About Us

 A Journey of Creativity, Healing, and Educational Revolution

Ashley Stull is the visionary owner and founder of Free Your Mind, a pioneering school in St Johns County dedicated to teaching creativity. Launched in the fall of 2024, Free Your Mind is not only the culmination of Ashley’s lifelong passion for creating but also a bold response to the limitations of the traditional public school system.

At Free Your Mind, we believe that creativity is not just an artistic skill—it’s a fundamental necessity for success in life, business, and the future workforce. Founded by Ashley, a business professional turned full-time creative, Free Your Mind is dedicated to fostering the creative thinking skills that are critically lacking in today’s education system which has led to a shortage of qualified employees in today's workforce.  Many employees today, lack problem solving skills, the ability to think outside the box, flexibility and over all creative thinking skills which according the Future Jobs Report, creative thinking is a must have skill for jobs 2025 and beyond.

Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in Management from University of Central Florida and spent 15 years in the mortgage and real estate industry, where she saw firsthand how rigid structures often leave little room for innovation. Recognizing the immense value of creativity in problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and overall well-being, she made the bold decision to leave behind the corporate world and fully embrace the creative process. For over a decade, Ashley has built a thriving creative career, earning recognition at some of Florida's most prestigious juried art festivals, including Mayfaire by the Lake, ranked among the nation’s top 50 art shows by Sunshine Artist Magazine.

Her research on creativity and education has revealed a crictical issue:  we are facing a creative crisis.  Children are graduating from school unprepared for the modern workforce, where employers consistently rank creative thinking as a must-have skill for jobs in 2025 and beyond (Future Jobs Report). The current education system, with its focus on standardized testing and rigid learning models, is actively suppressing the creative problem-solving abilities that young minds naturally possess.  Free Your Mind is working to fill this gap. As a registered school in St. Johns County, FL our mission is to provide students of all ages with hands-on, engaging experiences that strengthen their creative confidence and critical thinking abilities. Ashley is a passionate advocate for educational reform, striving to ensure that today’s children are better equipped for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow’s workforce.

Through creativity enhancing exerices, hands on projects and design-thinking workshops, Free Your Mind empowers individuals to break free from limiting beliefs, explore new ideas, and develop the creative skills necessary for success in any career path. Because creativity isn’t just about making art—it’s about reshaping the way we work, live and innovate in an ever-changing world..

Observing the rigid, one-size-fits-all approach of the public school system, Ashley recognized a critical gap: traditional education often stifles creativity. For instance, in math classes, students are taught there is only one correct method to solve problems, discouraging alternative approaches and reinforcing “boxed-in” thinking. This stands in stark contrast to the creative, adaptive problem-solving skills modern employer's demand.

Ashley’s transformative journey taught her that creativity is more than a hobby—it’s a vital life skill. At Free Your Mind, she champions hands-on creative projects that nurture innovative thinking.  She has a tailored approach for adults which includes engaging creativity enhancing exercises  followed by navigating the creative process using hands on approach for learning.  And for children in grades 1-12, empowering them to explore multiple solutions to everyday challenges and preparing them for a future marked by uncertainty. In a world where adaptability, creative problem-solving, and the ability to quickly learn new skills are increasingly important, Ashley believes that fostering creativity in children is imperative.

Deeply committed to lifelong learning, Ashley remains actively involved in several professional organizations, including the Art of Education, Art USA, and the National Art Education Association. Through her active membership, she stays abreast of the common challenges found in schools today. By applying her creative thinking and problem-solving skills, she works to fill the gaps that are presently absent from the public school system, ensuring that future generations are better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.  She is also a Rotarian, and member of the St. Augustine Beach Rotary Club, setting an example the Rotarian way involving service above self, integrity and honesty in everything she does and serves as a role model leading by example for her students to do the same.

Ashley Stull’s story is a testament to the life-changing power of creativity. Through Free Your Mind, she is not only sharing her extensive skills in creativity whether its thru skill building exercies or involving students in hands on projects, she is also challenging outdated educational models that limit creative expression.  Why?  Because the need is far to great to ignore and her approach to teaching creativity has proven to be successful and will continue to benefit children and adults regardless of backgrounds.   Her work emphasizes that the journey of being resourceful, in repurposing items places no limit on the creative outcomes of producing meaningful art is deeply fulfilling—a process that builds resilience and equips young and older minds with the skills necessary for success in an ever-changing world.

Her legacy is one of transformation, resilience, and the unwavering belief that every person deserves the opportunity to explore their creative potential. By nurturing creativity from an early age, Ashley envisions a future where innovation, adaptability, and a passion for learning pave the way for success in both personal and professional realms.