LiberatED Podcast

Today's guests are Katie Kilgore and Michael Frost who are the cofounders, along with a third family, of Three Cords Academy, a student-focused, Biblically-centered microschool currently serving 2nd-6th grades which they launched in Fall 2024 in Carrollton, Georgia. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.    

Today's guest is MacKenzie Price, cofounder of 2 Hour Learning and Alpha School, a K-12 private school in Austin, Texas which she launched in 2014. MacKenzie is currently working to scale the Alpha School model nationwide, with additional schools currently operating or opening soon in several states. A graduate of Stanford University, MacKenzie hosts the Future of Education podcast, which focuses on the advent of AI in education and its impact on student learning and discovery.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.  

In this episode, Kerry chats with Kym Kent, a veteran homeschooling mom of 6 and founder of a Maryland-based homeschooling program who has already graduated 4 of her children and is currently going through the college admissions process with her son Samuel. Kerry's daughter Molly is a lifelong homeschooler who is also going through the college admissions process this year. Kerry and Kym talk about their experience of homeschooling their kids to college—including things to consider regarding high school course preparation, college list creation, and what to think about in junior year and the start of senior year before completing college applications.  This episode is the first in a series of episodes with Kerry and Kym on homeschooling to college! Check out Kerry's recent Forbes.com article about an internship for STEM-focused homeschooled high schoolers offered at MIT. Take a peek at Kym's debut FEE.org article, Yes, You Can Homeschool Your Kids to College. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.    

Today's guest is Maria Stalsberg, founder of Our Village School, a creative learning environment for homeschooled kids ages 6 and over in Lakeville, Minnesota. Maria holds a Master’s degree in Teaching and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She began her career in Corporate America before transitioning to becoming a classroom teacher in the traditional education system, but ultimately stepped away to focus on raising her four children. After enrolling her oldest in the local public elementary school for kindergarten and first grade, Maria found herself longing for a more dynamic, hands-on approach to learning. Determined to create something different, she pulled her oldest to homeschool and launched Our Village School in 2020. It started as a single day of programming in her backyard with 18 kids and has since grown to now serve roughly 150 students with four-day-a-week programming and flexible attendance options. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Exciting news is shared about a new book focusing on innovative education methods! It encourages parents and teachers to explore alternatives to traditional schooling. The podcast features inspiring stories from those involved in this educational revolution. Listeners are invited to join the movement and participate in upcoming book events in various cities. Preorders for the book are now available, promising a wealth of inspiration for building joyful learning communities.

Robert Barnett, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at the Modern Classrooms Project, shares insights from his journey in education. He discusses innovative tech like instructional videos that allow personalized learning for students. Barnett emphasizes the importance of adapting teaching methods to meet diverse needs. He also delves into the evolution of funding models for nonprofits, the advantages of personalized instruction in private schools, and his own experiences as an education entrepreneur.

Our guest today is Jennie Jones, a former professional ballerina, turned homeschooling mom of four, turned education entrepreneur. In September 2024, Jennie launched The Treehouse Agile Learning Community as a home-based microschool in St. George, Utah that uses agile learning tools to foster intentional community, natural learning, and independence in students ages 5-12. Read more about Jennie's founder journey in her debut FEE.org article. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Jake Thompson, founder of Heroes Academy and leader of the Acton Academy network, shares his journey from finance to education. He emphasizes the importance of authentic learning, which fuels creativity and entrepreneurship in students. Thompson discusses his experiences founding an academy in Boise and highlights the transformative impact on children and families. He explores the challenges of educational entrepreneurship while stressing the need for passion and a meaningful calling. The conversation also includes resources for future founders in the innovative educational landscape.

Today's guests are Taylor Munro and Lacey Fickes, cofounders of Peak Academy, a microschool in Richmond, Texas currently serving students in grades K-8, with a high school expansion in the works. They launched Peak Academy in August 2022, but prior to that both founders worked for many years as public school teachers in Texas.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Tonya Kipe was an elementary school teacher in Florida public schools for over a decade before launching Kipe Academy, a microschool in Polk City, Florida. She grew her microschool from one student in January 2024 to 26 students today, including those with special learning needs. Read more about Tonya's microschool in Kerry's latest article at The 74. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.