going against the common core and focusing on what we know is important for kids really works, and having a network of people now that also agree was super huge.

We believe very much that microschools should be bottoms up, they come from the community. They're founded by educators who know their community really well. And they want to design a learning environment for the kids in that community.

The Yass Prize has empowered our youth, families and community by bringing great visibility to our efforts.

It's actually mind blowing. I really see myself as an education entrepreneur, but this expanded me.

and I couldn't be more grateful for what it's done for us, and helping us serve more students and families.

I don’t think I’ve been in a room as supportive as the Yass Prize Semifinalist room in Miami.

I'm in the process of going through the construction of a 20,000 square foot $11.5 million dollar building dedicated to career and technical education for the students in the Philadelphia region.

And through that, we were able to open up our second campus in the city of Wichita.

Not only because of the capital, but because of the knowledge that comes by communing with the diverse group of people as opposed to everybody that thinks the exact same way that you might think.

The funding is not following children. We're trying to make better options for kids, for poor kids, middle class kids. Wealthy people have this choice, they opt out of their systems easily, why shouldn't all children have that choice?