Founder 2 Founder | A Conversation about Education with Felicia Wright

What happens when an educator spends 15 years working directly with students and realizes the education system is missing Black boys? In this episode of Founder 2 Founder, Felicia Wright sits down with educator, author, and future school founder Richard Terrell to discuss the urgent need for learning environments that truly support Black boys through mentorship, leadership development, restorative...

Most parents don’t realize they may have access to thousands of dollars for their child’s education. In this episode, Felicia sits down with Teshia McIver, an implementation coordinator for South Carolina’s Palmetto NavigatED (ESTF), to break down what ESAs really are—and how they’re changing what’s possible for families. They talk about:Why so many parents don’t know these programs existThe real...

Sometimes the biggest decisions start with the smallest moment. In this episode of Founder to Founder , Felicia sits down with Kristin Fink and Ginger Montezon, founders of Skola Microschool, to talk about the moment everything changed—a Post-it note that simply said: “You should start a school… and I’ll come work for you.” What followed was not a perfect plan—it was uncertainty, risk, and a deep...

What happens when your child goes from thriving… to completely shutting down? In this episode of Founder to Founder, Felicia Wright sits down with Idaho parent and advocate Carlye Carleton, who shares her powerful journey through public school, charter school, homeschooling, and private school—all in search of the right fit for her children. After watching her son’s personality change almost overn...

There is another way to do school. In this Founder to Founder conversation, Felicia Wright talks with two microschool founders about why they started microschools, the challenges of building new learning environments, and what families, educators, and policymakers need to understand about the growing microschool movement. This conversation covers school choice, social capital, community-based lear...

What happens when a child is too advanced for the classroom they’re placed in? For Christal Gamble Banks, that moment came when her son was identified as gifted at just four years old — but the school told her they couldn’t provide support until third grade. Instead of waiting years for the system to catch up, she made a bold decision: homeschooling. In this episode of the Founder to Founder Podca...

School choice isn’t about politics; it’s about parents. In this powerful conversation, we break down what school choice actually means for families, how Texas ESAs are changing the landscape, and what it looks like to truly advocate for your child. In this episode of Founder to Founder, Felicia Wright sits down with Amber Okolo-Ebube, founder of Leading Little Arrows in North Texas. Amber is a mic...

What if school segregation wasn’t an accident—but a policy choice that never ended? In this episode of Founder to Founder, Felicia Wright sits down with Tim DeRoche, author of A Fine Line and founder of Available to All, for a powerful and necessary conversation about school zoning, redlining, and who really gets access to “good” public schools. Tim breaks down how attendance boundaries quietly re...

What happens when educators stop teaching to the test—and start teaching to the child? In this episode of Founder to Founder, Felicia Wright sits down with Alexis and Rachel, former public school teachers and co-founders of i3 Academics in Orlando, Florida. They share what pushed them out of the traditional system and into building a microschool centered on small class sizes, inclusion, enrichment...

Low expectations in schools don’t just hurt test scores; they shape safety, culture, and how children see themselves. In this episode of Founder 2 Founder, Felicia Wright speaks with Detroit parent advocate Bernita “NeNe” Bradley of Engaged Detroit about what happens when school leadership blames neighborhoods instead of fixing systems — and why so many parents are choosing advocacy, alternative e...

In this episode of the Founder 2 Founder podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with NaShawn Edwards, the inspiring founder of Sunrise Learning Academy in Indiana. From her beautifully designed basement learning space, NaShawn provides personalized learning plans for every child, helping them stay on track with their peers in traditional schools. We dove into Indiana’s school choice landscape...

In this episode of the Founder to Founder Podcast, I visit Tampa, Florida, to interview Charlene Favorite, the founder and lead teacher of The Homeschool Village. Charlene shares her journey from homeschooling her own children to building a thriving community-based microschool. Learn how The Homeschool Village integrates land stewardship, cultural education, and hands-on learning through their uni...

In this episode of the Founder to Founder Podcast, I sit down with Tiffany Thenor, co-founder of Wonder Here Microschool in Lakeland, Florida. Wonder Here is redefining education through a unique blend of play-based and project-based learning, helping kids thrive by encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and a strong connection to nature. Tiffany shares the incredible journey of how she and he...

In this episode of the Founder to Founder Podcast, I sit down with Jennifer Palmer, founder of Mobile Classroom Solutions in Lakeland, Florida. Jennifer shares her inspiring journey from special education teacher to creating a microschool that serves neurodiverse and special needs students. Learn how Mobile Classroom Solutions provides personalized, trauma-informed learning environments where chil...

Therapeutic Approaches in Alternative Education | Microschooling in Arizona In this conversation, Felicia Wright interviews Amanda Comage-Trower about her innovative microschool that integrates mental health support with education. Amanda shares her journey from starting a therapeutic practice at home to establishing a multi-age micro school that serves children from preschool to grade 12. The dis...

In this Founder 2 Founder episode, Felicia Wright interviews Suewong McFadden, founder of Suewong McFadden Academy, who shares her journey from being a teacher to becoming a director. She discusses the challenges she faced in the education system, including high turnover rates, lack of resources, and ineffective leadership. These experiences led her to start her own microschool, where she aims to...

A Flexible Learning Environment - MicroschoolsWelcome to the second episode of Founder to Founder! 🎬 Join us as we sit down with Tasha Su'a-Skipps, the visionary founder of Elite Performance Prep Academy, in an inspiring conversation about revolutionizing education. In this episode, Tasha shares her insights into creating a flexible learning environment tailored to meet the diverse needs of a...

A Conversation about EducationJoin us for a thought-provoking conversation as prominent microschooling leaders dive deep into the transformative world of education. In this insightful discussion, these trailblazers share their experiences, insights, and visions for the microschooling movement. Discover how microschooling is reshaping traditional education, fostering personalized learning environme...