Founder 2 Founder | A Conversation about Education with Felicia Wright

👉 $7,600 for Your Child’s Education? What Parents Need to Know About ESAs (South Carolina)

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 financial relief families experienceWhat you can actually use ESA funds for (it’s more than tuition)Common mistakes that can cost families their spotWhy trust and community outreach matter—especially in underserved communitiesThis conversation goes beyond policy—it’s about real families making real decisions to create better learning environments for their children.🎯 If you’ve ever felt stuck in your child’s current school situation, this episode is for you.Learn more about ESTF & get support:🌐 https://www.palmettonavigated.org/00:00 – Welcome + intro to Teshia01:20 – Real family transformation stories03:45 – “Choice for one should be choice for all”04:15 – What parents think ESAs are (and why they hesitate)06:00 – What ESA funds can actually pay for07:30 – Why this is about access, not just school10:30 – Biggest mistakes parents make applying13:30 – What’s harder than expected (and what’s improving)16:50 – Why implementation support matters19:30 – What other states can learn22:20 – Challenges schools/providers face24:00 – Reaching families who don’t know this exists26:50 – The future: going universal29:10 – What parents should do next🎯 Take the quiz:Find out if your child is in the right learning environment - https://tally.so/r/q4K768🧭 Want a step-by-step plan?Get the Start Strong Kit - https://feliciawright.kit.com/products/homeschool-start-strong-kit

The Post-It Note That Started a Microschool

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 frustration with a system that wasn’t meeting students’ needs. In this honest conversation, they break down: * What pushed them to leave traditional schools * How COVID became the turning point * What it actually looks like to start a microschool (while working full-time) * The realities of affordability, sustainability, and pay cuts * Why smaller learning environments can better serve kids * How flexible schooling changes everything for families They also unpack the biggest misconceptions about microschools—from academics to socialization—and what parents should really be looking for when choosing a learning environment. If you’re a parent wondering: “Is there something better for my child?” Or an educator thinking: “Could I do this too?” This episode gives you a real, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes—and what’s possible.

We Tried Every School Option—Here’s What Actually Worked

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 overnight, Carlye made a bold decision: she refused to let school be the place where her child lost himself.This conversation dives into:How to recognize when a school isn’t workingThe emotional toll of making education changesWhat it really takes to afford private school on one incomeHow her kids literally started a business to stay in a school they loveThe truth about Idaho’s new school choice tax credit (ESA)What policymakers misunderstand about familiesWhy education should focus on the child, not the test scoreThis is more than a story—it’s a wake-up call.If you’ve ever felt like your child isn’t being seen, this episode will show you what’s possible when you choose differently.🎧 Listen now and rethink what “school” can look like.00:00 Introduction + Meet Carlye (Idaho Parent Story)00:56 My Child Wasn’t the Same Anymore02:26 The Emotional Weight of Changing Schools03:15 Trying Public, Homeschool, and Private School05:13 The Moment Everything Changed (He Started Thriving)07:22 Advice for Parents Searching for the Right School09:25 The Financial Reality of Private School (Family of 6)11:11 Kids Raised Money to Stay in Their School ❤️13:10 Kids Who Actually LOVE Going to School14:12 What Is the Idaho School Choice Tax Credit?17:12 The Money Should Follow the Child20:11 Who Gets Left Out of School Choice?21:26 What Real Support for Families Should Look Like23:28 Is Awareness Around School Choice Improving?24:40 If She Could Change One Thing About Education👉 Subscribe for more honest conversations about education, equity, microschools, and reimagining what’s possible for our children.Founder to Founder is a podcast hosted by Felicia Wright, an education consultant, former teacher, and founder of a microschool.This show features honest, unfiltered conversations with microschool founders, innovative educators, parents, and policy advocates who are reimagining what school can be—and should be—for children.We talk openly about:Microschools, homeschooling, and alternative educationEquity gaps, redlining, and access to quality learning environmentsThe limits of traditional schooling and standardized testingWhat it really takes to build and sustain innovative education modelsWhether you’re a parent searching for better options, a founder building something bold, or a policymaker ready for real solutions—this podcast is for you.🎧 New episodes drop every other Wednesday.Work with Felicia / Learn MoreExplore consulting, resources, and speaking: www.feliciawright.comStart strong with homeschooling or microschool planning: https://feliciawright.kit.com/products/homeschool-start-strong-kit📺 Watch more education conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3C-rurzZQZz6aUix5AWElg 📩 Stay connected: www.feliciawright.comHelping families and founders build better learning environments—one honest conversation at a time.

