LiberatED Podcast
Kerry McDonald
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Apr 4, 2024 • 33min
Mixing Forest Schooling & Self-Directed Learning: A Conversation with Justine Wilson of Curious & Kind Education
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.
Apr 2, 2024 • 32min
Why are families choosing microschools? Christensen Institute Fellow Thomas Arnett discusses Jobs To Be Done Theory
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.
Mar 29, 2024 • 50min
Chicago’s Catholic Acton Academy: Kelly & Michael Sullivan on creating The Sanctuary Academy
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.
Mar 27, 2024 • 34min
A Reggio Emilia-inspired Jewish microschool in El Paso: The Cherry Hill School was founded in 2020
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.
Mar 25, 2024 • 36min
A Muslim microschool in DC: Al Hadi cofounder Rida Rizvi talks about creating a child-centered, faith-filled program
Rida Rizvi is a cofounder of Al Hadi Learning Organization, a Muslim microschool in the Washington, DC area that sprouted in 2017 as an off-shoot of a mommy-and-me class. It currently operates as a learner-centered preschool and early-elementary microschool. Rida is now creating a new organization called Azeez Academy for upper-elementary students. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Mar 22, 2024 • 34min
An innovative microschool for rural Utah families: Former public school teacher Todd Hepworth on launching Orchard STEM School
Todd Hepworth is the co-founder of Orchard STEM School, a K-8 microschool located in a working orchard in his rural community of Santaquin, Utah that is scheduled to open this August. Todd worked as a public school teacher for more than a decade, as well as an administrator at a Waldorf-inspired charter school, before becoming an education entrepreneur. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Mar 19, 2024 • 45min
“If we can’t find one then we’re going to open one.” Public school teachers Alexis & JT Rubatzky on opening Triumph: An Acton Academy
Alexis and JT Rubatzky are the founders of Triumph: An Acton Academy in Cleveland, Tennessee, just outside of Chattanooga. Triumph is a home-based microschool for homeschoolers that opened in August 2023 and is part of the Acton Academy network of hundreds of learner-driven microschools. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Mar 15, 2024 • 45min
A Tennessee microschool nurturing discovery & neurodiversity: Former public school teacher Rachel Good on being a founder
Rachel Good is the founder of Discovery Learners’ Academy (DLA), a microschool that opened in Chattanooga, Tennessee in fall 2022. Rachel worked for more than 8 years as a public school teacher in Washington and Tennessee before launching DLA as a state-recognized PreK-12 private school with a personalized educational approach. It opened with 21 learners and today has 50—about 15 of whom attend part-time as homeschoolers. About half of the school’s students are neurodiverse, a population that Good caters to as a former special education teacher. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Mar 12, 2024 • 46min
Launch Your Kind with Iman Alleyne!
Iman Alleyne is the founder of Kind Academy and creator of Launch Your Kind, an accelerator program for those interested in opening their own microschools! *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
Mar 8, 2024 • 58min
How Prenda has launched hundreds of microschools: Kaity Broadbent on Prenda’s vision & impact
Kaity Broadbent is the Chief Empowerment Advocate at Prenda, the national network that has helped to launch hundreds of microschools serving thousands of learners since 2018. A homeschooling mom, Kaity is a thoughtful and insightful voice on the topic of personalized learning and alternative education models. Prior to Prenda, Kaity was a Speech-Language Pathologist in public schools, literacy coach, and curriculum designer. She's a certified peaceful parenting coach and mom to four Prenda kids ages 4 to 11. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.
