Changemaker ED“U”

In this episode of the Changemaker Edu Podcast, host David K. Richards sits down with Jess Steele, a Changemaker affiliate founder who recently launched The Resonance Lab—a wellness-based K–8 microschool operating out of the Blue Ash YMCA in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. Jess shares her raw journey from serving as a secondary school educator and startup charter school principal in Phoenix, Arizona, to experiencing profound burnout and ultimately taking the leap into the microschool movement.

Together, they dive deep into the philosophy of "unburdening humanity" through education, overcoming the sector's pervasive complexity bias, and how leaning into surrender and energetic alignment paved the way for community partnerships, state approvals, and a joy-filled learning community.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

• The "Unburdened" Paradigm: Why the job of modern educators is to unburden students, families, and teachers from rigid, industrial-era systems that no longer serve human well being.
• Breaking the Complexity Bias: How traditional education overcomplicates teaching with bureaucratic red tape, and why learning is allowed to feel simple, aligned, and human.
• Surrender vs. Gripping: Jess’s mindset shift on the founder's journey, letting go of rigid expectations and asking the universe to "surprise and delight me" instead of forcing outcomes.
• Serendipity in Community Partnerships: How a spontaneous message on LinkedIn led to a partnership with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati.
• Navigating Regulatory Hurdles with Love: The tactical reality of launching a chartered non public microschool in Ohio, handling state compliance solo, and treating obstacles as "detours in the right direction."

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Welcome & introducing Jess Steele, founder of The Resonance Lab
• 01:05 – Jess’s background: High school teacher, curriculum coach, charter principal, and author
• 03:40 – The turning point: Moving from physical exhaustion to the decision to become "unburdened"
• 06:40 – From "Who am I to start a school?" to "Who am I NOT to?"
• 07:45 – Escaping the complexity bias in schooling
• 09:15 – The leap to Ohio & serendipity: Partnering with the Blue Ash YMCA
• 12:05 – The founder's mindset: Open palms, no gripping, and leading with love
• 15:35 – Tackling Ohio compliance and the chartering process without losing your soul
• 20:00 – The future of education: Building decentralized, autonomous, co-created microschool ecosystems

You can learn more about the Resonance Lab here: https://www.theresonancelab.org/

In this episode of the Changemaker Edu Podcast, host David K. Richards sits down with Mickey Revenaugh, education innovator, EdTech pioneer, and author of School’s Out: Why Families Are Choosing Unconventional Education. Together, they explore the shift away from traditional schooling and dive into the rapidly growing ecosystem of microschools, hybrid homeschooling, virtual learning, and personalized education.

Mickey shares insights from her decades in educational technology—from editing tech magazines at Scholastic and launching the E-Rate program to co-founding Connections Academy. The discussion highlights how pandemic-era learning accelerated family demand for flexibility and choice, how AI is empowering educators to build custom curricula, and how school districts can adapt by embracing autonomous microschool models.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

• Defining Unconventional Education: How the spectrum of learning models—from multi-generational homeschooling to microschools and niche virtual programs—has evolved into a mainstream movement.
• The Post-Pandemic Catalyst: Why experiencing learning outside the classroom gave parents firsthand evidence of their children’s unique learning needs, making non-traditional options socially acceptable and widely sought-after.
• The "Food Truck" Metaphor for Microschools: Why microschools shouldn't all try to become large-scale "franchises" or "McDonald’s," but rather thrive as unique, community-tailored learning hubs supported by strong local ecosystems.
• The Evolution of Homeschooling & "Switching": Recent research from Johns Hopkins University showing how modern families curate ala-carte, personalized educational journeys rather than sticking to a single model throughout a child's K-12 experience.
• District Microschool Innovations: How forward-thinking public school districts (such as Polk County, Florida, and collaborative networks in Indiana) are creating their own microschools and autonomous options to retain students.
• AI as a Curriculum Equalizer: How artificial intelligence allows passionate educators to design, mix, match, and personalize high-quality multi-age curricula in weeks rather than years.

