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Awardees

Awardees

Meet the 2025 Yass Prize Contenders!

Live from Forbes on Fifth in New York City, the Yass Prize contenders were revealed in a special livestream event. After two rounds of rigorous evaluation by more than 500 judges, these contenders will now have the opportunity to pitch at the Miami Accelerator, making the case for why they should receive the $1 million Yass Prize to expand their impact and ensure that more students gain access to the education they deserve.

School needs to look different, and this new cohort is the single best example of the diversity of excellence and transformational innovation our country has to offer. These schools and providers are a testament to the positive direction that Pre-K to 12 education is headed in as we embark on a new school year. Congratulations, all!

Airborne Christian Academy

Airborne Christian Academy

Martinsburg, WV

American High School

American High School

National

Archimedean Schools

Archimedean Schools

Miami, FL

Beyond Excellence Academy of STEAM

Beyond Excellence Academy of STEAM

Nashville, TN

Delta Streets Ministries

Delta Streets Ministries

Greenwood, MS

Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy

Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy

Milwaukee, WI

Dreams Academy International

Dreams Academy International

Akron, OH

Ecclesial Schools Initiative

Ecclesial Schools Initiative

Oviedo, FL

Franklin Regional School District

Franklin Regional School District

Murrysville, PA

GuidEd

GuidEd

Tampa, FL

MindSprout Montessori

MindSprout Montessori

Spring, TX

Philadelphia Independence Mission Schools

Philadelphia Independence Mission Schools

Philadelphia, PA

River City Fellowship San Antonio Christian School

River City Fellowship San Antonio Christian School

San Antonio, TX

Siembra Leadership High School

Siembra Leadership High School

Albuquerque, NM

Space Florida

Space Florida

Merritt Island, FL

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School

St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School

San Antonio, TX

Summit School

Summit School

Lorena, TX

Trinity School

Trinity School

Oklahoma City, OK

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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