just academic achievers but also students navigating anxiety and burnout.

The Rise of the Educational Niche

Beyond mental health, PBIA represents a growing trend in education: the move toward niche, specialized learning environments. The school’s model is a direct departure from the one-size-fits-all structure of many larger institutions. Positioned as a non-profit, hybrid college-preparatory school for grades 6-12, it operates on a “microschool” philosophy, emphasizing small learning communities to ensure individualized attention.

While the Boca Raton area is home to several prestigious private schools, such as Saint Andrew's School and Pine Crest, PBIA differentiates itself by explicitly targeting students for whom the traditional school day is a poor fit. This includes elite student-athletes, performers with demanding rehearsal schedules, and students who thrive with individualized pacing and one-on-one mentorship. The school offers flexible scheduling that integrates online coursework with in-person support from a dedicated team of academic coaches, teachers, and tutors. This hybrid model allows students to complete their work on campus, at home, or while traveling for competitions and performances.

This structure is managed through the school's parent organization, Stanza Education Corporation, a national network that specializes in creating flexible, student-centered microschools. Stanza Education's network includes other institutions like Holston Academy, a fully online school whose NCAA-approved courses are also available to PBIA students, ensuring that athletes maintain their eligibility for collegiate programs.

An Innovative Model for an Innovation Campus

The choice of the Boca Raton Innovation Campus for PBIA’s new location is symbolic, placing a forward-thinking educational model within a hub known for technological and corporate advancement. The school’s programs are designed to reflect this innovative spirit. Its offerings include a "1 on 1 Program" for completely customized instruction and a "Portfolio Program" that helps students develop a body of work for college applications and personal development.

The school is accredited by Cognia, a global non-profit that holds schools to rigorous standards for leadership, learning culture, and student engagement. This accreditation ensures that PBIA’s personalized approach is built upon a recognized foundation of academic quality, preparing students for higher education and beyond.

The grand opening event offers the community a first look at this new educational resource. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the new campus, meet with Kubach and her academic team, and hear Dr. Katz’s presentation on fostering adolescent well-being. The gathering aims to connect families, educators, and youth-support professionals, creating a dialogue around the future of education in Palm Beach County.