How do you create a classroom that meets students where they are? For Danette Buckley, the answer was to build it herself. Dream Tech Academy, her microschool in Petersburg, Virginia, was born from a personal mission to support her daughter during a difficult medical journey. Today, Dream Tech serves 42 students and is rewriting the rules on what education can look like. Many classrooms fall victim to teaching to the middle—large class sizes necessitate a one-size-fits-all approach to education, leaving students who are excelling or who need additional support without adequate resources. Danette’s school empowers students to thrive on their own terms.

Danette is a lifelong learner who fell in love with school at age four and never looked back. After immigrating from Jamaica and witnessing the challenges of U.S. classrooms, she maintained her passion for education but saw that traditional schools often fail to meet the needs of every student. A family challenge brought her back to the classroom—this time as a homeschooler—and her vision evolved into a flexible, tech-enabled school designed to serve kids of all abilities and interests, where students could learn at their own pace. Dream Tech is a place where students are grouped by comprehension, not just age, and where learning is personalized, and joyful.

In this episode, Danette pitches her microschool to Kelly Smith, CEO of Prenda. Kelly has helped over 1,000 people start microschools. Together, they explore how Danette can create a sustainable structure for Dream Tech, stick to her policies without losing her compassion, and bring her unique, student-first model to more families. It’s a conversation full of heart, strategy, and hard-earned wisdom for anyone reimagining what school can be.

Episode Highlights:

02:16 Challenges in the U.S. Education System

04:08 Returning to Education as a Parent

06:00 Homeschooling and Developing a Curriculum

07:18 Growth of Dream Tech Academy

09:55 A Day in the Life at Dream Tech

12:30 Success Stories and Impact

15:36 Challenges and Future Plans

19:38 Mentorship and Strengthening the Pitch

29:20 Key Takeaways and Conclusion

Links & Resources:

• Danette Buckley
• Dream Tech Academy
• Kelly Smith
• Prenda

About the Host, Nicole Jarbo:
Nicole Jarbo is the host of Pitch Playground and the CEO of 4.0. An entrepreneur and 4.0 alumni herself, Nicole took a side hustle from $0 to $500k per year and founded a fintech startup that empowered Gen Z with their finances. She's passionate about sharing the inspiring stories of the 4.0 community and believes in work that makes the world more livable, creative, sustainable, and fun.

About 4.0:
4.0 is a hub for education innovators and social entrepreneurs reimagining the future of learning. Through mentorship, funding, and community support, we empower bold thinkers to turn their dreams into reality. To date, 4.0 has helped spark and invest in over 1,800 ideas, and our alumni have impacted over 10M students and families. We envision a future where our education system meets the needs of every family and improves life outcomes for all.

We Want to Hear From You!
Whether you're an educator, entrepreneur, or just passionate about changing education, reach out to share your story, ideas, or feedback. Visit us at pitchplayground.com, leave us a review and subscribe to Pitch Playground wherever you get your podcasts. 

Remember to Vote!
At the end of this season one of these entrepreneurs will receive $50,000 towards their idea.  We want to hear from you, yes YOU, to cast your vote for the idea you think should receive the cash. Sign up for our newsletter at 4pt0.org to stay tuned on when voting will open.