Tonya Kipe was an elementary school teacher in Florida public schools for over a decade before launching <a href= "https://www.kipeacademy.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kipe Academy</a>, a microschool in Polk City, Florida. She grew her microschool from one student in January 2024 to 26 students today, including those with special learning needs. Read more about Tonya's microschool in Kerry's latest article at <a href= "https://www.the74million.org/article/from-teachers-to-business-owners-educators-launching-microschools-learn-the-ins-and-outs-of-entrepreneurship/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The 74</a>. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at <a href= "http://www.fee.org/liberated" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">fee.org/liberated</a>.

Tonya Kipe was an elementary school teacher in Florida public schools for over a decade before launching Kipe Academy, a microschool in Polk City, Florida. She grew her microschool from one student in January 2024 to 26 students today, including those with special learning needs. Read more about Tonya's microschool in Kerry's latest article at The 74. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.

Tonya Kipe was an elementary school teacher in Florida public schools for over a decade before launching <a href="https://www.kipeacademy.org" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kipe Academy</a>, a microschool in Polk City, Florida. She grew her microschool from one student in January 2024 to 26 students today, including those with special learning needs. Read more about Tonya's microschool in Kerry's latest article at <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/from-teachers-to-business-owners-educators-launching-microschools-learn-the-ins-and-outs-of-entrepreneurship/" rel="noopener noreferrer">The 74</a>. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at <a href="http://www.fee.org/liberated" rel="noopener noreferrer">fee.org/liberated</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;

“I shouldn’t have to sneak around to make my students feel successful and be happy.” A former public school teacher explains why she opened her own school

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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“I shouldn’t have to sneak around to make my students feel successful and be happy.” A former public school teacher explains why she opened her own school

“I shouldn’t have to sneak around to make my students feel successful and be happy.” A former public school teacher explains why she opened her own school

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