Teacher, Let Your Light Shine! Start a Micro-School, Homeschool Hybrid or Tutoring Business! From Teacher or Homeschool Mom to Teacher Entrepreneur and Education Advocate

394 Episodes

Reverse

Ep 387: From Library Meetings to Leading Logos Homeschool Academy: How Jennifer Pinto Built a Homeschool Hybrid in Iowa with Faith and Microschool Masterminds

2025-09-2353:55

What does it look like to step out of traditional education and wait on God’s timing to build something completely new? In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Jennifer Pinto, co-founder of Logos Homeschool Academy in Iowa. After leaving traditional schooling in 2023, Jennifer connected with a like-minded friend—whom she met in the library—and together they launched a homeschool hybrid program rooted in faith, family, and freedom. With a deep conviction and a clear understanding of Iowa’s homeschool laws, Jennifer and her partner were able to form their LLC and bring their vision to life. But it wasn’t an easy road—Jennifer shares how “knowing her why” carried her through trials and tribulations, keeping her focused on her calling. As an incredible contributor in our Microschool Masterminds community, Jennifer has embraced coaching, mentorship, and collaboration. From one-on-one coaching to ongoing membership support, she has even budgeted professional development into her monthly finances—a true testament to her dedication to growth, leadership, and sustainability. Jennifer’s story will inspire you if you’ve ever asked: How do I start a microschool or homeschool hybrid when I don’t know where to begin? What role does faith play when the road feels uncertain? Where can I find a community to walk with me through trials and victories? Her journey is one of shepherding her calling, waiting on God’s timing, and persevering through seasons of challenge. ✨ Press play to hear Jennifer’s testimony of courage, conviction, and clarity—and discover how Microschool Masterminds can help you grow your own vision into reality. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 386: How Microschool Founders Can Overcome Parent Pressure. Setting Boundaries, Building Confidence, and Communicating Expectations to Create Thriving Schools Without Burnout

2025-09-1624:05

Starting a microschool comes with incredible joy—but it also comes with the pressure of making everyone happy: parents, students, even your staff. If you’ve ever felt the weight of parent expectations on your shoulders, this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I’m pulling back the curtain on how new founders can manage parent pressure without burning out. We’ll talk about: ✨ Why boundaries are essential for your sanity and your school’s success ✨ How proactive communication reduces conflict and builds trust ✨ The reality that confidence doesn’t come overnight—it grows with systems, support, and consistency ✨ Practical ways to onboard parents, clarify expectations, and foster community involvement And most importantly, I’ll remind you that you are not alone. What if you had a community of founders who reminded you that you’re not crazy for doing this—and helped you do it well? That’s exactly why I created Microschool Masterminds and the Open House Playbook. These resources are designed to give you the clarity, tools, and encouragement you need to lead with confidence. 💡 Links & Resources: 👉 Grab the Open House Playbook 👉 Join Microschool Masterminds Friend, you don’t have to carry the pressure by yourself. Let’s build thriving schools—and thriving leaders—together. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 385: A Mother’s Heart, a Founder’s Struggle: Navigating the Heartbreak and Hope of School Choices

2025-09-0941:57

For six years, I’ve poured my heart into building a microschool—creating a place of freedom, belonging, and personalized learning. My daughters were the reason I started this journey. And yet, today, neither of them are with us at our microschool. In this episode, I open up about: My daughter’s transition from a small, nurturing microschool environment into the overwhelm of middle school. My other daughter’s leap from being “homegrown” in our microschool to navigating the struggles of public school—and what that has meant for our family. The stress, meltdowns, and dysregulation kids face when systems don’t meet their needs. My personal reflections as a mom and a school founder—what I would have done differently, and what I’m learning now. This conversation isn’t just my story—it’s for every parent torn between options, every teacher leaving a broken system, and every microschool builder wondering if they’re enough. You’ll hear not just the heartbreak, but also the hope of finding the right support systems and building something better for our kids. ✨ You are not alone in this. Together, we’re navigating school choices with courage, conviction, and community. 👉 If this story resonates, consider joining Microschool Masterminds—a place where educators and parents come together to find support, strategies, and hope for the future of education. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 384: What’s Saving My Sanity (and What’s Not) as a Microschool Founder. Behind the Scenes: All the Fun Things, The Routines and Systems Keeping Me Sane as a Microschool Leader

