KindlED | The Prenda Podcast

We explore why more parents are rethinking the default school path and how real support makes school choice easier. From being mislabeled in school to helping scale education choice, our guest shares how families can find better-fit options.• A school choice journey from Taiwan to Florida to a microschool • Why parent-led “kitchen table” decisions lead to better outcomes • How Outschool.org supported families during COVID • What parents want: safety, wellbeing, rigor, flexibility, and time • Why choosing school year by year improves fit • The concept of “firing your school” and choosing intentionally • How unbundled learning expands access to classes and opportunities • Texas ESA insights: timelines, funding, and waitlistsAbout our guestMorgan Camu is Head of Programs at Outschool.org, where she leads program design, strategy, and implementation to maximize the impact of educational choice programs. Her team partners with state education agencies to provide technology-enabled, human-centered solutions to over 125,000 students each year. Her team has also supported 45 grantees advancing enrichment opportunities for marginalized learners and served more than 30,000 students during the COVID-19 pandemic.Previously, Morgan served as Chief Academic Officer at a global education company serving nearly 70 school districts across the country, where she led efforts to recruit, select, and support 2,000 international teachers from more than 35 countries. She began her career as a high school science teacher in rural North Carolina.She holds a doctorate in Education Leadership from Harvard University and a B.A. from Duke University.Connect with MorganOutschool.orgTexas Education Freedom Account ProgramThe Texas Finder ToolSchool Choice ArkansasOutbridge South CarolinaGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We name the “imagination crisis” holding education back and argue that better schools start with better dreaming, not just better funding or tools. We share how 4.0 Schools helps change-curious builders and turn rough ideas into real tests while staying impact-first, resilient, and grounded in what families and learners actually need. • why education makes people feel personally invested and why that can still produce stale ideas • what 4.0 Schools does as an early-stage launch pad for education founders • how to build resilience by loving the work rather than protecting the original idea • design dreaming basics: cataloguing assets and choosing a motivating question • why “barely better” innovation feels safe and how it limits progress • what anti-scale really means and how to stay impact-first as you grow • learner-centric design as a practical way to build better solutions • AI in education as jet fuel for implementation and a risk to originality Go sign up for 4.0 schools, support the project. About our guestNicole Jarbo is the CEO of 4.0 Schools, where she leads one of the country’s most active platforms for early-stage education founders. A former Teach For America corps member and KIPP teacher, she is also a fintech founder who has raised millions in venture capital. Nicole has worked across philanthropy and systems-level education change, and is the host of Pitch Playground, an award-winning podcast spotlighting the future of education.Connect with Nicole4.0 SchoolsPitch Playground PodcastGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We dig into what parents actually want from schools: strong reading and math, safety and belonging, and communication that treats families like partners. Texas’s EFA, new accreditation pathways for microschools, and the rise of homeschooling point toward a more plural system grounded in trust and transparency.• basics as survival skills in modern life• safety, belonging, and being seen• the black box problem and real-time updates• drop-off and pickup as engagement signals• growth of homeschooling, hybrid, and microschools• Texas EFA scale, caps, and prioritization• accreditation as a quality floor, not a barrier• building a TEA-aligned microschool accreditor• vision for plural, calm, human-scale schools• gratitude for mentors who spark learningAbout our guestColleen Dippel began her career as a public-school teacher. Colleen is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Families Empowered, a Texas based not for profit parent service organization. Families Empowered has provided K-12 school navigation services to over 105K low-income families in Texas. Colleen was a 2013 LEE Emerging Political Leadership Fellow and a 2017 Pahara-Aspen Fellowship recipient. She served on the Advisory Board of the Rice Educational Entrepreneurship Program at the Jones School of Business. She is a member of the John Cooper School Booster Club Board and the Dyslexia School of Houston Board. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Board of the Thrive with Autism Charter School. She and her daughter are active participants in The Woodlands TX chapter of the National Charity League. She considers being a mother to her two children her greatest accomplishment. Connect with ColleenFamilies EmpoweredTexas Education Freedom Accounts ProgramTX Microschool Accreditation ServiceGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We examine how disruption theory applies to K–12 and how microschools and ESAs shift power from systems to families. We discuss rigor, the science of reading, special education, and how districts could operate in a more plural, community-centered future.