About
Our School
We help students become more confident, mature, and collaborative learners and young adults. Not only will students learn middle and high school core curriculum, but also life skills to help prepare them for a career or college.
"The Complete Student has opened his eyes to the endless possibilities he can achieve with hard work and determination."
— Class of 2023 Parent
A Letter From the Head of School
My idea to create The Complete Student grew from my experience finding gaps in traditional education systems where schools did not provide students the opportunity to realize their full potential. I envisioned a school where students could demonstrate their comprehension of academic material using methods that highlighted their natural gifts and abilities. I also wanted classrooms to celebrate learning differences by creating spaces where students learn to work together with the common goal of elevating all their academic experiences through collaboration, inclusion, and creativity.
Traditional education systems can’t provide a personalized student experience in a classroom packed with 30 students. Pulling struggling students out of the classroom for supplemental educational support isn’t effective teaching. Endless testing doesn’t help students learn. Dumping content onto students and asking them to repeat it isn’t a well-informed or proven educational method. Instead, I wanted a school that allowed students to demonstrate mastery by building, singing, creating, or filming rather than using conventional tools like multiple choice tests and rote memorization.
Decades of educational research indicates the most effective and successful educational models are those that teach to the student and not to the test. The Complete Student bases its philosophy and curriculum on the best practices born from this proven research. Our classes are small. We set individual goals for each student based on their particular strengths and interests. Gifted and struggling students work and learn side by side, just as they would in the real world. The Complete Student teaches students how to think, not what to think. We value building personal skills, fostering emotional growth, and teaching students how to problem-solve. Creativity is always encouraged.
Today, we have 79 students and eight teachers. We are growing quickly. Since we opened our doors in Port Royal, our enrollment has grown in every grade. During the summer of 2021, we were able to expand our campus to include two new buildings: a music classroom and an arts classroom. We are grateful to the generous donors who made this campus transformation possible.
Thank you for your support and interest in The Complete Student and our mission to provide a limitless learning experience.
In partnership,
Blaire Lent
Our School
The Complete Student is an accredited independent private school for students in grades 5 through 12. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and first opened our doors in Port Royal in 2015. Our school serves 79 students and employs eight teachers. We develop rigorous, multidisciplinary and individualized curriculum for each student. Our classes are small, averaging 10 students. Our teachers have a combined 85 years of teaching experience.
We help students become more confident, mature, and collaborative learners and young adults. Not only will students learn middle and high school core curriculum, they will also learn life skills like time management and personal responsibility to help prepare them for a career or college.
Our Mission
To ensure our students — regardless of academic gifts and challenges — have the opportunity to engage in a challenging and enriching learning environment. Our goal is to increase student understanding, skill development, and encourage empathy, all while guiding each student towards the post-graduation path that is best for them. We believe that learning is most successful when different types of learners collaborate on shared goals.
We believe that all students who are willing to put forth measurable effort should graduate from high school with a developed skill set to serve them in their chosen path.
"The teachers have done an amazing job identifying and promoting her strengths, building her confidence and enthusiasm about learning. They have also made learning relatable and fun."
— Class of 2023 Parent
Faculty & Staff
Blaire Lent
Founder, Head of School, Teacher
A life-long educator with 19 years of teaching experience in classrooms from preschool through high school in South Carolina and New York, Blaire earned an undergraduate degree in communications from Fordham University. She also earned masters degrees in early childhood education and special education from the College of New Rochelle. The Harvey School honored Blaire with a Distinguished Alumni award for her professional accomplishments. She lives in Port Royal with her husband and school-age son.
Viena Paris
Teacher
With 12 years of teaching experience in multiple subjects with students ranging from 5th to 12th grade, Viena specializes in English, history and music education and is dedicated to helping each student reach their full potential. Viena joined The Complete Student in 2015 after teaching in the Myrtle Beach area and Beaufort County. An accomplished musician, Viena plays more than four instruments including flute, piano, guitar, and bass. Viena is proud of her 4C’s approach to teaching: create, communicate, connect, and collaborate. Viena earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Indiana University.
Jasmine Belflower
Teacher
Jasmine has more than 15 years of teaching experience and served as an educator at schools in Houston and Savannah before joining The Complete Student. Teach For America, an acclaimed educational national service network, selected Jasmine for her teaching position in Houston. Jasmine also worked as a branch manager and information technology program coordinator at the Live Oak Public Libraries system. Jasmine earned her bachelor’s degree in studio art and art history from Williams College. Jasmine is proud that she enrolled her daughter in The Complete Student’s middle school program.
Nancy Altman
Teacher
With 36 years of teaching experience at all grade levels (K-12) in four states, Nancy joined The Complete Student after retiring from the Beaufort County School District in 2018. The Mossy Oaks Elementary School community honored Nancy with a Teacher of the Year award twice. Nancy graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned a bachelor's degree in special education from Furman University. A specialist in working with students who face behavioral and emotional challenges, Nancy earned a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Tennessee. Dedicated to her community, Nancy volunteers and serves a variety of local non-profit organizations.
Henry Dreier
Teacher
A natural-born teacher, Henry’s own teachers played a significant role in his life as a child, and he is working at The Complete Student to pay his meaningful experience forward. Henry earned an Associate’s degree from the Technical College of the Low Country and went on to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and psychology. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2007 to 2015, completing two tours in Afghanistan and finishing his career at Parris Island. A proud veteran, entrepreneur, and local business owner, Henry’s greatest pride is his family. He lives in Beaufort with his wife and two children.
Hannah Perry
Teacher
An accomplished artist and fluent in Spanish, Hannah specializes in art and language education. Hannah attended Warren Wilson College majoring in art instruction with a concentration in drawing. Hannah enjoys sharing her love of portraiture and ceramics with her students.
Nicole Passeggio
Teacher
Nicole originally built a career in the graphic arts industry in New York, then, after 17 years, she decided to pursue her doctorate. During the year she spent writing her dissertation, Nicole accepted a part-time elementary teaching position. What she thought would be a one-year-only job lasted 12 and changed the trajectory of her life’s work. Nicole has now taught history, religion, music, library/media, and was a math interventionist at Port Royal Elementary School from 2017-2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Mount Holyoke College; a master’s degree in human resource education from Boston University; and a Ph.D. in business education from New York University.
Emily Raymonda
Teacher
Emily has 7 years of experience teaching visual and media arts at the middle school level. She graduated from Winthrop University with a BFA in Ceramics and MAT in K-12 Art Education. She is also self-employed as a professional ceramic artist. She is accomplished in integrating art and design into the core curriculum. She strongly believes that through the arts, students can become well-rounded, creative professionals, preparing them for college and careers.
Paul Newman
Teacher
After culinary school, Paul graduated summa cum laude from Thomas University with a teaching degree specializing in History and English in 2014. He has been teaching in various locations around Beaufort for the past 7 years. He loves teaching and connecting with students. He is the soccer coach, and teaches Latin, History, English, and Chemistry.