2025-09-0230:06

Behind every thriving microschool is a leader who is juggling 1,000 spinning plates — curriculum, enrollment, parent communication, staff management, and personal life. In this candid behind-the-scenes episode, I’m sharing the honest truth about what’s actually saving my sanity right now as a microschool founder…and what’s not. You’ll hear the daily routines, systems, and decisions that keep me grounded, plus the areas where I’m still struggling. From communication systems that finally work to the non-negotiables I’ve built into my week, I’m laying out the real practices that keep burnout at bay. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I the only one feeling this way?” or “How do I hold it all together without losing myself?” — this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone, and that building the right routines and systems will free you to lead with confidence and clarity. 👉 Join Microschool Masterminds – Don’t try to build and reset your systems alone. Inside our Mastermind, you’ll gain access to the proven playbooks, legal/financial clarity, and operational strategies that hundreds of microschool leaders are using to scale sustainably. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 383: Reset Your Microschool Systems Before Burnout Hits The 4 Week System and Routine to Finally Get Organized and Free

2025-08-2623:02

Running a microschool requires relentless focus, clarity, and strong systems. If you’re spinning your wheels every September—re-creating lesson plans, re-building operations, and re-learning the same organizational habits—you’re headed straight for overwhelm. In this episode, I walk you through a 4-Week Reset System that will help you: Audit what’s working (and cut what’s not). Build repeatable systems that save time, money, and sanity. Create a weekly routine that keeps you in CEO mode instead of teacher-scramble mode. Position yourself to grow without burning out. Burnout doesn’t hit all at once—it builds slowly through disorganization, lack of delegation, and broken systems. By hitting reset NOW, you can protect your vision, expand your capacity, and step fully into your role as the confident, prepared, and effective leader your school needs. 👉 Join Microschool Masterminds – Don’t try to build and reset your systems alone. Inside our Mastermind, you’ll gain access to the proven playbooks, legal/financial clarity, and operational strategies that hundreds of microschool leaders are using to scale sustainably. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Throwback-To-School: What to Do When You Ask Yourself: Do I Have The Time, Energy and Resources to Start or Grow Your Dream School or Teaching Business!

2025-08-1924:26

Welcome To The Teacher, Let Your Light Shine: Throwback-To-School Series! You are a teacher, a dreamer, and a builder. This new, refreshing month, we are bringing you something special. Our throwbacks series! Featuring hand-picked episodes from the vault that are JUST as powerful now as when they first aired! August is one of the most transformational, and, let's be honest, intense months for microschool builders. Whether you're gearing up for a launch, onboarding new families, hiring teachers, tweaking curriculum, or just trying to get all of your systems in place...this series is here to ground you, encourage you, and guide you with wisdom that WORKS. These episodes will have you saying, "I needed this!!" And they are BACK to remind you - you are not alone. You are doing something so bold - and it's worth it. Now, in this month, not only are you able to listen to some of our most listened-to episodes that you may have missed, but you're also able to listen to episodes that you may need some time to catch up on! At the end of August, we'll be back with brand new episodes, but in the meantime, if you're looking for even MORE clarity, support, and real-time strategy, now is the perfect time to join Microschool Masteminds! We're working through August together; sharing ideas, solving problems, and preparing for your best school year yet - so come be apart of it! Now, onto our Throwback Episode!! ---------- When it comes to choosing curriculum, the idea can be both exciting and overwhelming! How do I choose? What's going to work the best? Self-paced or teacher/parent directed? Will my students enjoy it? Will my child be successful? What if I don't like teaching it or my students hate doing it? What works best for multi-age students? I see you! I hear you! That's why, after 3 years, I have a very systematic process that helps me look at choosing curriculum as if it were a project with many moving pieces! I share how I use a project management board, called MeisterTask, to organize my ideas and notes. In addition, I share how I get the ball moving with very specific questions that allow me to gather enough evidence to make a good decision - even if it's not a perfect one! ---------- Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Throwback-To-School: Career Change! What Teachers Can Experience After Leaving Public School Teaching and What They Realized They Desperately Needed!

