Bevin O’Brien

Assistant Director + Teacher

I remember being six years old and my father driving me to SunFlower School in his big green truck. I loved coming to school. I would arrive to a slew of friends and friendly teachers. I remember feeling at home at this school. I was a shy child, and this school let me feel comfortable and safe. This school helped me grow a strong self confidence.  I am still very close friends with many kids whom I met at this school. We were able to build strong foundational relationships. These friendships have been the backbone to my youth and adulthood. I am so happy to be back at this loving home of a school, SunFlower Private School. 

Education is my passion. I deeply believe that children have an innate sense of wonder and it is our job to help them learn how to keep that wonder.  All too often the love of learning is squashed at a young age. We can help children learn in an enjoyable way if we see the whole child; if we let the child grow with safe boundaries and in a learning rich environment. I believe in nature based, inquisitive, project based learning. 

I grew up in St. Pete. I attended SunFlower for elementary school, Wellington for middle school and then St. Pete High for high school. I received my associates degree at SPC. Later I went on to earn my bachelor's degree in education at USFSP. I graduated cum laude, with ESOL, ESE and reading endorsements. My first teaching job was at a preschool when I was 18. I have been a nanny for multiple families. I took a job at my daughter’s preschool while I was going to USFSP. When I was in the education program I had the opportunity to intern at many different schools in the county. I interned in the kindergarten room at Perkins, a 5th grade room at Gulfport Elementary,  contained ESE rooms at Osceola Middle and Bardmoor Elementary. I loved being in many of these environments and learned so much from multiple teachers throughout the county. I considered taking a teaching position in a public school. Ultimately I decided to come back to my roots. I have been teaching at SunFlower since 2018. 

At SunFlower I can be creative. I can give each child individual attention, while the students and the teachers can work together to create an emotionally healthy and academically rich learning environment. We allow ourselves and children the freedom to be individuals. We provide a rich academic environment that isn’t pulled out of a textbook. Children get to experience nature and connect with the community. 

I have always known that I enjoy working with children, and that I have an intuitive way with them. I feel so lucky to be a teacher and a leader in the best school.

This is my life passion.