Mickey Revenaugh is co-founder of Connections Academy, the pioneering online school provider launched in Baltimore in 2001 and now serving students around the world as part of Pearson. Previously, she helped start the E-rate program to wire every American school to the Internet and was longtime edtech editor at Scholastic. Mickey is an advisor to multiple global edtech companies and serves on the boards of Pearson Online Academy, Yellow Arrow Publishing, and the National Standards of Quality for Online Learning. Her book, School’s Out: Why Families Are Choosing Unconventional Education, is out now from Johns Hopkins University Press.

Website: www.mickeyrevenaugh.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mrevenaugh/
Instagram/Facebook: @mickeyrevenaugh_schoolsout
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mickeyrevenaugh

You can buy SCHOOL'S OUT from Johns Hopkins University Press (https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/54028/schools-out), Amazon (https://a.co/d/0aOm2rNq) or wherever you shop for books.

This week, David sat down with Michael Horn, an award-winning author of several books, including the national bestseller, Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career; teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; and co-founded the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, a non-profit think tank. He strives to create a world in which all individuals can build their passions, fulfill their potential, and live a life of meaning through his writing, speaking, and work with a portfolio of education organizations.

Michael is also the author of From Reopen to Reinvent: (Re)creating School for Every Child; Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns; Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools; Choosing College; and Goodnight Box, a children’s story. He cohosts the top education podcasts Future U and Class Disrupted and writes the Substack newsletter The Future of Education. Michael also serves as an executive editor at Education Next, is a contributor to Forbes, and his work has been featured in outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and NBC. His 2024 Harvard Business Review article, “Why Employees Quit,” won the 2025 Warren Bennis award for the best HBR article on leadership. Michael serves on the board and advisory boards of a range of education organizations, including Imagine Worldwide and Minerva University.

He was selected as a 2014 Eisenhower Fellow to study innovation in education in Vietnam and Korea. Michael holds a BA in history from Yale University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Episode Overview

In this episode, we sit down with education thought leader and "intellectual entertainer" Michael Horn, co-author of Disrupting Class and co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute. Together, we dive deep into the rapidly growing microschool movement, the evolution of personalized learning, and how new technologies like AI are shaping the future of K–12 education.

Michael shares his unique perspective on the balance between innovation and regulation, the impact of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), and why small-scale, community-driven education models might just be the ultimate answer to student engagement and success.

Key Takeaways & Highlights

• The Rise of Microschools: Why right now is the best time in decades to be an education entrepreneur.
• Regulation vs. Innovation: Navigating the fine line between policy oversight, accountability, and preserving the freedom that makes small learning communities thrive.
• The "Navigation Layer" for Families: The growing need to help parents curate personalized educational journeys from an increasing menu of options.
• AI as an Assessment Tool: How artificial intelligence can act as a supportive "listening agent" to evaluate skill mastery, grit, and critical thinking in real time—without heavy-handed testing.
• Screen Time & Balanced Models: Exploring the healthy tension between AI-driven, high-tech learning and tech-free, nature- or farm-based microschools.
• Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): How unlocking public funding for families creates a disruptive, consumer-driven market while giving low- and middle-income families better access to tailored education.

Connect with Michael Horn

• Substack: Future of Education
• Website: michaelbhorn.com
• Podcast: Class Disrupted (Co-hosted with Diane Tavenner)
• Social Media: Connect on X/Twitter or LinkedIn @MichaelBHorn

A year ago, Changemaker Education was still transforming its vision into a working model. Today, Joy Meserve and David K. Richards are supporting founders across more than 20 states, and learning alongside them every day.

In this candid conversation, Joy and David share what they now understand about becoming a successful microschool founder. They explore why educators already possess many of the skills required to become entrepreneurs, what early signs suggest that a founder can succeed, and why building trust with families takes more time and persistence than many people expect.

