Exclusive Community for Learner-Driven Leaders
For microschool owners, district/community leaders, classroom educators, and school founders
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Let's innovate the future of education together!
Who is the Alliance for?
Educators Who Are Done Playing by Broken Rules
You know school should be different.
You want to teach with freedom, not follow scripts.
Whether you're in a classroom, running a pod, or dreaming of your own school—you belong here.
Parents Who Want Something Better
You’ve tried the system.
You’ve watched your kid check out, shut down, or struggle.
You want education that fits your child—not the other way around.
Founders and Builders
You’ve already started—or you’re ready to.
You want to launch your own learner-driven school or program—and you need support that’s actually useful.
Not more red tape. Real tools. Real people. Real momentum.
Leaders in the System Trying to Change the System
You’re a principal, admin, or district innovator trying to bring learner-driven principles into your school or system.
You want access to what’s working and a network of people who’ve done it.
Anyone Bold Enough to Say “There Has to Be a Better Way”
If you care about kids.
If you believe in freedom, purpose, and learner agency.
If you’re ready to stop complaining and start building…
This is for you.
What is ldea?
Learner-Driven Education Alliance
("LDEA" or "the Alliance")
LDEA (pronounced “Luh-DEE-uh”) stands for the Leaner-Driven Education Alliance and is a community for education leaders who believe in the power of collaboration and meaningful connections. If you’re passionate about education, committed to growing your school, and eager to support and learn from others on the same journey, this is the place for you.
We’re here for those who show up ready to give, share, and elevate the microschool movement—not just take. This is not a space for pitching, selling, or chasing quick wins. It’s for dedicated founders who want to build something lasting and impactful. If that sounds like you, welcome—you’ve found your people.
Simple Definition: Learner-Driven Education
Learner-driven education is an approach where students take responsibility for their own learning, guided by mentors rather than dictated by a rigid curriculum. It prioritizes autonomy, mastery, and purpose—ensuring that education is meaningful and tailored to the learner.
This is very similar to student-centered and self-directed learning! These are common terms used to describe this general idea of... self-actualization, find your calling, achieve your dreams, etc.
Joining LDEA’s free community gives you access to essential tools, guidance, and connections to help you launch and grow your learner-driven school or program! Here’s what you’ll get:
School Starter Kit
Get the foundational knowledge and resources you need to launch your microschool or program with confidence and success.
School Blueprint: Before beginning construction on a house, the blueprint is developed and approved! This is vital for your time, money, and learners. We walk you through a proven process.
School Finance: Create your basic "napkin" budget, detailed budget, and acquire funding to bring your vision to life! Learn vital financial principles to make your vision sustainable and thriving!
School Marketing: Learn how to best recruit students from our many failures, hours, and thousands of dollars invested into school recruitment companies, ads, flyers, and professional development.
The Vault
A collection of the best learner-driven practices from around the world. Try some with your kids! Add to the Vault!
Self-Actualization: Help your learner discover, cultivate, and share their natural gifts with their community and the world!
AI in Education: With the new presidential mandate for AI Literacy and the impending AI wave, let's stay ahead of the curve and share best AI education practices!
Projects & Academics: How can academics be learner-driven? Come learn and share best practices.
Life Skills: What life skills do YOU teach??
Culture & Community Building: How to create a learner-driven culture to empower to learners to take ownership!
Online Community
It's lonely at the top. Welcome to your people. Join a network of learner-driven educators and leaders who share your mission. And craziness 💛
Ask questions, share wins, and get feedback from experienced founders.
Access exclusive discussions on best practices and industry trends, especially with AI here!
Connect with mentors and potential collaborators.
Access to School Support Services
If you want more support, we've got that too.
If you want to go deeper, we offer:
Accreditation & certification for learner-driven schools at a #kidsfirst price.
AI tools, training, and certification for modern school operations in alignment with the presidential AI literacy mandate.
Paid "done-with-you" and "done-for-you" services including operations, marketing, finance, and more! All in one place.
