
LiberatED Podcast
The LiberatED Podcast tells the stories of the entrepreneurial parents and teachers who are creating innovative K-12 learning options across the US and expanding education options for families.
This twice-weekly podcast is hosted by Kerry McDonald, a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and leader of the Education Entrepreneurship Lab. A regular contributor at Forbes.com and The 74, Kerry is the bestselling author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom (Chicago Review Press, 2019), and the author of the forthcoming book, Joyful Learning: How To Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling (Hachette, 2025). She has a BA in economics from Bowdoin College and a master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University. A mom of four, Kerry lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter at edentrepreneur.org.
Latest episodes

Jul 18, 2025 • 36min
In suburban Ohio, a former public school teacher launches a nature-based microschool
Jackie Bonath was a public school teacher for 14 years before quitting her job earlier this year to launch Creekside Cottage School, a full-time, multi-age microschool located in Gahanna, Ohio, a close suburb of Columbus, that is focused on nature-based learning. With 20 students already enrolled for this fall, and daily inquiries from interested parents, Jackie sees growing demand for innovative education options in her area. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Jul 15, 2025 • 32min
In rural Ohio, a former public school teacher launches a literacy-rich microschool
Today’s guest is Pam Frankforther, founder of Pioneer Reading Center in Wayne, Ohio. Pam left her job as a longtime public school teacher this year to launch Pioneer as full-time microschool for students with dyslexia and other learning differences. She was motivated to create a science-backed, literacy-rich learning environment for children in her community after listening to the popular podcast series, Sold A Story. Pam also recently published the book Dyslexia and the Public Schools: What They Don't, Can't, or Won't Tell You, and Steps to Take to Advocate for Your Child's Needs. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Jul 11, 2025 • 38min
Managing Entrepreneurial Growing Pains & Regulatory Ambiguity
Jennie Jones is an Entrepreneur-In-Residence at FEE's Education Entrepreneurship Lab. She is a former professional ballerina, turned homeschooling mom of four, turned education entrepreneur who launched her home-based microschool, Treehouse Agile Learning Community, in St. George, Utah last fall and is expanding into a second location this fall. Jennie was an earlier guest on the podcast talking about her founder journey and returns today to share some of the challenges of growth and regulatory ambiguity. Check out Jennie's latest article on this topic at the Education Entrepreneurship Lab. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Jul 8, 2025 • 38min
How OpenEd is expanding personalized education options to more families
More than a decade ago, Matt Bowman cofounded My Tech High as a platform that enabled personalized, customized learning through tuition-free partnerships with innovative public and charter schools and in collaboration with individual education providers. With a bold vision to expand personalized learning options to more families, Matt recently rebranded the company to OpenEd.co. To date, his company has served over 12,000 families. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Jul 1, 2025 • 40min
From former elementary school teacher to Phoenix faith-based learning pod founder
Deja Hillis is the founder of Faithscape Learning Pod, a faith-based K-5 microschool in Casa Grande, Arizona, near Phoenix, which she launched in August 2024. An early elementary school teacher for nearly a decade, Deja has a passion for literacy education and is the author of four children’s books. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org.

Jun 27, 2025 • 39min
“So many parents don’t feel listened to.” From middle school math teacher to microschool founder
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.

Jun 24, 2025 • 35min
From math teacher to hybrid school founder in Louisiana
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.

Jun 20, 2025 • 33min
From physician to founder, with Barbara Jauregui Wurst of Acton Academy Falls Church
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.

Jun 17, 2025 • 24min
Pre-launch plans: A former special education teacher prepares to open a new school
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.

Jun 13, 2025 • 44min
Alexandra Batista Rodriguez on creating a microschool for students with special needs
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.