focusing on what we know is important for kids really works, and having a network of people now that also agree was super huge.

The Yass Prize is almost like Burning Man for education reform.

We believe very much that microschools should be bottoms up, they come from the community. They're founded by educators who know their community really well. And they want to design a learning environment for the kids in that community.

It has helped me raise the ceiling on what’s possible.

including public recognition from our Governor and partnership conversations with other education innovators from around the country.

Great education is a vital link for students to become successful citizens.

I'm in the process of going through the construction of a 20,000 square foot $11.5 million dollar building dedicated to career and technical education for the students in the Philadelphia region.

The Yass Prize has empowered our youth, families and community by bringing great visibility to our efforts.

Not only because of the capital, but because of the knowledge that comes by communing with the diverse group of people as opposed to everybody that thinks the exact same way that you might think.

in innovators who are doing this type of transformational work, so that others can learn from it and replicate it, so that you can actually grow yourselves.

The funding is not following children. We're trying to make better options for kids, for poor kids, middle class kids. Wealthy people have this choice, they opt out of their systems easily, why shouldn't all children have that choice?