2025-08-1228:30

Welcome To The Teacher, Let Your Light Shine: Throwback-To-School Series! You are a teacher, a dreamer, and a builder. This new, refreshing month, we are bringing you something special. Our throwbacks series! Featuring hand-picked episodes from the vault that are JUST as powerful now as when they first aired! August is one of the most transformational, and, let's be honest, intense months for microschool builders. Whether you're gearing up for a launch, onboarding new families, hiring teachers, tweaking curriculum, or just trying to get all of your systems in place...this series is here to ground you, encourage you, and guide you with wisdom that WORKS. These episodes will have you saying, "I needed this!!" And they are BACK to remind you - you are not alone. You are doing something so bold - and it's worth it. Now, in this month, not only are you able to listen to some of our most listened-to episodes that you may have missed, but you're also able to listen to episodes that you may need some time to catch up on! At the end of August, we'll be back with brand new episodes, but in the meantime, if you're looking for even MORE clarity, support, and real-time strategy, now is the perfect time to join Microschool Masteminds! We're working through August together; sharing ideas, solving problems, and preparing for your best school year yet - so come be apart of it! Now, onto our Throwback Episode!! ---------- Thinking of leaving public school education? Wondering what life will be like when you do? Longing for a different change of pace, a new sense of being, and wonder what life will be like on the other side? Have you already left public school education, and noticing there is just something "off"? Or maybe when you left, you didn't realize you needed this one thing I am talking about today! This podcast has been inspired from teachers in my life right now, teachers who have left public school education, and teachers who are crossing over and wanting a change of life-and THIS is what I found out! ---------- Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Throwback-To-School: Does a Homeschooling Business Have to be IN MY HOME? Pros/Cons and 8 Alternative Places for Success!

2025-08-0524:27

Welcome To The Teacher, Let Your Light Shine: Throwback-To-School Series! You are a teacher, a dreamer, and a builder. This new, refreshing month, we are bringing you something special. Our throwbacks series! Featuring hand-picked episodes from the vault that are JUST as powerful now as when they first aired! August is one of the most transformational, and, let's be honest, intense months for microschool builders. Whether you're gearing up for a launch, onboarding new families, hiring teachers, tweaking curriculum, or just trying to get all of your systems in place...this series is here to ground you, encourage you, and guide you with wisdom that WORKS. These episodes will have you saying, "I needed this!!" And they are BACK to remind you - you are not alone. You are doing something so bold - and it's worth it. Now, in this month, not only are you able to listen to some of our most listened-to episodes that you may have missed, but you're also able to listen to episodes that you may need some time to catch up on! At the end of August, we'll be back with brand new episodes, but in the meantime, if you're looking for even MORE clarity, support, and real-time strategy, now is the perfect time to join Microschool Masteminds! We're working through August together; sharing ideas, solving problems, and preparing for your best school year yet - so come be apart of it! Now, onto our Throwback Episode!! ---------- Hey, Teacher Friend! Have you been thinking about starting a homeschooling business, but the fear of WHERE to have this business keeps holding you back? I’m so excited to share this episode with you because it is the NUMBER ONE question I get asked when it comes time to start a homeschooling business!! “Does a Homeschooling Business HAVE to be in MY OWN HOME?” Well, teacher friend, it's time to reveal the answer!! And not only will you learn the Pros and Cons of having this business in YOUR HOME , but I'm going to throw in some suggestions for YOU: How about 8 alternative places to run this business like a Teacher Boss?! In addition, I'd love to hear your thoughts on alternative locations! Let’s brainstorm some NEW options! Join me in the "Teacher Let Your Light Shine Community" (Facebook Group) for more Inspiration! I'll be dropping a picture of my "Dream Space"! ---------- Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Throwback-To-School: From Traditional Teacher to Teacher Entrepreneur: Why I Left The Public School System and Started a Homeschooling Business

