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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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?

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

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