The School Bus That Became a Classroom: An Alum’s Journey

By Richard Nickel

It all started with a school bus.

A once-yellow bus — stripped down and rebuilt into a vibrant, mobile learning space — now winds through Norfolk, transforming everyday landscapes into living classrooms. Inside, children engage in science experiments, create art from natural materials, and learn history by standing where it happened.

This mobile classroom is the heart of , a microschool created by art educator and ceramicist Sarah Kate Harrington.

Her journey to founding her school on wheels didn’t begin with education. It began with clay.

A Norfolk native, Harrington earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 3D Media with a minor in Art History at Old Dominion 91����Ƶ, graduating in 2012. While originally focused on opening a ceramics studio, her career path shifted after she began substitute teaching.

��“I totally fell in love with teaching,” she said. That realization led her back to Old Dominion to complete a post-baccalaureate endorsement in K–12 Art Education, which she completed in 2016.

During her time in the Art Education program, Harrington taught in what came to be called Youth Art Saturday School, a community engagement initiative that pairs university students with local youth for weekend art workshops.

“That experience was a game-changer for me,” she said. “It helped me see how powerful art can be when it’s taught with heart and intention. I learned how to communicate creative ideas to kids, adapt lessons on the fly, and embrace experimentation as part of the process.”

Youth Art Saturday School, or YASS, was designed as a partnership among Old Dominion 91����Ƶ Art Education preservice teachers, The Chrysler Museum of Art, The Hermitage Museum and Gardens, and The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art.​ YASS students explore painting, digital media, ceramics, drawing, fibers, and more.

Harrington’s studio art classes gave her a strong foundation of material knowledge and a deep appreciation for the artistic process. “Those long hours in the studio weren’t just about mastering clay — they taught me persistence, critical thinking, and how to push through when an idea doesn’t work out,” she said. “That’s exactly what I bring into the classroom every day.”

She channeled that energy into public education, including five years at Taylor Elementary within Norfolk Public Schools. But after spending years in traditional classrooms, she felt something was missing.

“I’ve always been fascinated with skoolies,” she said. “The idea of a mobile classroom just made sense. I wanted a way to merge hands-on learning, flexibility, and adventure — all the things I wished I had more room for in public school.”

That dream became Solstice Hybrid Academy, where learning is split into three parts: Montessori-inspired activities, computer-based instruction, and “adventure learning” — daily excursions where students apply what they’ve learned in the real world, aboard their rolling classroom.

To support the school and their growing vision, Harrington and her husband took a big next step: they purchased the Norfolk ReCycle Factory on Colley Avenue, a well-loved local hub for the cycling community. More than a business, it became a home base for the bus and a shared space where education, sustainability, and community intersect.

Her story is one of adaptability, creativity, and dedication to reimagining what education can look like. Sometimes, all it takes is a little clay, a big yellow bus, and a bike shop full of dreams.

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