Our mandate is to help kids grow smart, kind, creative and fun -- with a knack for tech and the ability to combine content expertise, empathy and out of the box thinking to develop innovative solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems.
Our Mandate
We embrace different points of view.
We cultivate a desire to learn
throughout our lives.
We are light-hearted, fun-loving and daring. We take delight in playing with everything from Lego’s, action figures and robots to ideas, concepts, models and systems.
We understand that there is more than one way of doing things. We dare to think differently and develop innovations from the cross-pollination of ideas, methods and practices from a variety of disciplines.
We do our best in all our endeavors
We do not give up.
We are good to one another. We believe in the best in everyone. We act with empathy, compassion and respect.
We believe in the unique contributions of each member of our school community. We provide opportunities for each individual to nurture his/her own gifts and use them to positively impact the world around them.
We understand that we belong to a greater community and are responsible for the well-being of others. We care about things bigger than ourselves, such as our community, our nation, and our planet.
We experience the world with wonder, exhilaration and a sense of possibility. We take delight in learning, understanding and contributing to the world around us. Playfulness – We are light-hearted, fun-loving and daring. We take delight in playing with everything from Lego’s, action figures and robots to ideas, concepts, models and systems.
Our Captains
Rosanna has dedicated the past 15 years to working with kids around the globe, developing programs that lie at the intersection of education and technology. She has worked with young people in Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean and the Middle East through organizations such as UN Cyberschoolbus, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Institute of Play and the Harlem School of the Arts.
Rosanna is passionate about developing playful experiences that harness the potential of digital media, technology and critical making in education, community building, youth empowerment and social equity. She has produced educational programs and content ranging from games and documentaries to in-school and online learning experiences for young people in over 150 countries.
In 2013, Rosanna returned to the Philippines and founded SparkleLAB: a research and development space dedicated to transforming education. Working hand in hand with children and families, a passionate team of educators, designers and developers, and inspired by her work at the Institute of Play, Rosanna developed a unique pedagogy that combines play, a story-centered curriculum and interest-driven learning with STEAM education, a learning-by-doing approach and a focus on creativity, innovation and design for social good. Rosanna believes that beyond knowledge and skills, young people must develop dispositions such as imagination, empathy, collaboration and creative problem solving so they are equipped to tackle 21st century problems. Moreover, learning needs to be multidisciplinary, so young people are able to make meaningful connections within and across disciplines.
Through six years of research and development, it became apparent that young people thrive in environments where their passions are affirmed, their interests are pursued and where a love of learning is nurtured by a caring community of peers and mentors. The success of SparkleLAB’s approach and demand from parents and kids alike encouraged Rosanna to reimagine learning where most kids spend their waking hours: school. As such, the Discovery Academy of Innovation was born.
As Chief Product and Innovation Officer, Rosanna spends a lot of time in research and curriculum and product development. She works hand in hand with teachers, designers, developers and makers so learning becomes an extraordinary experience. Most of all, Rosanna draws inspiration and learns most from her students and their families. She firmly believes that young people have the power to design a better future for all.
Rosanna has a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, a Masters in Digital Art from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra and a Masters in International Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a wife, mom to a sweet and mischievous little boy and second mom to her students and team.
Justine is a lifelong learner. While starting her corporate career in telecommunications, she pursued a Master's Degree in literary and cultural studies at the Ateneo de Manila to keep her close to her love of literature. She has completed 16 courses on Coursera.org since 2012 -- you could say she's addicted to learning! Justine has had 13 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and more than 20 years of experience in marketing from the telco, publishing, educational entertainment, and retail industries. Justine's work has always had a special focus on youth and parents.
Justine is the Chief Executive Officer at Discovery Academy of Innovation. She makes sure that the school is a tightly-run ship. Justine works closely with Jane, our Registrar and Finance & HR Manager, making sure that our books are in order and our team is in tip-top shape. She also works with Kate, our Marketing Manager, to ensure that we reach parents who are looking for play-based and STEAM-powered education for their kids and finding like-minded partners.
Justine believes that play and fun are key elements in learning. She's ready to go on an adventure in the field of innovation, tech-driven, and playful education -- getting a new generation of Filipino kids ready for a challenging and exciting future.
Justine has a B.A. in Communication Arts and an M.A. in Literary and Cultural Studies from Ateneo de Manila University. She is a poet, author, wife, mom of two kids, and cheerleader of the DAI family.
Nicole has been involved in education for the last 14 years as both a classroom teacher and a curriculum and teacher training specialist. She has worked with learners of all ages, having done student teaching work at the New York Collaborative School of the Arts and acted as an instructor at the International School of Monterey, the Beacon Academy and the Asian Institute of Management.
Nicole firmly believes that education must provide learners with opportunities to explore, discover and make meaning. Her objective is to equip her learners, both students and teachers, with tools that promote thinking and empower them to engage and find real-life connections to the concepts and ideas discussed.