For those who desire and qualify, we join your team Alex Hormozi style. Here, we give you all of our systems and team to work together to scale your program. The ultimate win-win partnership.
Meet our featured educators & Founders
Chris Locke
Head of School | Alpha High School | Austin, Texas
Chris Locke has a diverse range of work experience spanning over two decades. Starting in 1998, they worked at the University of Miami as the Wellness Director for five years before becoming the Director from 2004 to 2011. In 2011, they joined IMG Academy, where they served in multiple roles including Director of University and Language Center, Dean of Students, and Dean of Faculty & Curriculum. From 2016 to 2021, they held the position of Vice President and Head of School at IMG Academy. Currently, since June 2021, they are the Head of High School at Alpha company.
Rev. Janelle Wood
Founder, CEO | Black Mothers Forum, School to Purpose Academies | Phoenix, Arizona
Rev. Janelle Wood is the Founder & CEO of Black Mothers Forum, Inc. She is a wife, mother and published author of "Anatomy of A Black Mother." Rev. Janelle's passion is to see to it that all of our Black sons and daughters are free to live in safe and supportive communities.
Dr. Tyler S. Thigpen
Co-Founder, CEO | The Forest School: An Acton Academy and Institute for Self Directed Learning | Fayetteville, Georgia
Tyler grew up in Georgia and has worked in innovative district, private, and charter schools, as well as statewide and national nonprofits. Tyler is co-founder and Head of The Forest School: An Acton Academy in south metro Atlanta, co-founder and Head of the Institute for Self-Directed Learning, and Instructor and Academic Director at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. Tyler has written about the future of learning in the Washington Post, Education Week, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Getting Smart, and others. Tyler lives with his four children, all of whom attended The Forest School, in Trilith.
Dr. Caleb Collier
Co-Founder | The Forest School: An Acton Academy; Director | Institute for Self-Directed Learning | Fayetteville, Georgia
Caleb Collier is co-founder of The Forest School, a PreK-12 self-directed learning environment in Trilith, GA, as well as The Institute for Self-Directed Learning, a hub of research and collaboration on learner-driven school design. He earned a PhD in Teaching and Learning at Georgia State University with a research focus in self-directed learning and served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Virginia's Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Caleb lives with his wife and three children in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tony Simmons
Founder, Executive Director | High School for Recording Arts | St. Paul, Minnesota
Tony Simmons is the Executive Director of High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) and Studio 4 Enterprises, an educational services and management organization. Tony has served as board member and/or provided technical assistance to leading national school reform organizations including Edvisions, Inc., the Black Alliance for Educational Options, and the Minnesota Association of Charter Schools. He was also part of the development team for Minnesota’s first online project-based charter school EdVisions Online Academy. Tony attended Howard University and Pace University where he earned a BA in Political Studies, and graduated from Rutgers University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate.
Michelle Navarre
Founder, Executive Director | Polaris Charter Academy | Chicago, Illinois
Michelle Navarre is Founder and Executive Director of Polaris Charter Academy, Chicago's only Mentor and Credentialed EL Education (formerly known as Expeditionary Learning) school. Believing that access to high quality education is a right not a privilege, Michelle’s mission is to transform low performing public schools into innovative and dynamic environments that emphasize experiential learning methods, charging students with the responsibility of becoming stewards and social justice activists to solve real community problems. Since opening in 2007, PCA continues to support students to become academically successful life-long learners with a strong sense of personal and civic responsibility. Michelle led her school to be one of the 33 credentialed EL Education schools and one of seven EL Mentor Schools in a national network of more than 150 schools. Today, Michelle’s school serves as a national and international example of how to promote positive school culture and foster character development.