They also discuss Changemaker’s evolving Founder Success System, its new lean launch approach, the importance of community and operational support, and why founders need both sovereignty and coachability. The conversation expands into Changemaker’s Mind, Body, Soul philosophy and why preserving distinctly human capacities will become even more important in an AI powered world.

This episode is for educators, parents and community leaders who feel called to build something different for young people, even if they don’t yet feel completely ready.

Short description

Who can become a microschool founder—and what does it really take to succeed? Joy Meserve and David K. Richards share what they’ve learned from supporting real founders across the country, from entrepreneurial mindset and enrollment realities to operational support, founder community and the freedom to build a locally responsive school.

Key topics covered

• What has changed during Changemaker Education’s second year
• Who is capable of becoming a microschool founder
• Why educators already possess entrepreneurial skills
• Curiosity, grit, adaptability and generosity of spirit
• Early indicators of founder readiness
• Why social proof and family trust take time to build
• How founders grow into new capabilities
• Founder examples from St. Louis, Florida and Cincinnati
• The role of Mind, Body, Soul in founder and student development
• Preserving humanity in an AI powered world
• How Changemaker saves founders hundreds of operational hours
• The difference between an affiliate network and a “school in a box”
• Why school leadership should not be undertaken alone
• How aspiring founders can begin exploring their vision

Suggested chapters

• 00:00 — Welcome and why we’re revisiting the conversation
• 00:50 — What has changed during Changemaker’s second year
• 03:45 — A growing, co-created founder ecosystem
• 05:25 — What David’s beliefs about founders have taught him
• 09:50 — Who is capable of becoming a microschool founder?
• 11:35 — The entrepreneurial abilities educators already possess
• 13:57 — Early signs of founder readiness—and potential warning signs
• 15:20 — The underestimated work of earning family trust
• 19:31 — Why Changemaker now recommends a lean launch
• 20:15 — Real founders discovering their entrepreneurial identity
• 23:05 — Creativity, community partnerships and founder cross-pollination
• 24:43 — Changemaker’s Mind, Body, Soul foundation
• 29:40 — Why we cannot outsource our humanity to AI
• 32:30 — Microschools as a new educational operating system
• 34:42 — What founders often miss operationally
• 35:25 — Saving founders hundreds of hours
• 38:15 — Giving visionaries the integrator support they need
• 40:45 — Why Changemaker is not a “school in a box”
• 41:25 — What David wishes he had when opening schools
• 44:05 — Why founders shouldn’t build alone
• 45:50 — Finding a deeply values-aligned community
• 46:20 — The search for Changemaker’s next 75 founders
• 47:40 — Ways to take the first step

In this episode, I reconnect with my former Stanford classmate, Mike Taubman, nearly 20 years after our graduate school days. Mike has spent his career teaching English and later pioneering purpose and career exploration programs for high school students in Newark, New Jersey. Most recently, he’s been at the forefront of bringing AI literacy into the classroom.

Mike introduces his innovative AI Driver’s License Framework, a practical, empowering way to help students (and adults) engage with AI responsibly. His approach draws on the metaphor of cars—tools we designed, tools we can operate, and tools that require both personal skill and shared rules of the road.

We explore:

• Mike’s journey from English teacher to AI literacy leader.
• Why metaphors matter in how we talk to students about AI.
• The four-part AI Driver’s License framework:
  1. Learn to drive – Operating AI tools effectively.
  2. Look under the hood – Understanding how AI actually works.
  3. Know the rules of the road – Exploring ethics, norms, and policies.
  4. Pick your destination – Using AI to achieve goals, then stepping away to live life.
• How high schoolers are experimenting with AI in projects ranging from architecture to medicine.
• The risks of anthropomorphizing AI and why it’s essential to “break the spell” for students.
• Balancing AI use with human wisdom, mentorship, and critical thinking.
• Why banning AI in schools misses the opportunity to model transparency and teach responsible use.

Mike’s classroom stories bring the theory to life—showing us how students respond when they not only use AI but also question it, challenge it, and integrate it with human expertise.

