We had the pleasure of catching up with Innovation Montessori High School recent alum, Dylan Lauknauth from the graduating class of 2025. After graduation, Dylan began his pre-med journey at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

 

What comes to mind when you think of your high school experience at Innovation Montessori?

 

Entertaining, Supportive, Creative, Community, Close-Knit, and Nurturing.

 

How did your high school classes prepare you for the academic expectations of college?

 

From the student-led structure of the school, to the Montessori-tailored curriculum, to the way teachers approached their classes—every part of it helped me jump straight into 17‑credit semesters and handle them with ease.

 

Were there specific courses, projects, or teachers that made the transition to college coursework easier?

 

I will always say that Mrs. Krause’s classes prepared me the best. From the way she pushes each student to their fullest potential, to the long hours of feedback and extra help she gives, she’s undoubtedly the reason I can write papers without stressing over whether they’re good enough.

 

She also recognized that my academic style was doing the bare minimum to get an A, and she told me she wasn’t going to let me do that for the next four years. Each year I had her, she pushed me harder than the last, constantly helping me grow. All the success I have today in time management and academic skills is thanks to her.

 

As for Incubator Program, it became extremely useful during my senior year. Not only did they give us time to work on college applications, but they also assigned a project at the start of second semester, gave us a hard deadline, and let us figure out how to accomplish it. No hand-holding—just a real-world scenario. That semester taught me valuable lessons in self‑management, the most important skill in university. Unlike high school, there’s no real connection to professors, especially in a class of 800 students. You don’t get friendly reminders, extra help, or much assistance at all.

 

One last thing about Incubator is that while they were preparing us for the next steps, they still made it fun. We got to choose our project topic, and I chose my biggest passion: The Physics of Motorsports. I spent every class researching the physics behind how a car behaves on a track, learning the formulas engineers use to calculate every bit of data produced. I loved it—from learning the principles, to doing the math, to putting everything into a PowerPoint and sharing it with others.

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Not only was it fun, but it also coincidentally aligned with a club I planned to join at UF: Gator Motorsports, the official Formula SAE team. Each year, the team builds a car and competes in durability and performance tests against other universities. All the research I did helped me pass their entrance exam, and now I’m part of the team!

 

In what ways did high school prepare you to advocate for yourself with professors or seek help when needed?

 

Innovation Montessori High School did a great job teaching me how to use all the resources available to me, especially because of how it required us to lead ourselves. Being a student‑led school meant our voices actually counted, and we were allowed to have conversations with teachers on equal terms. Building these habits over four years helped immensely during my transition to university. I’m not afraid to ask questions, attend office hours, or get a tutor if I need one. These resources exist for a reason—so why not use them?

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How did your high school help you grow as a person—not just as a student?

 

This school is what made me a well‑rounded person. It showed me that there’s more to being a student than academics, something I couldn’t fathom before 9th grade. The school allowed me to explore different experiences while still being in an academic environment, and it’s the reason I have so many passions today.

 

IMHS sparked my love for soccer and goalkeeping in 10th grade, and I still keep up with it. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone socially, helping me break out of my shell and feel more comfortable interacting with strangers. Having such a close community meant everyone could get to know each other easily, which shaped my expectations for social interactions long after high school.

 

What challenges did you face in high school, and how did overcoming them prepare you for college life?

 

As I mentioned earlier, I used to only do the bare minimum to get an A because I didn’t see the point in working harder if I already got the grade I wanted. But because of Mrs. Krause, I learned the value of putting out the best work you can—and how good it feels to take pride in something because it’s the best you’re capable of producing.

 

Gaining this perspective changed the way I approach university coursework. I no longer procrastinate or complete assignments just for the points. Even if something feels like busywork, I try to learn something from it. I go beyond the required coursework simply because I want a deeper understanding. All of this has helped me feel more confident in my classes and maintain strong grades.

 

How would you describe the culture and community at your high school?

 

I would describe the IMHS community as close‑knit and supportive. The teachers and admin always do their best to make every student feel seen, heard, and understood—even outside of academics. I felt like I could talk to my teachers about any problems in my life and get helpful advice.

 

Dr. P always listens to students and does everything he can to tailor the campus to their needs. Mrs. Cyndi listens to every senior’s worries (including every panicked email I sent about college applications) and goes above and beyond. And Mrs. Krause is always helping students be the best they can be, while also finding opportunities for us to learn outside the classroom and become culturally diverse.

 

I’ve always felt at home at IMHS, and that’s thanks to the community the staff worked so 

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If someone is considering attending this high school, what would you want them to know?

 

I would tell them that this school is a place where the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. If you want to just show up, do some assignments, and pass your classes, that’s fine. But if you want to thrive, this school will give you the time and opportunity to do it—and you will flourish