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  • The 2022 Yass Prize Quarterfinalists
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  • The 2022 Yass Prize Quarterfinalists

The Most STOP-Enabled Innovators of 2022

Meet the 64 Quarterfinalists

This year’s quarterfinalists come from 23 different states and really prove that innovation is alive and well in education.  Micro schools, pods and hybrid learning environments almost unheard of two years ago are now being utilized by parents and educators across the nation.  Traditional public schools that operate more like a charter and charters that continue to flourish outside of traditional systems, private schools serving specialized populations that are often overlooked and leaders in the ed tech space who provide remarkable tools that can be integrated into any of the other full service models we are celebrating today.  Truly a remarkable group of visionaries that are transformational exemplars for all in this tumultuous 2022!

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ClassBank

ClassBank

National

Prenda

Prenda

National

Great Hearts America Microschools

Great Hearts America Microschools

Phoenix, AZ

Trivium Charter School Network

Trivium Charter School Network

Lompoc, California

Empower Community High School

Empower Community High School

Aurora, CO

Colossal Academy

Colossal Academy

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Kaimuki Middle School

Kaimuki Middle School

Honolulu, HI

Heritage Academy Public Charter School

Heritage Academy Public Charter School

Jerome, ID

Lab51 – One Stone

Lab51 – One Stone

Boise, Idaho

The Oaks Academy

The Oaks Academy

Indianapolis, IN

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School

St. Philip the Apostle Catholic School

Camp Springs, MD

MAP Academy

MAP Academy

Plymouth, MA

Atlas Public Schools

Atlas Public Schools

St. Louis, MO

National Microschooling Center

National Microschooling Center

Las Vegas, NV

Latitude Learning Resources

Latitude Learning Resources

Derry, NH

The League of Young Inventors

The League of Young Inventors

Brooklyn, NY

Vertex Partnership Academies

Vertex Partnership Academies

Bronx, NY

Workshop Middle School

Workshop Middle School

Brooklyn, NY

Brookstone School

Brookstone School

Charlotte, NC

Madrona Folk School

Madrona Folk School

Grant Pass, OR

Lancaster Science Factory

Lancaster Science Factory

Lancaster, PA

Logos Academy

Logos Academy

York, PA

St. Francis de Sales School

St. Francis de Sales School

Philadelphia, PA

Libertas School of Memphis

Libertas School of Memphis

Memphis, TN

Austin Achieve Public Schools

Austin Achieve Public Schools

Austin, TX

Neighborhood Schools

Neighborhood Schools

Houston, TX

RISE Hybrid Academy

RISE Hybrid Academy

Fredericksburg, VA

I Dream Public Charter School

I Dream Public Charter School

Washington, DC

Mountaineer Homeschool Hub

Mountaineer Homeschool Hub

Morgantown, WV

Milwaukee College Prep

Milwaukee College Prep

Milwaukee, WI

One City Schools

One City Schools

Madison, WI

Jackson Hole Classical Academy

Jackson Hole Classical Academy

Jackson, WY

One of the missions of the Yass Prize and the Yass Prize movement is really surfacing best practices in innovation—

in innovators who are doing this type of transformational work, so that others can learn from it and replicate it, so that you can actually grow yourselves.

Jeff Imrich
Co-Founder,
Rock by Rock

Our newest endeavor – that was part of our Yass Prize initiative – we're bringing career and technical education into the school

I'm in the process of going through the construction of a 20,000 square foot $11.5 million dollar building dedicated to career and technical education for the students in the Philadelphia region.

Brian Patrick King
President,
Father Judge High School, 2022 Yass Prize Semifinalist

The Yass Prize has significantly impacted the trajectory of our organization.

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.

Brenaea Fairchild
Executive Director,
Melanin Village

When we follow the money, it’s ludicrous how this country is getting away with funding education.

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?

Janine Yass
Founder,
The Yass Prize

Because of the Yass Prize, we were able to add an additional pre-K classroom.

Portia Green
Principal,
Prichard Prep, 2022 Yass Prize Semifinalist

Being a part of this experience has amplified the access we can give to our students in a way that nothing has, and the access is just critical.

