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ABOUT

About

Why
for education?

Why for education?

STOP is defined by 4 core principles that are at the heart of the Foundation’s mission because they have the power to drive educational change for every child.

S

The work must be Sustainable over time, meaning it can be funded independently without continual philanthropy by utilizing public programs that fund the entity where students are learning, regardless of sector.

T

The effort must be Transformational with innovative new approaches that employ 21st century knowledge and technologies, changing the way students are educated and rich in content that is relevant and impactful across all communities.

O

Programs must be Outstanding, or demonstrably successful by every measure that matters. We know what success looks like from the demand of parents for better options for their children.

P

The work requires no permission — Permissionless — and is free to exist and thrive without dependence on regulatory bodies whose rules are often at odds with parent demands and student needs. 

Our Story

In August 2021, the $1 million STOP Award to Transform Education was created to honor and advance the work of education providers that continued to perform for underserved families during Covid, and ensure they not only could continue but expand to serve more students and be a beacon for thousands more educators and innovators dedicated to education opportunity for all young people.

In just four short months, hundreds of inspirational education providers were uncovered. These outliers were doing everything from starting new schools in museums and churches to developing new models for learning with artificial intelligence. Twenty of the best providers were identified, and a robust evaluation and pitch process was held. In December 2021, in addition to the Grand Prize winner Discovery Center of Springfield, MO, the four finalists received contributions of $250,000 and the remaining semifinalists were surprised with $100,000 grants for their extraordinary work. They were and are the impetus for this new STOP Foundation 4 Education, which is owing to a couple whose inspiration, generosity and vision is unparalleled.

Meet Janine & Jeff


For more than 25 years, the Yass’ have dedicated their time, their intellect and their resources to creating excellent schools for parents to have meaningful choices. But when the Covid crisis revealed and magnified the vast inequities that surround a majority of our students, they pivoted to a more impactful way to spend their resources to speed up the pace of improving student lives.

“We have recognized the incredible heroism of healthcare and front line workers who went above and beyond during COVID,” Janine said to Jeff during the crisis, “but look at all the heroes in education who served the underserved with in-person or quality virtual education students despite the challenges. We should recognize them, too,” she said.

Janine’s passion for education opportunity for all students sparked the creation of the STOP Award. They were so inspired by the effort, by the providers and educators and innovators that the inaugural competition uncovered, that she founded the STOP Foundation 4 Education, to expand the number of providers working to provide a STOP education for students. With a commitment to moving from reform to transform, Janine's hope is that the campaign to STOP 4 Education will drive a renaissance in education, based on the premise that every parent deserves the ability to provide their students with individualized, 21st century education opportunities offered in supportive environments alongside their peers.

Our Partners

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What has been created here at the accelerator is truly incredible.

We may never know how pivotal this really is for education in America right here, right now. This group of people will work together to force real change permissionlessly.

—Rob Blevins,
Executive Director,
Discovery Center of Springfield

It's not the university someone graduated from or the degree they hold.

Do they have the resilience and perseverance? Do they have grit? It's the most important skill.

—Joy Chen,
Entrepreneur In Residence,
GSV Ventures

I am still processing the magnitude of this experience and so grateful for meeting each and everyone of you.

I look forward to continuing our transformative work in our communities and together.

—Taylor Shead,
Board Member,
Dallas Education Foundation

If you get to the accelerator after the application process, go in knowing you already won.

The fact that you are now with a group of your peers you really get to see how world class the education profession is.

—Christopher Simmonds,
Principal,
CARE Elementary School

We are so inspired by the STOP Award participants, semi-finalists, and the courage, innovation and leadership of educators from across the country who have amplified the application of their brilliance to make the lives of their students better as they faced the daunting challenges of the pandemic.

—Mike Hoque,
CEO,
Hoque Global

The STOP Award shines an important light on the heroes of education who fought valiantly to serve students and were often overlooked or dismissed.

It’s our commitment that their example is seen, learned about and replicated all over the nation.

—Jeanne Allen,
Founder and CEO,
Center for Education Reform

We see the Pulitzer prizes, we see the MacArthur Genius Grants, we see the Pritzker prize for architecture.

But for the one field that drives everything, education, there is no definitive prize. The Yass Prize has filled that vacuum -- it's more than just the money. It's about spurring ideas, it's about spurring innovation. We are very very proud to be a part of it.

—Randall Lane,
Editor,
Forbes

The chance to be part of this group is a big gust of wind in the sails of New Way Global.

Being in this group has filled me with renewed hope and determination to push forward on big dreams for great education for the least served in our community and beyond.

—Allan Sherer,
Director,
New Way Global

I'm deeply humbled and grateful to be part of this group.

The last month has been a tremendous experience and I'm so inspired and motivated by the amazing work this group is doing. Collectively, we’re working towards a real-world goal and it’s leaving me empowered and motivated to apply what we learn.

—Jeffrey Imrich,
Co-Founder,
Rock by Rock

Our STOP Award partnership with Forbes and CER has been one of the best things we’ve done in education over the past 25 years.

—Janine Yass,
Chair,
STOP Foundation 4 Education

This group of innovators has the opportunity to show the world what is possible for kids, what doesn't yet exist for so many children who deserve the opportunity to be entrepreneurs and to shine as out of the box thinkers.

—Heather Bougeois,
Principal,
Louisiana Key Academy

Humbled to be considered in such great company.

We hope to create a shift in the education scene that really focuses on how to orient schools to the lived outcomes of our kids in the communities that they live in. Here's to abundance & great things for all of our kids.

—Stefin Pasternak,
Co-Founder,
Living School

Entrepreneurs are the engine of the innovation economy.

The work this remarkable group has accomplished is not only inspirational but can be transformative for millions more students.

—Michael Moe,
Founder and CEO,
Global Silicon Valley

There are so many heroes who responded to the Covid crisis in the education sector.

You were focused on kids and families. You did what you had to do and we are so grateful for that. We created this award to honor your work and we knew if we built it you would come.

—Janine Yass,
Chair,
STOP Foundation 4 Education

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