Imagination as infrastructure

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Nicole Jarbo is the CEO of 4.0 Schools, one of the nation’s leading platforms for early-stage education founders. A former KIPP teacher, Teach For America Corps member, and fintech founder, Nicole brings deep experience across classrooms, startups, philanthropy, and systems-level education change. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Pitch Playground.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Why education is facing an “imagination crisis” — and why technology alone won’t solve it
2. How 4.0 Schools supports founders beyond pilots to build durable, real-world impact
3. What successful education founders have in common across industries
4. Why “anti-scale but pro-impact” may be the right mindset for the future of education
5. How founders and educators can approach AI with greater intentionality and responsibility

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:03:15] Nicole Jarbo on defining meaningful innovation as imaginable, viable, and reachable
[00:06:24] Lessons from 15 years of 4.0 Schools on what makes founders succeed
[00:09:57] Why founder ecosystems matter more than one-time programs or pilots
[00:16:10] Education’s identity crisis and the system’s fear of trying something new
[00:26:37] How founders should think about AI, equity, and responsible adoption
[00:30:30] Why imagination—not infrastructure—is the missing piece in education reform
[00:37:15] Nicole on why education is the most important yet slowest-moving institution

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This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.