There Is Another Way to Do School | Microschools Explained

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 learning, and what it really means to build schools designed around children instead of systems.If you are a parent exploring alternatives to traditional school, an educator thinking about starting a microschool, or a founder building something different, this conversation is for you.Founder to Founder is a podcast about honest conversations and better solutions in education — focusing on microschools, homeschooling, education innovation, and expanding access to better learning environments for all children.Subscribe for more conversations on microschools, homeschooling, and education innovation.#Microschool #SchoolChoice #Homeschool #EducationInnovation #FounderToFounder0:00 Introduction0:48 Meet the Microschool Founders2:00 Why We Started Microschools3:50 Microschools and School Choice by State6:30 What Is a Play-Based Microschool?8:25 Learning Outside the Classroom10:30 Community Partnerships and Real-World Learning13:40 Representation in Education Matters15:40 The Impact of Microschools17:45 Social Capital vs College Degrees21:30 What Legislators Should Know About Microschools23:00 The Future of Education25:00 Closing Thoughts👉 Subscribe for more honest conversations about education, equity, microschools, and reimagining what’s possible for our children.Founder to Founder is a podcast hosted by Felicia Wright, an education consultant, former teacher, and founder of a microschool.This show features honest, unfiltered conversations with microschool founders, innovative educators, parents, and policy advocates who are reimagining what school can be—and should be—for children.We talk openly about:Microschools, homeschooling, and alternative educationEquity gaps, redlining, and access to quality learning environmentsThe limits of traditional schooling and standardized testingWhat it really takes to build and sustain innovative education modelsWhether you’re a parent searching for better options, a founder building something bold, or a policymaker ready for real solutions—this podcast is for you.🎧 New episodes drop every other Wednesday.Work with Felicia / Learn MoreExplore consulting, resources, and speaking: www.feliciawright.comStart strong with homeschooling or microschool planning: https://feliciawright.kit.com/products/homeschool-start-strong-kit📺 Watch more education conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3C-rurzZQZz6aUix5AWElg 📩 Stay connected: www.feliciawright.comHelping families and founders build better learning environments—one honest conversation at a time.

When School Isn’t the Right Fit: Raising a Gifted Child Outside the System

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 Podcast, Felicia Wright sits down with Christal, founder of Mama Sweet Baby, to talk about gifted learners, neurodivergence, homeschooling, and the growing movement toward education options like microschools and worldschooling.Christal shares how her family reimagined education for their child and how she built a platform helping other parents navigate alternative education paths.This conversation is especially powerful for families raising gifted, twice-exceptional (2E), or neurodivergent learners.The truth is: many of these children are misunderstood in traditional schools.And parents are often left to figure it out on their own.Instagram: https://instagram.com/mamasweetbabyYouTube: https://youtube.com/@mamasweetbaby00:00 Introduction01:00 Christal’s story and how Mama Sweet Baby began03:30 When traditional school isn’t the right fit05:00 Why gifted learners often struggle in school08:00 Social-emotional challenges of gifted children12:00 Finding the right learning environment15:00 Building a community for homeschooling families17:30 School choice and ESAs21:00 Supporting diverse learners and families of color27:00 The future of education for gifted learners33:00 Practical advice for parents advocating for their kids34:30 What’s next for Mama Sweet Baby👉 Subscribe for more honest conversations about education, equity, microschools, and reimagining what’s possible for our children.Founder to Founder is a podcast hosted by Felicia Wright, an education consultant, former teacher, and founder of a microschool.This show features honest, unfiltered conversations with microschool founders, innovative educators, parents, and policy advocates who are reimagining what school can be—and should be—for children.We talk openly about:Microschools, homeschooling, and alternative educationEquity gaps, redlining, and access to quality learning environmentsThe limits of traditional schooling and standardized testingWhat it really takes to build and sustain innovative education modelsWhether you’re a parent searching for better options, a founder building something bold, or a policymaker ready for real solutions—this podcast is for you.🎧 New episodes drop every other Wednesday.Work with Felicia / Learn MoreExplore consulting, resources, and speaking: www.feliciawright.comStart strong with homeschooling or microschool planning: https://feliciawright.kit.com/products/homeschool-start-strong-kit📺 Watch more education conversations on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3C-rurzZQZz6aUix5AWElg 📩 Stay connected: www.feliciawright.comHelping families and founders build better learning environments—one honest conversation at a time.