• origins and naming of the microschool movement• disruption theory in classrooms and systems• blended vs. virtual learning• how time-based models hinder student-centered learning• ESAs vs. vouchers and the value of flexibility• overserved families and K–12 market dynamics• rigor through student-centered mastery• adoption and social proof along the S-curve• special education in microschools• rethinking high school identity and rituals• district partnerships with microschools• accreditation and tuition-first policy risksAbout our guestMichael Horn is an award-winning author and national bestselling writer of Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career. He teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and co-founded the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation. Through his writing, speaking, and work with education organizations, he champions helping individuals build meaningful careers and lives.He has authored multiple books on education and innovation, including Disrupting Class, Blended, and From Reopen to Reinvent, cohosts the top education podcasts Future U and Class Disrupted, and writes The Future of Education newsletter. An executive editor at Education Next and contributor to Forbes, his work has appeared in major outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. His 2024 Harvard Business Review article, “Why Employees Quit,” won the 2025 Warren Bennis Award for best HBR article on leadership. He serves on several education boards and is a 2014 Eisenhower Fellow. Horn holds a BA from Yale and an MBA from Harvard Business School.Connect with MichaelMichael HornDisrupting Class BookClass Disrupted Podcast with Diane TavennerGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We name the real barrier in education as the status quo mindset and share how Vela backs nearly 5,000 founders building learner-centered options. Meredith traces her journey from engineering and finance to education, explains the data behind microschool growth, and offers practical steps for parents and educators to lead change.• Defining the enemy as mindset, not institutions• Meredith’s path from engineering and economics to education• Three decades of steady growth in low-cost alternatives• Pre‑COVID skepticism and the COVID demand shock• Vela’s microgrants, reinvestments and peer network• The four founder types and their motivations• Parent and learner agency as a new paradigm• Pioneers helping refugees become builders• Wild and wise as a founder operating principleAbout our guestMeredith is president and CEO of VELA, a network of self-determined people doing education their own way. VELA supports 4,800+ founders who enable low-cost private and home education for millions of families. Meredith brings more than two decades of philanthropy and community leadership to this work. She previously served as vice president of public affairs for Koch, Inc., where she led corporate philanthropy and community programs. Meredith is the board chair of yes. every kid., an organization advancing transformative education policy, and is a trustee of Wichita Collegiate School. Connect with MeredithVELAGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We trace Allison Serafin’s path from restless learner to teacher, elected education leader, and capital guide who helps schools access facilities and finance. The heart of the talk is practical: how founders can become “underwritable” without losing their mission.• early sparks in entrepreneurship and a misfit K–12 experience• classroom wins and structural limits seen in Houston and Philadelphia• leading in Las Vegas across TFA, district change, and state board service• learning finance to build IDEA campuses and earn credibility• what Building Hope does and why facilities cost so much• pilot microloans for microschools with humane, unsecured terms• clean bookkeeping, days cash on hand, and debt coverage explained• how to use AI to learn finance fast and prepare for lenders• start scrappy, then professionalize when you choose to growAbout our guestAllison Serafin brings experience, accomplishment and energy to her responsibilities at Building Hope. Allison has more than 20 years in the education field, including time as an elected member of the Nevada State Board of Education. She helped raise more than $40 million for IDEA Public Charter School in her hometown of Houston and was Domestic Portfolio Director at Dovetail Impact Foundation. Allison is a dedicated Peloton bicyclist. She earned a BS in Political Science at Texas Christian University and an MS in Social Work at the University of Texas-Arlington.Connect with AllisonBuilding HopeGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We explore how joy, autonomy, and real-world experiences transform learning from third grade to high school, and how microschools inside and alongside public systems meet students where they are. Victoria Andrews shares the question that changed her career and the playbook that’s guiding leaders forward.• third grade classrooms built on autonomy, stations, and projects• high schoolers engaged through internships, externships, and community partners• logistics and impact of running a hundred field trips in a year• exposure as a driver of curiosity, confidence, and purpose• the catalytic pause after being asked do you love it• building and supporting microschools as responsive community tools• public district partnerships, declining enrollment, and agile design• student dignity, choice, and culturally relevant practices• historical roots of microschools in indigenous and freedom schools• practical ways educators can propose microschools within districtsAbout our guestVictoria recently served as the Assistant Director for an International Baccalaureate School and guided students and staff through virtual and in person learning. Previously, she served as a Dean at Energy Institute High School, a magnet school with a project-based learning focus on energy. Here, Victoria paired students with summer programs based on their unique interests, developed an internship program for multiple grade levels, created experiential learning opportunities, coordinated field trips, and worked closely with the community and industry partners. Victoria is passionate about serving as a connector and collaborator for underrepresented communities while supporting unique learning environments. Connect with VictoriaVictoria AndrewsGetting Smart Microschools InitiativeGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We explore the front lines of the microschool movement with Brittany Munk-Miller, a Prenda microschool specialist, and unpack what it really takes to start small, teach with heart, and track meaningful growth beyond letter grades. We share stories, tools, and steps that make launching doable with zero upfront cost.