LiberatED Podcast

Today’s guest is Joanna Cervantez, founder of A Fuller Education Microschool just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which she launched in the fall 2024. Joanna has both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education and began her career as a middle school math teacher in inner-city Los Angeles, later teaching in a school for an orphanage in El Salvador. Since 2013, she has been coaching K-12 teachers and administrators to help them transform their classrooms into joyful learning communities. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today's guest is Kate Lundquist, founder and principal of Northshore Prep Academy. A former public high school math and physics teacher, Kate opened her secular K-8 hybrid school in Mandeville, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, in 2015. Today, Northshore Prep Academy has 75 students enrolled.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today's guest is Barbara Jauregui Wurst, a medical doctor and adjunct professor at George Washington University who cofounded Acton Academy Falls Church in Northern Virginia in 2021.  Read Courage To Grow by Acton Academy cofounder, Laura Sandefer. Check out this new article at our Education Entrepreneurship Lab by a recent graduate of an Acton Academy in Kansas.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today's guest is Cassandra Orozco, the founder of Beacon of Hope Academy, a faith-based microschool serving K–5th grade students with special needs in Lake Worth, Florida, set to open this fall. As a certified special education teacher with experience in both charter and private schools, Cassandra is passionate about reimagining education to better serve neurodiverse learners. Through Beacon of Hope Academy, she’s creating a nurturing, individualized environment where every child is seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today’s guest is Alexandra Batista Rodriguez, founder and director of Steps Learning Center in Orlando, Florida, a specialized K-8 microschool for neurodiverse learners with moderate to significant special needs. Steps Learning Center takes a nontraditional, student-centered approach to learning, and serves a variety of families through various flexible programs, including full-time and part-time microschool enrollment options, tutoring services, and curriculum support for homebound students—all financially accessible to students through the state's school-choice programs.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.  

Today’s guest is Sara James, a former public school teacher who founded Spark Christian Academy, an Acton Academy affiliate in Harrison, Ohio, near Cincinnati, in 2022. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today’s guest is Sarah Pevehouse, founder of Apogee Dripping Springs Micro High School in Dripping Springs, Texas, west of Austin, which she launched in 2024. With a background in Waldorf and alternative education, Sarah has served as a teacher, administrator, and enrollment director, shaping real-world learning experiences for students. She has taught in overseas military schools, led summer camps, and held leadership roles in private K-8 and preschool programs.  Sarah is a mom of two daughters, ages 13 and 15, and is an active member of both the Apogee Strong network of education centers, as well as the KaiPod Catalyst microschool accelerator program. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Today's guest is Elan Page, the founder of Homeschool Our Way based in Dallas, Texas. She created Homeschool Our Way in 2023 to help other families of color avoid the overwhelm she had experienced in starting something new. Homeschool Our Way offers a weekly podcast, an online course called the Homeschool Launch Blueprint, homeschool coaching services, and other resources to empower families of color to educate their children with confidence and clarity. ***   Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly e-newsletter on education entrepreneurship and innovation at edentrepreneur.org.  

Ali Kaufman, an education entrepreneur and founder of Space of Mind, shares her journey in creating a thriving hybrid homeschool program in Florida. She explores how clutter affects learning, especially for children with ADHD or autism. Kaufman also discusses the evolution of personalized homeschooling and the collaborative environment she aims to foster. She highlights the challenges of managing a hybrid model while balancing passion with practical entrepreneurship. Listeners can engage with her innovative education approach and learn more about adaptive learning strategies.

In this conversation with George Philhower, the Superintendent of Eastern Hancock Public Schools, we explore the exciting rise of public microschooling in Indiana. Philhower leads the Indiana Microschool Collaborative, aiming to integrate innovative schooling options into public education. He discusses the pandemic's role in accelerating this movement, the joy of personalized learning, and the importance of community collaboration. Discover how educational leaders can inspire change and create more enriching experiences for students in rural areas.