Today’s episode is special in that I am joined by both a school founder and a parent so we’ll hear two interesting perspectives on the draw toward alternative education options. Sarah Max is a former public school teacher who cofounded <a href="https://www.invictusleander.org/">Acton Invictus</a> in 2021 in Leander, Texas, just outside of Austin. Acton Invictus is part of the global Acton Academy microschool network that was founded in 2009 and now includes over 300 schools serving thousands of learners. Tim Tran is an entrepreneur and one of Acton Invictus’s original founding parents. He moved to Texas specifically so that his children could attend an Acton Academy. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at <a href= "http://www.fee.org/liberated">fee.org/liberated</a>.

Today’s episode is special in that I am joined by both a school founder and a parent so we’ll hear two interesting perspectives on the draw toward alternative education options. Sarah Max is a former public school teacher who cofounded Acton Invictus in 2021 in Leander, Texas, just outside of Austin. Acton Invictus is part of the global Acton Academy microschool network that was founded in 2009 and now includes over 300 schools serving thousands of learners. Tim Tran is an entrepreneur and one of Acton Invictus’s original founding parents. He moved to Texas specifically so that his children could attend an Acton Academy. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Today’s episode is special in that I am joined by both a school founder and a parent so we’ll hear two interesting perspectives on the draw toward alternative education options. Sarah Max is a former public school teacher who cofounded <a href="https://www.invictusleander.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Acton Invictus</a> in 2021 in Leander, Texas, just outside of Austin. Acton Invictus is part of the global Acton Academy microschool network that was founded in 2009 and now includes over 300 schools serving thousands of learners. Tim Tran is an entrepreneur and one of Acton Invictus’s original founding parents. He moved to Texas specifically so that his children could attend an Acton Academy. *** 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>.

“As a 5th grade teacher, by the time children came to me, the light had already gone out.” Former public school teacher Sarah Max on becoming a microschool founder

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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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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“As a 5th grade teacher, by the time children came to me, the light had already gone out.” Former public school teacher Sarah Max on becoming a microschool founder

“As a 5th grade teacher, by the time children came to me, the light had already gone out.” Former public school teacher Sarah Max on becoming a microschool founder

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