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Press Releases

Semifinalists for the $1 Million Yass Prize Announced

  • October 13, 2022

Each of 32 education innovators will receive $200,000 in STOP Awards as they vie for the million dollar prize

NEW YORK – October 13, 2022 – Leaders from 32 of the nation’s most exceptional educational organizations in the nation across twenty states learned today they were semifinalists for this year’s prestigious Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education, which comes with a $1 million grand prize. The event, held by the Yass Prize in partnership with Forbes, was keynoted by Forbes Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media Steve Forbes, Yass Prize Founder Janine Yass and previous recipients of the Yass Prize and STOP Awards Initiative.

The Yass Prize and STOP Awards Initiative will provide more than $11 million this year in order to support education organizations that are beating the odds at delivering exceptional 21st century learning opportunities to students and families.

“At Forbes, we know the qualities of great entrepreneurs and these 32 are changing the landscape of education and innovating how education providers serve the underserved,” said Forbes Chief Content Officer & Editor, Randall Lane.

Now in its second year, the awards have since tripled to expand reach and impact. “There are literally thousands of education leaders who are quietly transforming a previously stagnant education landscape,” said Jeanne Allen, Yass Foundation Director and Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform. “Our goal is to find and fund the best and influence others to follow their examples, so that no child has to wait for the education that best meets their needs.”

The 32 semifinalists announced today will receive at least a $200,000 STOP Award grant and will vie for six $250,000 awards as well as the $1 million Yass Prizes to be announced on December 14.  A new Yass Prize platform and three-week virtual accelerator will help all applicants coalesce to learn from one another as well as entrepreneurs, technology leaders and investors. The finalists will move onto an intensive in-person accelerator program and pitch competition to be held in Miami, Florida in December. The 2022 finalists and $1 million Yass Prize winner will be announced on December 14, 2022.

To learn more about each of the award winners of this year’s Initiative, visit: YassPrize.org.

Contacts
John Allen: [email protected]

 

About Forbes

Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 48 licensed local editions in 82 countries. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.

About the Yass Prize

The $1 Million Yass Prize for Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding and Permissionless Education celebrates the country’s education provider which best demonstrates the STOP principles. In conjunction with The Yass Prize, the STOP Awards initiative provides over $16 million in support annually to honor educators who achieve and deliver for underserved children through the STOP principles. To learn more about the work and the incredible education providers who have been honored, visit yassprize.org.

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The Yass Foundation advances the four core STOP principles: Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless education. Each year, the Foundation will reward dozens of organizations, building a growing network of innovative providers that
demonstrate these qualities in their commitment to new ideas, technologies, and approaches to learning that bring education into
the 21st century. The Foundation is powered by the Center for Education Reform (CER) in partnership with Forbes.

2026 Yass Prize Finalist

Through the Yass Prize experience, I left with new ideas about growth, sustainability, developing people, advocacy, and partnerships that we are already applying to our plans.

George Philhower
CEO,
Indiana Microschool Collaborative

Yass Prize Contender

Through my experience with the Yass Prize, I connected with education leaders who weren't all doing the same thing, serving the same students, or operating under the same models, but we shared an unwavering belief that children deserve better and that meaningful change requires the courage to challenge conventional thinking.

Dr. Amber Oliveira
Head of School,
DePaul School of Northeast Florida

Yass Prize Alumni Contender

The Yass Prize has allowed us to hone and codify our core organizational offering, which is neither easy to do nor possible for many organizations given resource constraints. We have not only developed and sharpened our main product offering, we’ve been able to take it to new locations around the country.

Michael Lipset, PhD
Director,
4 Learning

2026 Yass Prize Finalist

Perhaps most importantly, being affirmed by the Yass Prize has elevated Salt & Light’s profile and further established us as STOP educators in this field. I also intend to seriously explore the relationships formed through this experience and consider with whom we can collaborate to serve more children..

Jéneen Winters Barlow
Co-Founder & Executive Director,
Salt & Light Academy for Boys

2022 Yass Prize Semifinalist

Our organization has become stronger as a result of our involvement with the Yass Prize and more confident in our leadership role in this sector.

Amar Kumar
Founder & CEO,
Kaipod Learning

2026 Yass Prize Finalist

My experience with the Yass Prize left me inspired, challenged, and with greater clarity about my next chapter. The experience helped me realize that what we are building at Creative Minds can have an impact far beyond our current walls.

Lisa Swinson
Founder & Principal,
Creative Minds Microschool

2025 Yass Prize Contender

The Yass Prize affirmed a truth I have always believed: Rewriting the algorithm on excellence begins when we acknowledge the individual needs of our students and is brought to life by educators, families, and allies who believe those needs deserve to be met.

Dr. Rodney Lynk Jr.
Chief Executive Officer,
Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy

2026 Yass Prize Winner

Because of the Yass Prize experience, I feel more confident in my responsibility, power, and voice as a leader. I am now thinking about my role in advocacy and policy, and I feel more equipped to engage in conversation and community.

Kanesha Adams
Founder & Director,
The Learning Lounge

2026 Yass Prize Contender

Through my experience with the Yass Prize, I made incredible connections with people and feel like I have a community that I did not have before.

Renee Griffith
Founder & Executive Director,
Cornerstone Christian Academy

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