2025-07-2932:17

Welcome To The Teacher, Let Your Light Shine: Throwback-To-School Series! You are a teacher, a dreamer, and a builder. This new, refreshing month, we are bringing you something special. Our throwbacks series! Featuring hand-picked episodes from the vault that are JUST as powerful now as when they first aired! August is one of the most transformational, and, let's be honest, intense months for microschool builders. Whether you're gearing up for a launch, onboarding new families, hiring teachers, tweaking curriculum, or just trying to get all of your systems in place...this series is here to ground you, encourage you, and guide you with wisdom that WORKS. These episodes will have you saying, "I needed this!!" And they are BACK to remind you - you are not alone. You are doing something so bold - and it's worth it. Now, in this month, not only are you able to listen to some of our most listened-to episodes that you may have missed, but you're also able to listen to episodes that you may need some time to catch up on! At the end of August, we'll be back with brand new episodes, but in the meantime, if you're looking for even MORE clarity, support, and real-time strategy, now is the perfect time to join Microschool Masteminds! We're working through August together; sharing ideas, solving problems, and preparing for your best school year yet - so come be apart of it! Now, onto our Throwback Episode!! ---------- Hey, Teacher Friend! Welcome to the First Episode of "Teacher, Let Your Light Shine"! The world needs YOU, Teacher Friend, to step out in faith and design the life you LOVE as a teacher so you can make a BIG impact on our future generations! Today I'm here to share how this happened to me! In this podcast, I will share my experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach and what ultimately led me to creating a homeschooling business! I know there are so many more teachers who would love this opportunity, and I want to share this with you! I hope you are given a fresh perspective into what possibilities lie ahead of you in your teaching journey. I am in Year 2 of beginning a dream school- Lighthouse Learning! I left public school 2 years ago, looking for purpose, freedom and JOY! Never did I think I would be homeschooling my own children, let alone other children. But God had his hands in all of this, and He made a way! Enjoy! ---------- Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 378: You're Pouring Into Everyone - Who Is Pouring Into You? What's NOT Optional for Microschool Leaders

2025-07-2230:33

Are you a microschool leader running on empty, juggling all the roles, and wondering how to keep going? In this powerful episode, we're diving deep into why professional development isn't a luxury—it's a lifeline. Whether you're starting out or deep in the trenches, this episode will show you how PD can radically transform your confidence, your systems, and your impact as a school leader. We'll unpack: Shocking stats on leadership burnout in education How microschool founders can grow faster with aligned mentorship and strategic support What real professional development looks like beyond boring PD days Why investing in your own growth is the smartest move for your school’s success You’ll walk away with clarity, motivation, and real steps to take if you’re feeling stuck, tired, or alone. This is for the bold leaders ready to create thriving schools without burning out in the process. 📢 BONUS: Hear how the Microschool Masterminds community is helping founders go from burnout to breakthrough with targeted training and real-time coaching. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 377: Mid-Year, Major Impact: How Adjusting Your Open House Plan Can Skyrocket Enrollment

