Microschool Makers Series #1: Developing Your Vision

Welcome to the Microschool Makers Series, a three-part September series in collaboration with KaiPod to equip aspiring school founders with the inspiration and information needed to launch a successful, sustainable school!

Every microschool starts with a clear vision — and the clearest ones sit at the intersection of what a founder is uniquely good at, what their community actually needs, and what can grow into something sustainable.

In this first episode, Kerry McDonald, Director of the Education Entrepreneurship Lab, talks with Amar Kumar, Founder & CEO of KaiPod Learning, and three founders who had different visions for building their schools.

Tom Dowell is the founder and Head of School of Moreana Boys Academy in Gilbert, Arizona, which he launched in 2024. A former public school teacher, Tom created an all-boys model centered on personalized academics, mentorship, hands-on learning, and character development.

Gepre Henderson is the founder of BOSS Learning Academy in Douglasville, Georgia, which she opened in 2025. Drawing on more than 14 years of experience in education, she has built a STEM-focused K–5 microschool that emphasizes hands-on learning, student ownership, small groups, and a community that feels like an extension of the family.

And Brittany Lopez is the founder of Brighter Futures Microschool in Arlington, Texas that just opened this month! As a certified special education teacher and professional educational therapist, Brittany designed her school specifically for students with learning, language, and social differences, placing targeted and individualized instruction at the heart of the model.

Visit KaiPod for more information about this episode—and for resources and tips to start your own microschool!

Tune in next Friday for our second conversation in this series: Building A Sustainable School.

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Check out the Education Entrepreneurship Lab for a steady stream of new articles and original content—by school founders, for school founders.