Ma'at Lands
Founder, Executive Director | Rooted School | Indianapolis, Indiana
Ma’at Lands is the Founding School Leader of Rooted School—Indianapolis. Born and raised on the east side of Indy, she is a graduate of North Central High School, Tennessee State University and Marian University. She started her teaching career as a science teacher in Indianapolis Public Schools in 2007. After 5 years of teaching and leading as a Woodrow Wilson mentor, GK-12 Fellow mentor she transitioned to a career in non-profit serving as the Youth Director and then as an Assistant Director for Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Crook, responsible for the overall operations and administration and development of all Pre-K to 12 programs. Determined to provide access and opportunities for all students, she returned to K-12 sector where she felt she could have the most impact while partnering with the community organizations as a resource. She completed her Building Level Administrator Certification from Marian University and returned to work as a teacher and administrator in a public charter school in Indianapolis responsible for coaching and developing teachers, establishing foundations for successful classrooms, providing data to inform the development of the schools’ strategic plan aligned with the school and network goals. She is currently completing her doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Andrew Lee
Founder, CEO | Vita High School | Phoenix, Arizona
Andrew Lee is the founder of Vita High School and the Learner-Driven Education Alliance. Andrew has completely redefined what high school can look like with Vita, combining practical life skills, best education practices, AI, and personal development to create something truly magical - that actually prepares its graduates for real adult life. During their first year, a Vita 10th grader was earning $6,000 per month with their business, hiring parents, and later graduated in 11th grade with college credit. After retiring himself from daily operations at Vita, Andrew authored a book and launched the Alliance to unify innovative educators, codify their best practices, and help launch sustainable, learner-driven schools around the globe.
Fun facts: he graduated with a B.S.E. in Aerospace Engineering (a.k.a. rocket science), M.Ed. in Secondary Edu\ation, and Harvard Certificate in School Management and Leadership. He’s done incubators with High Tech High and 4.0 Schools. Grant recipient of VELA, A for Arizona, San Juan Diego Institute, 4.0 Schools, Department of Education, High Tech High New School Creation Fellowship. He taught Calc 3 at Arizona State University. He’s fluent in Spanish (better than his Cantonese). He’s a former professional artist and did a huge painting for the Phoenix Suns.
Katie Krackhardt
Founder, Co-Executive Director | Battleborn Academy | Las Vegas, Nevada
Katie Krackhardt is a co-founder and co-principal at Battle Born Academy. She pursued her education at John Hopkins University, where her skills and dedication to fostering equitable learning environments flourished. As a distinguished Citizens of the World Leader Institute Fellow, Katie is an integral part of a community of like-minded leaders committed to creating and sustaining equitable spaces for students, staff, and families across the nation. Katie embarked on her educational journey with Teach for America, starting as a math teacher in the classroom. Driven by her passion for shaping young minds and creating impactful educational experiences, she co-founded Battle Born Academy. Alongside her administrative responsibilities, Katie shares her love for the arts by teaching dance classes at the school, enhancing the overall educational experience for students.
Kathy Rudd
Founder, Co-Executive Director | Battleborn Academy | Las Vegas, Nevada
Coach Rudd is a passionate advocate for education equity. Her academic journey includes a Masters in Education in Public School Building Leadership from Columbia University (2018), a Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Secondary English from UNLV (2015), and a Bachelors of Arts in English from the University of Missouri (2012). With 11 years in education, she has experience as a teacher, school administrator, and teacher training leader. Coach Rudd's core belief is that education is the embodiment of equity. She envisions education as a means to empower students, placing them at the center of their learning journey. Through personalized approaches, students can harness their gifts, talents, and passions to create genuine impact, fostering positive change within Las Vegas.
Lizette Valles
Founder, Educator | Compass Educators, Ellemercito Academy, California Microschool Collective | Downey, California
Lizette Valles is a visionary educator, Latina leader, and co-founder of the California Microschool Collective, founded in 2024. She also founded Compass Educators and Ellemercito Academy, a non-profit Los Angeles-based microschool that reimagines education through experiential and place-based learning. A first-generation college graduate who holds a Master’s in Education, Lizette has dedicated over 17 years to empowering students to think critically, develop a growth mindset, and foster empathy. She regularly speaks nationally about microschooling and raises awareness about school choice, advocating for personalized, trauma-informed learning environments that allow all children to thrive.