2025-07-1819:13

Are you underestimating the power of your school’s open house? This episode breaks down why open houses are so much more than enrollment events—they're your most effective and affordable in-person marketing strategy to build community, increase visibility, and strengthen your brand. Whether you're running a microschool, homeschool hybrid, private school, or learning pod, this episode will show you how to turn your open house into a long-term marketing machine that works even if you’re shy, scrappy, or starting small. Discover how open houses: ✔ Build trust with families ✔ Showcase your school’s unique value in real time ✔ Strengthen current family relationships ✔ Empower students through real-life presentations ✔ Create emotional connection that no online ad can match ✔ Generate content, referrals, and brand loyalty 🎧 In this episode, we cover: How to use your open house as a school marketing strategy Why introverted school leaders can still shine at open houses What to say and do when no one enrolls right away How to create community buy-in and long-term visibility Why open houses grow your confidence and leadership The ripple effect open houses have on student pride and parent referrals 🔥 Ready to turn your next open house into a strategic event that markets for you year-round? 🎯 Grab the Open House Playbook Mini Course: teachersletyourlightshine.com/openhouse Get the checklist, templates, training, and talking points you need to confidently showcase your program—on any budget. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 376: Scaling Back to Show Up: From Burnout to Breakthrough in Microschool Leadership — Why Subtracting Is the Key to Thriving This School Year

2025-07-1534:54

Are you feeling the weight of trying to do everything as a microschool founder, homeschooling parent, or educational entrepreneur? You’re not alone. In this heartfelt and practical episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what it really looks like to lead a microschool into a new school year — without burning out in the process. I’m sharing how I’m intentionally scaling back in order to show up fully — for my family, my team, my students, and myself. You’ll hear how the powerful phrase “Subtract to Multiply” has reshaped the way I’m planning for the upcoming school year, and why I chose the word THRIVE to guide everything I do. From stepping back to one podcast episode a week, to reworking my schedule at Lighthouse Learning, to navigating a season of deep personal reflection after almost losing our school location — this is a behind-the-scenes look at how I’m preparing for a school year that actually feels right. This episode is for: Microschool founders who are tired of surviving and want to thrive Teachers-turned-leaders juggling family, business, and faith Anyone who’s been burned out and knows something has to change Visionaries ready to build something quality, not just bigger If you’ve ever questioned your capacity, felt the pressure to “do it all,” or just need a reminder that you can lead with peace, clarity, and purpose—this episode is for you. We’ll talk real-life strategies for simplifying your schedule, using the tools you already have (hello, MicroSchool Masterminds Planner 🙌), and making decisions from a place of alignment — not anxiety. 👂 Tune in for a mix of storytelling, strategy, and soul care that will leave you inspired, equipped, and ready to step into the school year with confidence. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 375: Overwhelmed by Open Houses? How I Simplified, Scaled, and Finally Found My Flow - How to Plan a Successful Open House That Increases Enrollment Without Burning Out

2025-07-0826:12

Are you overwhelmed trying to plan your next school open house? 😩 You’re not alone. In this episode, I pull back the curtain on the chaos, confusion, and emotional weight that comes with trying to host a meaningful event that actually leads to enrollment. Whether you run a microschool, private school, or homeschool hybrid, this episode will help you stop winging it and start building an intentional, repeatable open house system that works. I share my story of failed open houses, the fear of no-shows, how I wasted money on the wrong things, and what finally helped me create a scalable open house playbook that converts. You'll learn the best time to host an open house, what to include (and what to skip), how to do it on a budget, and how to make every open house a powerful showcase of your educational program. 💡 If you're trying to increase enrollment, build trust with families, and confidently explain your school’s unique value—this episode is your first step. 🎯 This episode covers: Open house planning strategies that work How to boost school enrollment through events How to host a successful school open house on a budget What to include in your open house presentation Tools for organizing roles and responsibilities Real stories of trial and error from my own microschool journey How to follow up with families and turn interest into enrollment ✅ Grab the Open House Playbook Mini Course on July 18th at teachersletyourlightshine.com/openhouse! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 374: How To Market When You're Shy: A Real Talk and 5 Tips for Introverted & Neurodivergent Microschool Founders

