History

Marilyn Gatlin and Betty Anderson were graduate students in the first Gifted Education Masters Degree program at the University of South Florida. They studied under Dr. Dorothy Sisk, a pioneer and leader in Gifted Education, who hoped her students would go into public education to help develop what has become the traditional gifted “pull-out” program. These two wise women had a different idea. They believed that gifted education should be for all learners, and Independent Day School (IDS) was founded in 1968 on that premise.

The school began with a child-centered focus. With the help of Dr. Sisk, the founders were committed to the ideal that happy children who are respected as unique persons and who are allowed to fulfill their needs to investigate and be themselves will show an excitement about school and an eagerness to learn.

In the two years after IDS opened, the number of grade levels doubled and the student body tripled, causing the school to grow out of its temporary Temple Terrace church facilities. The founders moved the school to its present-day campus where it has always been a place designed with and for children.

“It is our belief that school should be interesting and even exciting.”Marilyn Gatlin and Betty Anderson, IDS Founders

When IDS moved to the first eight acres of the campus in 1970, the school continued to grow. During the 1972-73 school year, faculty, students, and parents built the Dome to provide a special place for middle school students, who then became known as “Domies.” The geodesic dome designed by Buckminster Fuller housed four open classrooms, where students and teachers learned together.

“We held our classes in five rustic, rounded wooden buildings, which arrived on the property just before the school year began," Marilyn Gatlin wrote in the 1976 school yearbook. "For the first month, students and teachers shared the adventure of using portable bathrooms, drinking bottled water, and holding many classes outside in the grass by the lake.”

By 1978, IDS had earned accreditation from the Florida Council of Independent Schools. The school also gained a reputation among parents for high academic standards. Children loved it because teachers made learning fun.

Under the leadership of Dr. Bernie Haake, the school’s exciting, inquiry-based curriculum continued to attract new students and by the 1980s, planning began for new construction to permit further growth. The goal was to expand to two classes per grade level, kindergarten through eighth grade, and to showcase the unique character of IDS.

The children contributed ideas and helped choose colors for the new design, which reflects the school’s hands-on philosophy. Architect Gerry Curts placed windows with a child’s eye view, and at the request of children and teachers, designed individual buildings for each grade level, maintaining the pride of ownership and sense of belonging that had given the original classrooms their special appeal.

After six months of planning, construction began in 1986. Wearing hard hats and carrying shovels, children and teachers broke ground together. It was an exciting time, as the children watched and learned from every phase of the building process. Full of interesting shapes, captivating colors and inspiring views, the new buildings captured the IDS spirit of creativity and community.

In 1996, Dr. Joyce Burick Swarzman became the new head of school, ushering in an era of dynamic possibilities. A strong leader, energetic teacher and experienced trainer, Dr. Swarzman was director of the University of South Florida’s Suncoast Area Teacher Training (SCATT) program and former Associate Director of Clinical Education before coming to IDS.

With a solid background in research-based teaching techniques and endless enthusiasm for education, Dr. Swarzman combined tradition with innovation to build upon Independent Day School’s strong foundation. Under her leadership, IDS became known as a private school with a public purpose, generously opening its doors to share best practices and exemplary education with thousands of educators during the next decade.

IDS saw changes in educational practices and appearance as well during the 1990s. Curriculum was keyed to national and state standards, classrooms were equipped with state-of-the-art technology, and the staff grew from a few to many – but always the fundamental principles of child-centered, hands-on, active learning have prevailed.

In 1997, Corbett Hall, a multi-purpose room and full-scale gymnasium, was built to accommodate basketball and volleyball games, special events, fine arts events, and school assemblies.

The campus expanded to the west side of Orange Grove Drive, where the Middle School facility opened in January 2001, making the campus 15 acres. With state-of-the-art 21st Century classrooms and equipment, this expansion allowed for three classes per grade level, and in 2005, PreK3 was added.

In 2002, the school was renamed Independent Day School-Corbett Campus (IDS-CC) to proudly honor community leader Cornelia Corbett. Mrs. Corbett first arrived as a parent, then a volunteer, and soon became a dedicated Board Member. She held the position of President of the Board of Trustees for 10 years, charting a path of strength, growth, and excellence. She modeled exemplary leadership in her commitment to make a huge difference in the lives of children.

The school went a step further in 2012 when the Board of Trustees announced that Independent Day School would be renamed Corbett Preparatory School of IDS. School leaders wanted to honor the civic mindedness, vision and generosity of Cornelia and Dick Corbett and their family.

“Forty-four years since our founding, the decision to rename our school Corbett Preparatory School of IDS represents our profound appreciation for Cornelia and Dick Corbett and their family’s ardent support for IDS over the past 32 years,” Head of School Dr. Joyce Burick Swarzman said at the time.

The school remains devoted to Gatlin and Anderson’s original 1968 philosophy of education; the words are almost identical. Their lofty goals are age-proof. The marked difference is that with modern technology, extensive information about how the brain learns, and a wealth of proven research-based best practices, Corbett Prep teachers learn to accelerate the learning process while creating an environment that is both joyful and rigorous with extraordinary results. This is far beyond what the founders could have envisioned, even a decade ago.

What remains essential is the growth of future healthy citizens who value life-long learning, create relationships based on dignity and respect, develop compassion and understanding for themselves and others, and who trust that a positive can-do attitude will produce powerful results. This extraordinary legacy built by our founders began in 1968 and continues today.

Corbett Prep was excited to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special event on Aug. 18, 2018. In April 2020, the Board of Trustees named Nicholas Rodriguez as Corbett Prep's new Head of School. His appointment was effective in July 2020. Dr. Joyce Burick Swarzman, head since 1996, took on a new position as President of Initiatives and Training. In January 2023, Dr. Swarzman passed away following a long illness.