The Yass Prize is almost like Burning Man for education reform.

Cris Gulacy-Worrel
Vice President,
Oakmont Education

Being a part of this experience has amplified the access we can give to our students in a way that nothing has, and the access is just critical.

The Yass Prize is almost like Burning Man for education reform.

Cris Gulacy-Worrel
Vice President,
Oakmont Education, 2022 Yass Prize Finalist

Believe in your mission… Ground yourself… Never give up…

Sal Khan
Founder,
Khan Academy

In a state where alternative education is often overlooked, the Yass community helps us shine.

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

Dr. LeDonna Griffin
Founder & Executive Director,
Leaders to Legends

It might be the first time you’re speaking where everyone is actually listening and cares about what you’re doing.

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

Brian Curcio
Founder and CEO,
Rapunzl, 2022 Yass Prize Finalist

We have a tremendously transformative model that could stand for a little disruption.

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

Kelby Woodard
President & CEO,
Cristo Rey Network

I’m dreaming bigger, bolder, and more bodacious [because of the Yass Prize].

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

Keith Brooks
Founder/CEO,
National Fellowship for Black and Latino Male Educators (NFBLME)

There is absolutely zero downside to being a part of this network by submitting your application and what you will encounter is unlike any other grant.

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

Diana Diaz-Harrison
Founder,
Arizona Autism Charter Schools

The Yass Prize process has created an awareness of the education freedom movement within churches and communities.

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.

Pastor Joshua Robertson
Founder & Executive Director,
Black Pastors United for Education

We used the Yass Prize to launch a program called Skypod catalyst, which is essentially an accelerator to help other people start microschools.

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.

Amar Kumar
Founder and CEO,
KaiPod Learning, 2022 Yass Prize Seminfinalist

[The Yass Prize] has galvanized our students and families.

It has created an energy and momentum that is palpable [and] given us practical strategies to rethink our growth plan.

Christine Laurenzi
Founder & Executive Director,
Indi-ED

If you're committed to wanting to be one of the change makers of the future in education, I believe that this is a place for you.

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.

Taylor Shead
Founder and CEO,
STEMuli Studios

I'm a Yass Prize finalist from last year.

And through that, we were able to open up our second campus in the city of Wichita.

Wade Moore
Founder & Dean,
Urban Preparatory Academy

Being a part of the [Yass] family confirmed that what I'm doing is right,

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.

Kenisha Skaggs
Founder,
SOAR Academy

Education is one of the most fundamental pillars for democratizing opportunities for success that we have in our society.

It’s thanks to organizations like the Yass Prize that our children are going to have a better tomorrow.

Francis X. Suarez
Mayor,
City of Miami

The Yass Prize is truly changing the landscape of education options across the nation,

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

Diana Diaz-Harrison
Founder,
Arizona Autism Charter Schools

The foundation of any society is a good education.

Jeff Yass
Founder,
The Yass Prize

The Yass Prize is centered around ensuring that this [program] provides you a stepping stone...

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

Jeanne Allen
Founder & CEO, Center for Education Reform ,
Director, Yass Foundation for Education

Having the status of Yass Prize Semifinalist has opened doors that we’ve been knocking on for years,

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

Matthew Chaussee
Founder & CEO,
CareerViewXR & BeMoreColorful

Yass brought us together, creating opportunities to create an educational universe within which we can look at education differently…

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.

Dr. Steve Perry
Head of Schools,
Capital Preparatory Schools

The Yass Prize has brought together such diverse leaders

from all different demographics, all different states, all different service provider types that you can learn from.

Taylor Shead
Founder and CEO,
STEMuli Studios

Everyone knows that without great education, our nation suffers.

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

Janine Yass
Founder,
The Yass Prize

Being a part of the [Yass] family confirmed that what I'm doing is right,

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

Kenisha Scaggs
Founder,
SOAR Academy

The Yass Award is about celebrating and rewarding those who make students the priority.”

Kevin Stitt
Governor,
Oklahoma

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