2022 Quarterfinalists

Awardees

Our exceptional awardees hail from 33 states and the District of Columbia as well as groups serving the entire nation. They include schools with one location and some with multiple, and represent 8 different kinds of education providers. Together they serve tens of thousands of students in transformational and outstanding ways.

A majority of the 2022 Yass Prize Quarterfinalists serve important and often overlooked populations and embrace the importance of education that is both sustainable and permissionless. They include some standout public and private educators specifically focused on competency-based education and personalized learning as well as leaders in the ed tech space who provide remarkable tools that can be integrated into any of the other full service models being celebrated for their STOP-enabled education.

Trends this year include apprenticeships, career prep for students, hybrid and blended learning models launched, tested and proven during COVID, numerous parent-led efforts restoring hope and optimism to BIPOC families and an explosion of groups serving neurodivergent learners. While they are diverse in nature and location, these educational entrepreneurs are high impact innovators inspiring students, families and the communities around them. They will make a catalyzing Yass Prize community and we welcome them.

Join us in celebrating their accomplishments and wishing them the best of luck in the continuing Yass Prize competition!

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

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

Kevin Stitt

Governor,

Oklahoma

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

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

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

Portia Green

Principal,

Prichard Prep, 2022 Yass Prize Semifinalist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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2022 Quarterfinalists

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