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.

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 Yass Prize is almost like Burning Man for education reform.

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

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

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.

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

We don’t want you to rinse, wash, repeat. We want you to build and sustain.

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

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