LiberatED Podcast

In this episode of LiberatED, Kerry McDonald talks with Katie Saiz, founder of Greengate Children’s School in Wichita, Kansas. Katie shares her inspiring journey from running a home-based daycare while homeschooling her children to leading a thriving private school serving nearly 100 students across preschool through middle school, with future plans for high school expansion. Katie explains how Greengate blends Montessori materials with project-based learning, attracts families seeking alternatives to traditional schooling, and shows how microschools can be both impactful and financially sustainable. She also discusses Greengate’s growth, alongside her vision for partnerships, apprenticeships, and continued innovation in Kansas’s vibrant alternative education landscape. You will hear candid insights into what it takes to run and expand a microschool, why financial sustainability matters, and how parent demand is shaping the future of education in Wichita and beyond. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

In this episode of the LiberatED Podcast, Kerry McDonald talks with Jennifer Palmer, former special education teacher and now founder of Mobile Classroom Solutions in Polk County, Florida. Jennifer shares her journey from the conventional public school classroom to building a thriving microschool and learning pod that serve diverse learners, including many with special needs. We discuss how COVID sparked her entrepreneurial leap, why families are embracing flexible and personalized education, and how Florida’s school choice programs are empowering parents to find the right fit for their children. Jennifer also highlights her role as co-founder and president of the Polk Microschool Collective, a growing network that connects and supports education entrepreneurs. Her story is an inspiring look at the creativity, courage, and community-building that are fueling the microschool movement in Florida and beyond. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today is the official launch date of host Kerry McDonald's new book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling! Check out this special interview—and get your copy of Joyful Learning wherever books are sold!          

Sulaya Williams has been a teacher and administrator in the Florida public schools for 15 years. She left the school system in June to pursue entrepreneurship full-time as the founder of Link Up & Build Global Academy. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Think of Alexa Achille as an "Alexa" for innovative education in South Florida. A former special education teacher in the New York City public schools, Alexa finds great fulfillment in helping families discover the benefits of unconventional education. She is the founder of The Collabo in West Palm Beach, Florida, which empowers homeschooling families by providing enriching learning experiences for students, strategic resources for parents, and expert guidance on educational and post-secondary opportunities as a Choice Navigator.  ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.  

Today on LiberatED, Kerry McDonald sits down with Bonnie Benjamin-Phariss, the Executive Director of Mosaic at WeAreBornToLearn.org—a vibrant online hub where families can reimagine education in meaningful ways. Founded by philanthropist Jeff Westphal and supported by the Jeff & Jenifer Westphal Foundation, Mosaic blends community with curated resources and practical tools to help young people flourish as curious, confident, self-directed learners outside the bounds of conventional schooling. One of Mosaic's key goals is to support more research around self-directed education. A study they conducted during the pandemic with over 1,000 participants revealed that parents were widely interested in holistic approaches to education. Now, Mosaic is collaborating with the Institute for Self Directed Learning to launch a new survey to understand the perspectives of teachers and educators.  Read more about Mosaic's mission and research in this recent article by Nasiyah Isra-Ul at the Education Entrepreneurship Lab. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Kerry's new book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, will be on bookstore shelves two weeks from today—Tuesday, August 19th.  Preorder your copy today at this link and use code JOYFUL20 at checkout for 20% off. Or visit your favorite local bookstore or online retailer to get your copy. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today's guest, Tiffany Blassingame, is reimagining Christian education. As the founder and lead teacher at The Ferguson School—a progressive, faith-based K-5 microschool in Decatur, Georgia—she blends over 20 years of experience in public and private education with a heart for helping students thrive. A fourth-generation educator, Tiffany primarily serves Black and brown gifted and neurodiverse learners. Her passion for nurturing both students and teachers sparked the creation of the Microschool Teacher Academy, where she mentors microschool educators with real-world tools and insights. Read more about Tiffany in Kerry's recent Forbes.com article. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today's guest is Ryan Delk, cofounder and CEO of Primer, a fast-growing platform helping top teachers to launch microschools in their communities. He’s spent the last decade building tech companies (like Square, Gumroad, and Omni), and was homeschooled from kindergarten through 8th grade. Ryan lives in San Francisco with his wife and three kids. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

My guest today is Emma Rodriguez, founder of Lighthouse Christian Academy, a microschool in Frisco, Texas that opened in January of this year. After graduating from Texas A&M University, Emma spent seven years teaching in one of the largest and fastest-growing school districts in the country. While she loved the classroom, she saw firsthand how traditional education often leaves students behind and families yearning for more meaningful connection. So she became an education entrepreneur. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.