Expanding Educational Options: The Role of ESAs

Recorded live at the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured MacKenzie Price, Co-Founder of 2 Hour Learning and Alpha School; Julie Young, President of Julie Young Education, LLC; Joshua Dahn, Executive Director and Co-founder of Astra Nova and Co-founder of Synthesis; and Amar Kumar, CEO of KaiPod Learning. The conversation was moderated by Felipe Arango, Principal at Appian Education.

The session explored how visionary educators and entrepreneurs are designing new school models that prioritize flexibility, personalization, and real-world readiness. From AI-powered adaptive learning to hybrid campuses and competency-based progression, panelists shared bold strategies for meeting the needs of today’s learners. The conversation offered a compelling look at how innovation is reshaping curriculum, assessment, and student experience to create more equitable, effective, and engaging learning environments.