• who typically starts microschools and why• definitions, sizes, and common locations for microschools• traits of effective guides and the student‑centered role• curriculum structure, mastery, and flexible customization• balancing technology, AI tutors, and hands‑on projects• how costs work, including no startup fees with Prenda• starting small to test demand and lower risk• accreditation concerns and the Empowered Learner Report• shifting from grades to portfolios and empowerment metrics• founder and student stories that show fires rekindledAbout our guestBrittany is a Microschool Specialist at Prenda. Every day, she talks to people thinking about starting microschools, hears their unique stories and passion for the work, and helps them overcome barriers. She is passionate about helping educators and parents create their dream learning environments. Prior to Prenda, Brittany was a successful sales leader and entrepreneur. She is also the mom of three wonderful kids.Connect with BrittanyLinkedInStart a Prenda MicroschoolGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We explore how a mother and daughter helped turn Arkansas into a leading state for school choice, sharing hard-won lessons from family needs, policy battles, and the explosive growth of microschools. Stories, strategy, and straight talk show how parents and educators can build options that fit real kids.• personal journey from limited options to statewide advocacy• the mission and work of Reform Alliance supporting families• education freedom accounts and scholarship access• real family stories showing assistive tools and homeschool support• why one size never fit all and why options matter• launching 10 microschools in 30 days across Arkansas• practical advice on starting a microschool around local needs• overcoming fear, trusting parents, and iterating fast• legacy, mentorship, and passing the torch to new leadersAbout our guestsLaurie Lee serves as Chairman and Executive Director of The Reform Alliance, a nonprofit committed to ensuring every K-12 student in Arkansas has access to a world-class education. For more than 20 years, Laurie has been involved in the School Choice movement through policy development, coalition building, and collaboration with national education reform leaders. The Reform Alliance has been instrumental in advancing Arkansas's three School Choice programs: the Succeed Scholarship (a voucher), recently absorbed into the Education Freedom Accounts (an Education Savings Account),  and the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids Scholarship (a tax credit program).Emmy Henley’s journey in education reform began at 16, volunteering with after-school and mentoring programs. Her passion for championing Arkansas students led her to join The Reform Alliance. She has spent the past decade helping drive the success of the Succeed Scholarship, now part of the state’s Education Freedom Accounts (EFA). Today, she oversees the Philanthropic Investment in Arkansas Kids tax credit scholarship, supports the EFA program, and manages The Reform Alliance staff. This team travels statewide, building parent coalitions and developing innovative models like microschools.Connect with Laurie and EmmyThe Reform AllianceGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool

We trace a principal’s journey from Teach For America to a nine-year commitment leading a high-need neighborhood school, then dive into how a microschool inside the campus turned behavior crises into growth and engagement. The result: fewer labels, more joy, and a practical path other schools can follow.• why labels from tests and adults damage motivation and identity• how a 10-student microschool structure lowers behavior issues• the surprising success of introverts in small, intentional groups• keeping ties to homeroom, electives, lunch, and campus culture• student voice and choice as drivers of academic acceleration• leadership longevity, trust, and ground-up innovation• advice for launching microschools within districts• focusing accountability on kids and families, not systemsAbout our guestRobby Meldau is in his 14th year as a public school educator and 9th year as principal at Eisenhower Center For Innovation (ECFI), a PreK-6 neighborhood elementary school in Mesa, Arizona. Prior to arriving at Eisenhower, Robby was a 5th grade math and science teacher at Reyes Maria Ruiz Leadership Academy in South Phoenix. He entered teaching as a 2011 Teach For America Phoenix Corps Member and later worked in teacher training and support roles with Teach For America’s summer institute and Phoenix regional team. Robby has also served as a member of the Teach for America Arizona Alumni Board and as the President elect of the Mesa Association of School Administrators.Connect with RobbyEisenhower Center for InnovationGot a story to share or question you want us to answer? Send us a message!About the podcastThe KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.Got a burning question?We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!Important links:• Connect with us on social • Get our free literacy curriculumInterested in starting a microschool?Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool