Ideas for Learners - Logo for Creative Education Website Needed

Ideas For Learners

The tag line I currently have on my website is "Promoting literacy, inquiry, and meaningful learning experiences."
I have a background in gifted education, and my site is primarily a resource for teachers, homeschooling parents, and parents looking for enrichment ideas. However, the site is also used by some students. Most elementary and secondary teachers are female, but the site should not be overly feminine - maybe a bit of whimsy, though. The bulk of the site currently has book recommendations for grades 3 - 8, with summaries, reviews, and themed book lists (over 300 and counting so far). However, the logo should not suggest that the site is only about books. There will also be some writing activities, project-based learning ideas, problem-solving challenges, and a blog. I am not about selling activities or being cutesy. This is a site for intelligent teachers who want to offer thoughtful experiences to students at home and at school.
My old site includes some of the same content: http://www.conversationpieceslearning.org, so if you can look past the lack of graphic design, you might get a sense of purpose.
My current site is http://www.ideasforlearners.com, but I decided I wanted to get the design right before I built it completely. That's why I'm looking for a great logo!

I like 0033ff, ffff33, cc0066, 33cc00, 330099, but not necessarily all together, and I might be using one of those for a background or accent color when I re-build my website.

I really like sky and cobalt blues, greens, with some accents of white or silver and/or magenta or violet - I love jewel tones. However, I'm going to be looking for a website re-design and I can see me choosing some of these colors for the overall template, so the logo might be better if it stands out. I like some citrus/tangerine orange and lemon yellow, but I'm not much of a drab colors fan (no olive, mustard, most oranges, rust, etc.) I want the font to be a little bit playful (no bank site), but still clear and easy to read. No designs that are for young kids - stereotypical apples, ABCs, schoolhouses, pencils, buses-those don't interest me. I like the symbolism of lights for ideas if it can be unique and pretty enough at the same time. I also like interesting looking trees as a symbol of growing, but I am open to any symbol that might represent excitement, growth, creativity, or possibilities.
I will be looking for a web re-design and specific header and other page graphics after this contest ends. I love language, but I am completely at a loss with graphics. I know what I like, but I might like something that I can't describe or predict at this point, so I welcome some surprises. I want a logo that will help me look professional and build my brand as a leader and potential consultant in education (but I want a bit of memorable, fun, quirkiness to it - that's a gifted education vibe - appropriate, but a little unexpected). Feel free to save me from myself to keep my logo from being dated or predictable. Thank you!