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 is almost like Burning Man for education reform.

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

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?

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

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

When we originally applied, we simply provided supplemental support services to homeschooling families. Now, we are growing into an education network that provides community, coaching, and curriculum nationwide.

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

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.

we have to find academic experiences that represent neuro-divergent learners, kids who want to learn about gaming, who want to do stuff online, who dropped out of school.

It has helped me raise the ceiling on what’s possible.