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

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?

Great education is a vital link for students to become successful citizens.

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

It's given us an opportunity to start critical discussions with our congregations, parents, community leaders and members, about the laws that govern education in Pennsylvania.

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

The Yass experience has given us “permission” to do exactly that.

including public recognition from our Governor and partnership conversations with other education innovators from around the country.

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.

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