About ÎleO

ÎleO is named after the word île, meaning island, representing place-based learning rooted in culture, community, and global connection. Built in Willemstad with local educators and island partners.

Our Origin

Why ÎleO Exists

ÎleO was born from lived experience.

I'm Joanne Lee Paul, Founder and CEO. I spent over a decade modeling while working in special education at a high school outside Chicago, a combination that shaped how I think about learning, creativity, and meeting children where they are. In 2016 my work took me to Haiti, where I served as Creative Director for the designer collective AfroK Junior before launching JLP Atelier, a production space created to provide sustainable work for local designers, pattern makers, and sewers. Community and opportunity were always at the center of that work.

In 2020, political violence forced us to close operations in Haiti. Around the same time I became a mother, and that reshaped everything. I stayed home while continuing to work creatively, and began homeschooling my children. What started as a practical choice became a realization: learning felt calmer, more flexible, and more connected to who my children actually were. Travel became part of their education, and they grew through language, culture, and real-life experience.

Joanne Lee Paul outdoors with her two children

What I still longed for was community. As a Caribbean woman raising multicultural, globally minded children, I wanted a place where families could learn and live together without isolation. That search led me back to Curaçao, where my family had returned year after year and always felt at home.

ÎleO exists to offer that same belonging to other families. It is not a traditional school but a learning ecosystem, where children are supported individually, families are connected intentionally, and education is woven into everyday life.

Joanne Lee Paul

Founder and CEO, ÎleO

Our People

The team behind ÎleO

Rohani de Pont

Executive Director, Children's Museum Curaçao, our education partner

Rohani leads the Children's Museum Curaçao, a hands-on learning environment for children aged 1 to 13, built on a simple idea: children learn through play. The museum's approach is to let children explore rather than be told. Through STEM, art, culture, nature, and storytelling, children build, experiment, create, make mistakes, ask questions, and try again. It is where ÎleO children spend four days of every program week.

“Children who temporarily call Curaçao home have a unique opportunity to discover a new place, culture, language, and environment. Together with ÎleO, we want to turn that experience into meaningful learning through play, while also giving children a place where they feel welcome, connect with other children, and simply have fun.”

Kariona

Creative Lead, Gifts and Craft by K

Born and raised on Curaçao, Kariona is an SPW-trained childcare professional who has spent her career working with children. Her love for children and her passion for creativity led her to found Gifts and Craft by K, where she brings both together. For Kariona, crafting with children is about far more than making something beautiful. It is how children use their imagination, express themselves, build confidence, and connect with one another. Every creative activity is an opening to discover, explore, and grow. At ÎleO, Kariona guides our children on a creative journey through her island, where together they explore Curaçao, make things with their hands, and learn along the way.

“Come create, discover, and learn with me. Let's make beautiful memories together.”

What Guides Us

ÎleO is shaped by a few simple principles that guide how we learn, live, and build community together.

Learning is lived

Education at ÎleO is woven into daily life. Children learn through culture, exploration, relationships, and real experiences beyond a classroom.

Community comes first

Families thrive when they feel welcomed, supported, and connected. From the moment you arrive, community is built into everyday life.

Children are individuals

Every child develops differently. We honor each learner's pace, interests, and strengths, allowing growth without pressure or comparison.

Structure creates freedom

When housing, learning, and logistics are thoughtfully handled, families gain peace of mind and the space to truly be present.

Place matters

Curaçao is an active part of the learning experience. Its culture, languages, history, and natural environment shape how children connect and grow.

Explore how ÎleO works

“I've never been the first to sign up for anything, but I was compelled to after meeting Joanne and reading about Curaçao's history and culture.”

Stefanie Millette Enrolled for Winter 2027 Read her full review on Facebook

Who ÎleO Is For

ÎleO is designed for families who value presence, curiosity, and connection in how their children learn and grow.

It is especially well suited for families who:

Live internationally or plan to spend extended time abroad
Homeschool, worldschool, or seek a flexible learning environment
Want their children to learn through culture, language, and real-life experiences
Work remotely or run location-flexible businesses
Value community and want to build meaningful connections with other families
Appreciate structure and support without rigid schedules
Are looking for a place where children and parents can thrive together

ÎleO works best for families who see learning as something that unfolds throughout the day, shaped by place, relationships, and shared experiences, and who value being part of a connected rhythm of life.

Craft Your Stay

FAQ

Questions about ÎleO

What is ÎleO exactly: a school, a camp, or something else?

ÎleO is a learning ecosystem, not a school. We support families who are homeschooling, worldschooling, or looking for a flexible, culturally rich learning environment for their children. Our program provides place-based enrichment, a vibrant daily rhythm, community connection, and fully managed housing and coworking, all rooted in Curaçao. Families remain responsible for their own formal homeschooling curriculum or academic requirements. Each afternoon includes a Worldschool Support hour, when a facilitator is on hand while Rangers work through their own program. ÎleO is the village around your family while you live and learn abroad.

What makes a family a good fit for ÎleO?

Families who thrive at ÎleO tend to share a few qualities:

They see learning as something that unfolds throughout the day, not just in a classroom
They value community, curiosity, and cultural openness
They are homeschooling, worldschooling, or seeking flexible educational environments
They work remotely or run location-flexible businesses
They are ready to participate in community life, not just consume it
They respect the pace, people, and culture of the island

If this sounds like your family, you're likely a great fit. Let's talk.

Can single parents join?

Absolutely. We welcome families of every structure: single parents, co-parents, blended families, extended families. Community is central to what we do, and single-parent families often tell us the ÎleO model is especially supportive because they're not navigating this alone.

See all FAQs