THE MAGIC OF IYARI
A LETTER FROM JON CONGDON
President, The American Foundation for Iyari School
I first fell in love with Careyes, Mexico over three decades ago. Drawn by its wild beauty and deep spirit, I returned again and again until, in 2007, I bought a home nestled between sea and jungle. It became my refuge—a place to disconnect from the noise and reconnect with what truly matters.
Then the pandemic arrived. Like many others, my wife and I made the decision to settle in Careyes full-time, along with a growing community of families—many working remotely, others employed in local homes, hotels, and construction. But it quickly became clear, we needed a school, not just for our children, but for the entire community.
That’s how Iyari School was born.
To be clear, I can’t take credit as the founder—my wife Becca, along with two other incredible mothers, were the ones who had the vision and urgency to act. They looked around and said, “We need a school, and we need it now.” And they made it happen. As for me, I was lucky enough to help create the space—and to keep the momentum going. I now serve as President of the American Foundation that supports Iyari School, and I’m proud to say that our child was one of the first three children enrolled.
It started with a simple, urgent question: Where will our kids learn? There were no easy answers. But there was a clear need—for a safe, imaginative, bilingual place for children to grow. First, the school lived in an empty hotel suite. Then, with a little vision and a lot of heart, we transformed abandoned horse stables into what is now a thriving, nature-based learning environment serving students from preschool through middle school.
From the start, Iyari was about creating a school where where fluency in Spanish and English is a goal for all; where the natural world becomes the classroom; and where a deep sense of belonging is built across backgrounds and barriers.
Some students are on full or partial scholarships—often the children of those working in the surrounding area. Others are sponsored by families who believe in giving back to the community they love. Many arrive from cities like L.A. or Mexico City, intending to stay for a few weeks…and end up staying the year. What keeps them here is what keeps us all here: Iyari feels like magic.
We’ve seen students who were once years behind now reading confidently, making best friends, and thriving academically. We’ve seen kids fall in love with learning—not out of obligation, but because it’s joyful. And we’ve seen a community form—one that values connection, imagination, and equity.
As we look ahead, our vision is bold. We want Iyari to be a school that continues to reflect the richness of this place—a place where gifted learners and underserved students learn side by side. We want to become a fully recognized bilingual institution, accredited both in Mexico and the U.S., a model for what education in nature can look like. One day, we hope to expand, and to welcome even more students into our growing circle.
But none of this is possible without you.
Whether you’re a homeowner in Careyes, a future parent, a past visitor, or simply someone who believes in the transformative power of education, we invite you to be a part of Iyari’s story. Your support helps us provide scholarships, grow our programs, and ensure that this school—a vital heartbeat of the community—is here to stay.
A community is not whole without a school. And thanks to the magic of this place and the generosity of people like you, Iyari is becoming more than a school. It’s becoming a movement.
With gratitude and hope,
Jon Congdon
President, American Foundation for Iyari School