Hosts: Brian Poppe and Shonna Dorsey Guest: Karen Borchert, Founder of Alpaca Tune in for an inspiring discussion with special guest Karen Borchert, founder of Alpaca, on innovation in education, the importance of valuing teachers, and the role of community support in educational progress. Learn more about Karen's compelling vision behind Alpaca: to elevate the teaching profession by creating support and recognition systems that are similar to those in the tech industry.

Stemming from her belief in "paying teachers like software developers," Karen explores how this concept can reshape the educational landscape. In this episode, Karen shares a bit about her experience in technology operations and her transition to entrepreneurship, driven by a deep respect for educators. The conversation covers the launch of Alpaca and its mission to provide teachers with the recognition and support they deserve.

Listeners will hear about Alpaca's initial pilot at Karen's children's school, its expansion to thousands of teachers across multiple states, and the tailored solutions they offer for diverse school districts. The episode also features the unique story of how team member Marina Erickson (last week's TEN podcast guest!) joined Alpaca and the importance of a joyful team culture in driving the company's mission.

Get involved and support Alpaca's mission by sharing introductions to the Alpaca team to schools and districts in your area - learn more at www.alpacapacks.com.