Devin Carberry
Captain of Learning | Learnlife | Barcelona, Spain
Devin Carberry is the Director of Learning and Innovation and a founding member of Learnlife. Since 2001, he has been an innovative learning advocate. Devin has worked as a classroom teacher and teacher trainer, served on public policy task forces, run after school programs, led young men’s support circles, fostered the growth of two new public schools, and written for education publications. Along the way, he’s worked in schools with a variety of progressive pedagogies — from multiple intelligences to expeditionary learning. His teaching has been featured in Science magazine and National Public Radio, and he has served on the Arizona statewide task force on education.
Devin has written for Rethinking Schools Magazine, and authored a chapter for the book Unleashing the Power of Learner Agency.
Denise Lever
Founder | Baker Creek Academy | Eagar, Arizona
I’m Denise Lever, homeschool mom of 3 and microschool leader since 2019. I can do hard things. And I know you can, too. I’ve helped hundreds of microschool educators in all phases of their journeys. My local network of 6 microschools accounts for nearly 9% of the local K-12 student population in my small town of Eagar, AZ. And it all started in my humble home launched be me, a homeschool mom. I went from wildland firefighter to “just” a homeschool mom. But I couldn’t ignore the issues in my community. So I decided to do something about it. And now I help other “just” homeschool moms, concerned parent, and disenfranchised teachers do hard but meaningful things. Because starting a microschool is not an easy endeavor, but it is a worthy one. One you are fully capable of doing. Join me on the frontlines on the microschool movement.
Andrew Collins
Co-Founder, Executive Director | New Learning Ventures Inc, Acton Academy Phoenix, Phoenix Modern | Phoenix, Arizona
Andrew Collins is an educator and social entrepreneur with two decades of experience in Arizona as a consultant, school director, and classroom teacher. In this time, Andrew has supported the launch of over 30 schools and numerous school improvement efforts focused on intentional school design and visionary leadership. Before joining New Learning Ventures, Andrew co-founded New Schools For Phoenix, a subsidiary of the Arizona Charter Schools Association that focused on developing high performing schools in low-income communities within the urban core of Phoenix. In that role, Andrew also managed a startup grant program that awarded over $3.5 M in funding for new schools.
Whitney Retzer
Whitney Retzer (Director of Engagement | Micro Schools Network, Mysa School | Washington, DC)
Whitney taught and worked in many global K-12 and higher educational settings while living and working abroad. She fell in love with the micro school movement when working at Mysa School seeing firsthand how national standards can be met in a way that fosters creativity, collaboration and community. She loves to learn about the diverse educational options micro schools provide globally and currently supports the micro school network in outreach, communications, events and marketing.
What's The Catch?
We get it—everything we’re offering might seem too good to be true.
But here’s the truth: there’s no catch.
We created this free membership to support the learner-driven movement and the education revolution.
Our mission is to provide resources, education, and connections that help learner-driven leaders at any stage grow, thrive, and make a lasting, sustainable impact.
This isn’t about sales pitches or hidden fees—it’s about equipping you with the tools and relationships you need to succeed.
Over time, our hope is that you’ll find so much value in our free resources that you’ll want to take the next step—joining our Inner Circle and attending exclusive in-person events.
No matter how you engage with the Alliance, we’re here to support you, provide real value, and create opportunities that empower you to best support your kids in your community.
#KidsFirst
Member Testimonials
Results We've Helped Create
"Leveraging your experience was crucial"
"You leaned into really 'seek to understand' to understand my priorities and objectives allowing me to leverage your experience but also what would be new"
- Client 1
"Leveraging your experience was crucial"
"You leaned into really 'seek to understand' to understand my priorities and objectives allowing me to leverage your experience but also what would be new"
- Client 2
"Leveraging your experience was crucial"
"You leaned into really 'seek to understand' to understand my priorities and objectives allowing me to leverage your experience but also what would be new"
- Client 3
Join the alliance Today!
Ready to Get Started?
With your free LDEA membership, you’re not just accessing resources—you’re becoming part of a movement that’s shaping the future of education.