It is important to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who foster innovation.
Awardees
Awardees
The Most STOP-Enabled Innovators of 2022
Meet the 32 Semifinalists
This year’s 32 semifinalists 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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When you are trying to advance and think beyond the status quo, this can be a lonely place, because our systems are structured to do the same thing.
Phyllis Lockett
CEO,
LEAP Innovations
Remember, you are doing the work of civilization.
You are planting the seeds of a better world, despite any bad news, you’re doing great things.
Steve Forbes
Editor-in-Chief,
Forbes Media
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
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
The myth that parents of color do not care about the educational well-being of their children is just that, a myth.
Many of our Black parents want what's best for their children and believe they are not being heard and dismissed.
Janelle Wood
Founder & CEO,
Black Mothers Forum Inc.
The Yass Prize is more than a competition to me. Yes, we want to win. However, we are winning in so many aspects. Knowledge is power!
I am so grateful to be a part of such an extraordinary group.
Portia Green
Principal ,
Prichard Preparatory 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
We often jump to the what, without thinking with the community about the why.
Michael B. Horn
Author,
From Reopen to Reinvent
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
You are in a moment in history that we have never seen before.
Any of us with a disruptive idea have a shot at trying to prove something.
Randall Lane
Chief Content Officer,
Forbes Media
We really need to work on the why. Not just with our teams, but with all those we work with and around.
Especially the families in the communities we serve.
Jack Preus
National Director,
Open Sky Education
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
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