LiberatED Podcast

Today's guest is David O'Connor, a college lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania for many years and a longtime theatre director and designer. David is a cofounder of Philly ALC, a self-directed school in Philadelphia that also has part-time programs for homeschoolers.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.  

Ally Adair-Chung is the founder of Beachcities Classical, a Classical Christian homeschooling collaborative based in Huntington Beach, CA. It launched in the fall of 2021 and today serves about 250 students. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Jill Brown and Susan Deakins are both longtime public school teachers who quit their jobs and, in 2021, launched the Columbia Academy for Learning and Enrichment (CALE), a JK-12 microschool in Columbia, Missouri that has experienced remarkable growth.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Andreas Widmer is an Associate Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at The Catholic University of America, and author of The Art of Principled Entrepreneurship. He shares insights from his tumultuous education journey impacted by ADHD and dyslexia, emphasizing the importance of practical experience for aspiring entrepreneurs. The discussion highlights the surge of entrepreneurship among women and marginalized communities post-2020. Widmer also advocates for embracing business failure as a growth opportunity and explores innovative educational models that prioritize personalized learning.

Lindsey Vose is a former public school teacher who launched Wild Wonders out of her garage in Belgrade, Montana in 2022. She opened with four students, including her two children. Today, Wild Wonders is located on a five-acre farmstead property near Vose’s home. It has 22 K-6 students who attend the mixed-age, drop-off program Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. She has 35 students registered for fall and says she can’t keep up with demand. She also plans to open a middle school program soon. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Priscilla Yuill is the founder and educational director of Casa Ranch Montessori , an eco-conscious Montessori homeschool cooperative program that is educating for sustainability and cultivating environmentally-conscious global citizens. Priscilla has been a passionate Montessori educator for more than 10 years, with early childhood and elementary Montessori credentials and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction. During Covid, Priscilla began homeschooling her two young boys and that started her on her path toward education entrepreneurship. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Dale Ahlquist is the cofounder of Chesterton Academy in Hopkins, Minnesota. What started in 2008 as a microschool with 10 students, including some of his own children, has grown into a flagship location with over 150 high schoolers, as well as a global network of over 70 Classical Catholic Chesterton Schools educating more than 2,000 students.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Amanda Lucas, founder of Lucas Literacy Lab, a middle school microschool in Middlesex County, New Jersey opening this fall. She taught in charter and private schools across New York City for nearly a decade before becoming an education entrepreneur and joining the KaiPod Catalyst microschool startup accelerator program. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Elmarie Hyman, founder of Learn Beyond the Book, brings a wealth of experience as a homeschooling advocate. She shares her journey from traditional education to launching a thriving secular homeschool resource center in California. The conversation dives into the benefits of homeschool charter schools, funding options, and the customizable classes offered. Elmarie discusses strategies for scaling her program, emphasizing community involvement and adapting to online formats while maintaining quality education and personal connections.

Benita Gordon was a longtime public school teacher who is now the founder of Miami MicroLearn Hub, a microschool focusing on rising 6th to rising 12th graders in South Florida opening this August. Benita also founded the educational consulting company, Global Education Concierge.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.