This is a rich, hopeful conversation about preparing young people not just to survive in an AI-powered world, but to drive it with confidence, agency, and purpose

In this episode, David sits down with Peter Stiepleman—former superintendent of one of Missouri’s largest school districts, leadership advisor, podcast host, and author of Serving as a Lead Learner: Powerful Reflections from America’s Superintendents

Peter shares his unconventional path from working at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid to becoming a bilingual teacher in Oakland, California, and eventually leading a district of 19,000 students through times of both growth and crisis. He reflects on the lessons learned from embracing “imperfect leadership,” the importance of vulnerability, and the power of shared decision-making.

Together, David and Peter explore:

• How personal journeys shape leadership philosophies

• What it means to be a “lead learner” and embrace discomfort

• Building shared values with teachers, parents, and students

• Why microschool leaders can benefit from these same leadership principles

• The importance of community voice and creating systems that honor every stakeholder

This conversation is full of insights for anyone leading in education—whether you’re running a large public school system, launching a micro school, or simply seeking to lead with more empathy, collaboration, and courage.

Resources & Links:

• Peter’s book: Serving as a Lead Learner: Powerful Reflections from America’s Superintendents:
  https://www.amazon.com/Serving-Lead-Learner-Reflections-Superintendents/dp/B0F78RC6H9
  
  
• Peter’s podcast: An Imperfect Leader:
  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/an-imperfect-leader-the-superintendents/id1644897856

In this inspiring conversation, David sits down with Lily Jones, founder of Educator Forever and a former classroom teacher who transformed her passion for teaching into a thriving business that empowers educators worldwide. Lily shares her journey from teaching kindergarten and first grade in Oakland to building curriculum for major education organizations, and eventually launching Educator Forever—a platform supporting thousands of teachers in exploring new career paths beyond the classroom.

Together, David and Lily dive into the realities of teaching, the burnout many educators face, and the entrepreneurial mindset shifts required to transition from teacher to founder. From testing ideas and listening deeply to your community, to embracing imperfect action and disrupting perfectionism, this episode is packed with wisdom for anyone dreaming of starting a microschool—or any education venture.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Lily’s journey from classroom teaching to launching Educator Forever
• Why sustainability and flexibility matter for educators
• The power of listening to your “customers” (students, parents, and communities) before building programs or schools
• How to embrace testing, iteration, and co-creation in education and entrepreneurship
• The importance of resilience, imperfection, and celebrating small wins
• Why teacher voices are crucial in reimagining education beyond the classroom

About Lily Jones:
Lily Jones is the founder of Educator Forever, an organization that helps teachers thrive beyond the classroom through professional development, certification programs, and a curriculum agency. A former kindergarten and first-grade teacher, Lily has spent the past decade designing learning experiences, coaching educators, and supporting thousands of teachers in finding new and sustainable ways to make an impact.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more about https://www.educatorforever.com/
• Connect with Lily on https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-jones-b940457b/
• Explore Changemaker Edu and our Microschool Founder programs

Join the Movement:
Are you an educator dreaming of opening your own microschool? Changemaker Edu supports passionate educators and community leaders in launching thriving microschools with the tools, training, and community they need to succeed. Learn more at https://changemakereducation.com.

In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, David sits down with Bonnie LePage — founder of The Maker, marketing, branding, and AI company — to talk about the power of storytelling, the courage to follow your intuition, and the importance of taking a leap of faith with your calling. 

Bonnie shares her remarkable journey: from growing up in South Africa and adapting to a new life in the Midwest, to building a thriving marketing career, and then walking away from it all after a life-altering tragedy. She explains how grief became a catalyst for change, why she now builds brands around the person before the business, and how she helps founders share their genius with the world.

