LiberatED Podcast

Jenson “Fig” Newton is the founder of Empigo Academy, a faith-based high school focused on career technical education (CTE) that is opening this fall in Des Moines, Iowa. He expects to launch with 50 students, all of whom will attend tuition-free thanks to Iowa's new universal school choice program. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.  

Kanesha Adams is a former public school teacher and founder of The Learning Lounge, a tutoring center and new microschool in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a low-income community outside of Little Rock. In this episode, Kanesha shares her founder story and explains why Arkansas's new universal school choice program propelled her startup decision. In Arkansas, School Choice Is Encouraging Education Entrepreneurship (Forbes.com) *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Angela Watson, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, discusses the evolving landscape of homeschooling data collection and trends, highlighting discrepancies and the growth of homeschooling rates pre- and post-pandemic. They explore the rise of micro schooling, challenges in accreditation, and the evolving motivations for families choosing homeschooling, emphasizing the need for innovation and adaptation in the future.

On the podcast today, Heather DiNino, a former public school teacher and founder of Elements Academy just outside of Boston, talks about the challenges of running a microschool. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.  

Jennifer Kempin taught for more than a decade in public schools in Pennsylvania before launching her home-based, Waldorf-inspired microschool, Fáilte Microschool, earlier this year.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Jen Granberry is the founder of ARROWS Christian Academy in Phoenix, Arizona that she launched in August 2023. ARROWS is fully-integrated K-8 private school blending neurotypical and neurodiverse students with a focus on individualized learning, meeting each child where they are at academically and developmentally. She currently has 23 students enrolled with 3 teachers and 3 aides with plans for incremental growth. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Justine Wilson from Curious and Kind Education discusses self-directed learning and Agile Learning Communities, sharing insights on transitioning from planning to execution and launching a nature play program. She also talks about building connections for rapid growth, future plans for programs, and envisioning the future of education through collaborative networks.

Thomas Arnett, Senior research fellow at Christensen Institute, discusses Jobs To Be Done Theory in parent decision-making for microschools. Topics include understanding demand based on life circumstances, motivations driving parents to choose micro schools, alleviating family anxiety, leveraging social proof, impact of COVID-19 on schooling norms, and technology's role in enabling new schooling models.

The Sanctuary Academy on the north side of Chicago is a Catholic microschool focused on learner-driven education enabling each child to follow his or her own unique path. It is part of the global Acton Academy network of hundreds of learner-driven microschools serving thousands of learners. The Sanctuary Academy is the first intentionally Catholic version of the Acton model. It was cofounded in 2020 by Kelly and Michael Sullivan who are homeschooling parents to their 8 children. They currently operate The Sanctuary Academy as a three-day hybrid homeschool program and have 37 students. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

The Cherry Hill School in El Paso, Texas is a Reggio Emilia-inspired, project-based 1st through 5th Jewish microschool that was founded in 2020. Joining me today to talk more about Cherry Hill and its learner-centered educational philosophy is Meg Birk, Head of School Curriculum at The Cherry Hill School. Prior to joining Cherry Hill, Meg spent 36 years as a public school educator in the El Paso School District.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.