FORT PIERCE | When school starts in August, St. Anastasia Parish and School will embark on a pilot project to begin a Morning Star School program on the campus in Fort Pierce, the first site operated by the Diocese of Palm Beach offering individualized learning to students with developmental disabilities and other exceptional learning needs. Beginning with six to eight students, ages 5 to 9, the program will offer a Catholic education rooted in the Gospel and focused on excellence.
Kevin Hoeffner, Ph.D., who has worked at the century-old St. Anastasia School for 20 years and as principal for 18, said about a decade ago the parish and school began forming a master plan, exploring the possible uses of its land and resources. The idea of forming a school for students with learning differences was initiated.
“It’s been 10 years in the making and really just a vision of mine, a personal passion of mine, and I feel like it belongs here,” he said. “And it’s not just me. It’s the community, but I think it’s God. I mean, he has placed this in my heart, but he’s also placed it in the hearts of this school and in the community and in the people around us who are passionate about it as well.”
Father Richard George, St. Anastasia’s pastor, said, “Morning Star is a small but intentional step our parish is taking to surround families with faith, hope, love, practical help, friendship and professional support. It is a concrete expression of our belief that every child is a gift entrusted to us by God. We are responding with the gifts and talents of our community and of those who have and are generously walking alongside us.”
He acknowledged Hoeffner’s long-standing desire to respond to parents of children with diverse learning needs. “When the moment and opportunity finally arrived, he (Hoeffner) stepped forward with faith and trust that the Lord would provide everything needed to bring this vision to life. His leadership and faith, combined with the generosity and conviction of our community, has made this possible,” Father George said.
When the 2026-27 school year begins, a small group of students with unique abilities will be taught in one room on the St. Anastasia campus. “We’ll be focusing primarily on the kids who can follow and progress academically but are typically about two grade levels behind kids their age,” Hoeffner said.
Some of the students who will be placed in the Morning Star program, he said, are siblings of current St. Anastasia students. It will help those families to have their children on the same campus. “Being a parishioner, you watch families that have students with unique needs that are not being served by Catholic education presently,” Hoeffner added.
“Because the class size is much smaller, the cost of the program is higher, and we’re looking at about $18,000 per child, which is about $6,000 more than what our tuition is for a student here who is not subsidized,” he said. “But even at $18,000, you’re still not there, so that doesn’t cover all the costs. We tried to lower it as much as we could, but we’re going to need to do some fundraising and some scholarships to help people with the difference because the funding from the state isn’t going to cover it all.”
He credits local donors who have been incredibly generous for getting the program ready to open. With a strong pledge of support from Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez and timely assistance from a paid consultant, Hoeffner said Morning Star is rising.
During a March event announcing the program, Bishop Rodríguez said, “I am grateful to see the Morning Star pilot program moving forward at St. Anastasia Catholic School and appreciate the hard work that has been done to make this dream a reality. This special initiative reflects our Catholic commitment to recognize the God-given dignity and potential of every child and to ensure that families seeking a faith-filled education for children with unique learning needs feel welcomed and supported in our schools. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to Bishop Barbarito, whose foresight and support helped make this program possible. I look forward to seeing the many ways this program will bless students, families and the entire school community.”
On April 30, the positions of Morning Star program director and instructional assistant were officially filled. Cindy Noelke will be the program director and teacher, and Sarah Richmond, the instructional assistant, will be able to step in and lead the class if Noelke is called away.
If all continues as planned in the years ahead, additional classrooms will be built to accommodate more students in the Morning Star program, Hoeffner said. Most of them would be integrated with the wider campus for activities such as liturgies, lunch, physical education, art and music, and the playground. “It will be a school within the school, where kids have a place to learn at a different pace, math, science, reading, the core subjects,” he said.
Father George added, “Every child has a Godgiven dignity and mission. There is no one created by God who does not possess gifts meant to be nurtured and shared within the mystical Body of Christ. Our Morning Star program is not about ‘solving problems’ or ‘fixing challenges.’ I see it more as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the precious gift of each student. To love and cherish our children by supporting them as they discover the unique ways God desires them to flourish.”
Thinking ahead at all the details — new construction and hiring therapists and other specialists — can get a bit overwhelming. “Sometimes it feels like, ‘Oh, I can’t imagine all the variables,” Hoeffner said.
But he is grateful to God for steering the school in the right direction. “As we look back on 100 years, it’s quite obvious that all we’ve done is say yes to him, and then he provides the money, and he provides the people, and he provides the staff, and he provides the vision and all those things. All we have to do is just say, ‘Yes, sir, what do you want me to do today?’”
For information about St. Anastasia School and its Morning Star program, visit www.saintanastasiaschool.org or contact Melanie Wiles, parish development director, at 813-376-3175.
