In this episode of The Getting Smart Podcast with Liberty Public Schools, Rebecca Midles introduces how Liberty Public Schools, located just north of Kansas City and serving about 12,000 students, is reimagining learning through real-world experiences and personalized pathways. The conversation features Julie Moore, Assistant Superintendent for Innovation and Learning, and Sarah Wickham, Director of Real-World Learning, who share the story behind Edge, a microschool embedded within Liberty High School. What began as a vision inspired by the success of EPiC Elementary and shaped by site visits, collaborative design, and even notes scribbled on a napkin became a districtwide learning journey. Rather than centering only on one innovative program, this episode explores how starting small, learning through iteration, and staying grounded in authentic, student-centered experiences can help an entire district transform.

Outline

• (00:00) Introduction
• (11:14) Building the Space and Team
• (17:46) Scaling the Model
• (21:15) Impact on Students and Educators
• (25:11) Looking Ahead

Links

• Read the full blog here
• Liberty Public Schools
• Julie Moore
• Sarah Wickham
• EPIC Elementary School
• What School Could Be Episode with Liberty EDGE Students