Nicole is extremely passionate about teacher training and professional development. As Chief Learning Officer, Nicole oversees the work of the teachers at DAI and provides them with support and opportunities for continuing education. She is also responsible for assessments and ensures that students meet (and even surpass) the standards and competencies of their grade level.
Nicole’s dream has always been to be part of a community where students and teachers can come together and learn from one another. She is excited for the opportunity to do that with SparkleLAB and the Discovery Academy of Innovation.
Nicole holds a Master's Degree in the Teaching of English from Teacher’s College, Columbia University, and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management. She’s a wife and a mother to a spirited little girl and a 6-year-old Westie.
Our Crew
Lead Designer + Technologist
Bel joined SparkleLAB as an intern in college and now leads visual and experience design for educational programs and marketing. Bel ensures that SparkleLAB + DAI’s visual language is consistent with its vision and brand identity across all media. A maker at heart, Bel loves to tinker with things like soft circuits and wearable technology and uses them to get girls into making, coding and innovating. Bel designs school experiences that make learning fun, memorable and downright awesome. With 10 years of experience in design and storytelling, Bel has worked on projects that range from Web sites, digital media content development, marketing and digital fabrication. Bel also served as a youth ambassador for the Sustainable Energy Development Program of USAID & USDOE. During her free time, Bel volunteers at non-profit organizations that teach underprivileged kids programming, game development and other skills. Bel firmly believes that empathy is the best approach to design and that a nuanced understanding of real world challenges leads to breakthrough design solutions and innovations.
Lead Animator
Paolo spends his days producing compelling educational content that inspires kids, makes them giggle and helps them learn. With over 17 years of experience in the animation industry, Paolo has worked on over 50 different animated series and feature films including Transformers, The Littlest Pet Shop and George of the Jungle. He also worked as concept artist for the 3D animated and Emmy award nominated series "Superbook." As an educator, Paolo has acted as a college professor and has taught courses in animation, storyboarding and compositing. Paolo has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas.
Multimedia Artist
As a member of the design and development team, Erick produces awe-inspiring visuals that delight, inspire and enhance the learning experience of students at DAI. Erick's role is to let his imagination loose and run after it as best he can -- weaving images and creating experiences that are the stuff of pixels and dreams. Erick holds a bachelor's degree in animation from the College of Saint Benilde and has been doodling since the age of four! Erick eats enough spicy food to keep him warm on a rainy day, and likes listening to (and making) all kinds of music. When he's not on his computer, he loves to play and make costumes for his two handsome baby boys: Beanie and Sammy.
Lead Tinkerer and Maker
Walk into our makerspace and you may find Daniel building a tabletop arcade that runs on a Raspberry Pi or creating Halloween themed jump scares forged of cardboard and Arduino. Daniel works alongside Rosanna and Bel in research and development. Together, they explore the possibilities of toys, games, IoT and robots for classroom use. They also "hack" existing systems like the Kinect and find ways that young people can use them in projects as diverse as animation and 3D printing. Most of all, Daniel is an artist whose toolkit includes wood, fabric, clay, paper and pixels. Daniel inspires young people as makers and mentors them as they create their own DIY projects. Daniel has been a part of the SparkleLAB family for the past four years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Game Design and Development from iAcademy.
Marketing Manager
Kate is in charge of implementing marketing and enrollment strategies. Kate works closely with SparkleLAB’s product team and nurtures relationships with parents, media, and other stakeholders. Kate is a natural storyteller and is passionate about education. She can't wait to work at the school and grow alongside the students and the rest of the team. Kate received a B.A. in Communication from Ateneo de Manila University and has five years of marketing experience in publishing and manufacturing.
Finance, and HR Manager
Jane is the Registrar, Finance, and HR Manager of the Discovery Academy of Innovation. She manages and oversees the daily finance and accounting operations of the school and takes care of all personnel-related matters. Jane has always been fond of kids and being around them brings her lots of joy and energy. In fact, Jane has always dreamed of one day joining a school and helping it grow. Jane has a B.S. in Accountancy from San Sebastian College and is currently taking her M.B.A. from the Universidad de Manila. Jane has 29 years of accounting experience in the banking and construction industries. She is a wife and a mother to her only child, Roy.
School Governance
Board President, Founder
Board Secretary, Founder
Board Treasurer, Founder
Board Member, Co-Founder
Board Member, Co-Founder
Board Member, Co-Founder
Board Member, Co-Founder
Board Member, Co-Founder
Board Member, Co-Founder
Board Member, Co-Founder
Unit 201-202, 2F KDC Plaza Building,
2212-2214 Chino Roces Ave.,
Bgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati City 1230.
To learn more about applying to the Discovery Academy of Innovation, go on a virtual tour or schedule a school visit, please visit this page.
