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.

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

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

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?

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.