Awardees

Discovery Center Springfield

Our exceptional awardees hail from 12 states and include non-profit institutions, technology innovators, community organizations, and public and private schools. They’re blazing new trails and inspiring countless families every day to seek alternatives to the establishment that better suit their learning style, pace, and aspiration. Come get to know these amazing people and teams!

Meet the 2021 Yass Prize Winner

More STOP Awardees

2021

STOP Finalists

2021

STOP Semifinalists

2021

Chicago Rescue Grant Recipients

The challenge in education is the stakes are so high.

It's one thing to have a product fail but failure to educate children has enormous consequences. One way to address this challenge is to think about innovation in a "fail fast" model where you learn very quickly what's working and what's not so you can iterate and improve quickly.

—Brian Smith,

Founder and CEO,

Catalyst Academy Charter School

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 special sauce of our schools is tutoring.

We support our students and their ability to reach their full human potential through the use of tutoring.

—Michael Duffy,

President,

Great Oaks Foundation

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

The relationships kids develop at the Boys & Girls Clubs with their peers and the staff have a positive impact on their lives.

Kids develop a sense of belonging, usefulness and competence. They get to find their strengths and their passions. Every child should have that opportunity.

—Michelle Malin,

Vice-President, Development,

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego

The pandemic didn’t stop our families, scholars and educators from learning, growing and thriving.

—Patricia Brantley,

CEO,

Friendship Public Charter School

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

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

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

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

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

It's about engaging families.

It's helping families step into their power — making sure that the voices of families are really front and center in guiding solutions.

—Lakisha Young,

Co-Founder and CEO,

The Oakland REACH

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 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

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

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

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

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Awardees

Awardees

Discovery Center Springfield

Meet the 2021 Yass Prize Winner

More STOP Awardees

2021

STOP Finalists

2021

STOP Semifinalists

2021

Chicago Rescue Grant Recipients

Connect with us

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