Together, David and Bonnie explore:

• Why intuition is one of the most underused tools for founders

• The role life-changing events play in sparking entrepreneurial leaps

• How telling your authentic story attracts your right people — and repels the wrong ones

• How vulnerability builds connection and attracts your community

• Why stepping away from “shoulds” can open the door to your true calling

• What makes microschools so powerful — for students and entrepreneurs

• How life’s hardest seasons can reveal the work you were made to do

• Practical ways to align your business with your deepest values

  
  

If you’ve been feeling a tug toward something more meaningful — or struggling to put your story into words — this episode is your permission to listen to yourself and take that first step.

🎧 Listen now and discover how to build work — and a life — that truly fits.

Guest Links:

• Connect with Bonnie LePage on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnielepage/

• Learn more about her work in marketing, branding, and AI: https://themakerai.com/

Resources Mentioned:

This Is Marketing by Seth Godin

In this powerful episode, David K. Richards sits down with Dr. Yazmene “Dr. Yaz” Thomas, an inspiring educator, coach, and Founder of Uhuru Pathways, a groundbreaking microschool serving teens and adults through an accelerated, trauma-informed high school diploma program.

A late-night scroll led Dr. Yaz to discover Changemaker Microschools—and what followed was a rapid-fire connection and a clear path to launching her vision: a flexible, culturally responsive online microschool for underserved learners. Together, they dive into:

• Why traditional high school systems are failing adult and alternative learners
• How Uhuru Pathways supports students aged 14 to 60+ with coaching, career readiness, and personal development
• The transformative “Dr. Yaz Method”: helping students get their I.S.H. (Intention, Skills, and Habits) together
• The role of trauma-informed, whole-person education in empowering long-overdue dreams
• What it means to transition from educator to entrepreneur—and why Dr. Yaz is just getting started

About Dr. Yaz:
Dr. Yazmene Thomas is a veteran educator, educational coach, and founder of Uhuru Pathways Learning Center. She holds decades of experience supporting learners across age groups, with a deep passion for unlocking the potential of people who've been left behind by rigid systems. Her work combines academic support, emotional coaching, and cultural truth to help learners finally thrive.

Links & Resources:
Learn more about Dr. Yazmene Thomas at DrYazMethod.org
Connect with Dr. Yaz & Uhuru Pathways
Changemaker Microschools

In this vibrant, soul-led conversation, David K. Richards, CEO of Changemaker Education, sits down with microschool Founder Christina “Pip” Pipkin, who’s launching a Changemaker Partner Microschool, the F.A.Y.E. Learning Center in Houston, Texas. As the first founder featured on the podcast, Pip shares her journey from classroom teacher and EdTech leader to becoming the architect of a personalized, project-based microschool rooted in family, equity, and student agency. They explore the challenges of surrender, self-trust, intersectionality, and stepping into visionary leadership while honoring intuition and faith.

This episode is a masterclass in courage, community, and co-creation—perfect for aspiring founders ready to move beyond the 9–5 and into deep purpose-driven work.

 Memorable Quotes:

• “I jump and grow my wings on the way down.”
• “You all took away all my excuses.”
• “F.A.Y.E. is my baby. It’s fulfilling a promise—and a purpose.”
• “We are not just opening schools. We are transforming lives.”
• “It’s bigger than me. I’m just the vessel being used.”

 Key Topics Covered:

• Pip’s background in classroom teaching, EdTech, and doctoral study
• The personal call to open a microschool and surrender control
• Founding F.A.Y.E. Learning Center—named after her grandmother
• The role of intersectionality as a Black, LGBTQ woman in Texas
• Balancing doctoral studies with launching a school
• Project-based learning, STEM focus, and family engagement
• Community-building and authentic recruiting
• Pip’s spiritual connection to the journey
• Reflections on cohort support, imposter syndrome, and transformational growth
• The long-term vision for expansion and impact

 Approximate Timestamps:

• 00:00–10:00 – Pip’s background, family history, and path into education
• 10:00–22:00 – Founding F.A.Y.E. Learning Center and vision for students & families
• 22:00–38:00 – Discovery of Changemaker Education and alignment with purpose
• 38:00–56:00 – Surrendering control, spiritual connection, and finding support
• 56:00–End – Reflections on transformation, community, and future legacy