My guest today is Becky McNichols, founder of <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/RootedLifeAcademy">Rooted Life Academy</a>, a home-based microschool/homeschool enrichment program in the Kansas City area. Becky taught in public schools for 15 years, including most recently in a Title I public school that served predominantly low-income and migrant students. She grew increasingly drained by her public school teaching job and resigned in the spring of 2022 to launch Rooted Life. Becky opened her pod that fall with eight students ranging in age from kindergarteners to fourth graders. Today, her pod is at capacity with about a dozen students and a waiting list.  *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at <a href= "http://www.fee.org/liberated">fee.org/liberated</a>.

My guest today is Becky McNichols, founder of Rooted Life Academy, a home-based microschool/homeschool enrichment program in the Kansas City area. Becky taught in public schools for 15 years, including most recently in a Title I public school that served predominantly low-income and migrant students. She grew increasingly drained by her public school teaching job and resigned in the spring of 2022 to launch Rooted Life. Becky opened her pod that fall with eight students ranging in age from kindergarteners to fourth graders. Today, her pod is at capacity with about a dozen students and a waiting list. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

&nbsp;My guest today is Becky McNichols, founder of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RootedLifeAcademy" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rooted Life Academy</a>, a home-based microschool/homeschool enrichment program in the Kansas City area. Becky taught in public schools for 15 years, including most recently in a Title I public school that served predominantly low-income and migrant students. She grew increasingly drained by her public school teaching job and resigned in the spring of 2022 to launch Rooted Life. Becky opened her pod that fall with eight students ranging in age from kindergarteners to fourth graders. Today, her pod is at capacity with about a dozen students and a waiting list.&nbsp; *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at <a href="http://www.fee.org/liberated" rel="noopener noreferrer">fee.org/liberated</a>.

A Teacher Finds Joy & Fulfillment As A Founder: Becky McNichols on creating Rooted Life Academy

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.

Education

Kids & Family

Education for Kids

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.

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A Teacher Finds Joy & Fulfillment As A Founder: Becky McNichols on creating Rooted Life Academy

A Teacher Finds Joy & Fulfillment As A Founder: Becky McNichols on creating Rooted Life Academy

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