2025-07-0417:44

I used to freeze at the thought of “marketing my school.” I’m not naturally outgoing. I’ve always been more of a behind-the-scenes, let-me-do-the-work-in-peace kind of woman. And for a long time, I thought that meant I wasn’t cut out to grow a successful microschool. All I kept hearing was: “You need to network more,” “You need to post every day,” “You have to sell yourself,” and honestly... I just wanted to crawl into a hole. If you’ve ever felt like that—if you’re introverted, neurodivergent, shy, or just burned out by the pressure to show up all the time—I made this episode just for you. You don’t need to change who you are to lead a thriving microschool. You don’t need to fake confidence or become someone else to market well. You just need aligned systems and support that work with your personality, not against it. In this episode, I’ll walk you through how I market my school quietly but powerfully, how I connect with families in a way that feels authentic, and how you can protect your peace while still building a sustainable school. You’ll learn that you’re not broken—you’re built for this. And you can lead from a place of calm, clarity, and conviction. Need support mapping it all out? Grab the Microschool Marketing Blueprint: bit.ly/tlyls-blueprint Join our community inside Microschool Masterminds: bit.ly/mmasterminds Or work with me 1-on-1 through Clarity Coaching: bit.ly/tlyls-clarity You don’t have to shout to be seen. You just have to shine—in your way. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 373: Feeling Lonely as a Microschool Founder? How to Ask for Help, Build Support Systems, and Stop Carrying the Weight Alone—Even When You Don’t Know Where to Begin

2025-07-0120:02

There were so many days I felt completely alone. I didn’t even know how to ask for help—because I didn’t know what kind of help I needed. I just knew I couldn’t keep doing everything by myself. Maybe you're in that place too. You’re carrying the vision. You’re showing up for everyone else. But deep down, you’re tired… and wondering who’s showing up for you. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the loneliest parts of leading a microschool—and how I found my way out. Not with a perfect plan. Not with a huge team. But with one honest question: “Can you help me?” I’ll share what happened when I lost our building, scrambled through commercial properties, and had to lean harder than ever on the community I didn’t even realize I’d already built. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure how to let others in—this is the episode you’ve been needing. Because you don’t have to pretend to have it all together. You just need the courage to invite someone in. And when you do? Everything begins to shift. Need support mapping it all out? Grab the Microschool Marketing Blueprint: bit.ly/tlyls-blueprint Join our community inside Microschool Masterminds: bit.ly/mmasterminds Or work with me 1-on-1 through Clarity Coaching: bit.ly/tlyls-clarity You don’t have to shout to be seen. You just have to shine—in your way. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 372: Creating Community Through Events: How to Plan Meaningful Microschool Gatherings That Grow Connection & Enrollment- Letting Go and Letting Others Lead

2025-06-2723:45

Creating Community Through Events: How to Plan Meaningful Microschool Gatherings That Grow Connection & Enrollment As a microschool or homeschool hybrid leader, you’re not just teaching—you’re building a movement. And one of the most powerful (and overlooked) tools in your toolkit? Events. Whether you’re welcoming new families, showcasing student work, or gathering around a holiday tradition, events bring your school to life. In this episode of the Teacher Let Your Light Shine Podcast, we’re diving deep into how to create and host meaningful events that build connection, strengthen your school culture, and yes—help with marketing and enrollment. If you've ever wondered how to get more families involved, grow word-of-mouth referrals, or create standout experiences without feeling overwhelmed, this episode is packed with practical inspiration. You’ll discover: Why events are essential for microschool growth and retention A season-by-season guide to easy, engaging event ideas How to connect events to your curriculum and values Ways to turn small gatherings into big enrollment opportunities Tips for organizing events without burning out (hello, parent teams!) The connection between events and visibility in your local community Whether you're just launching your microschool or preparing for Year 5, the events you host can set the tone for the year and create legacy moments that families will never forget. 📢 Want more help growing your school? The Microschool Marketing Blueprint is now available and gives you a step-by-step system to attract, nurture, and enroll families—all without paid ads or guesswork. Grab it now 👉 www.teachersletyourlightshine.com/blueprint Join our private group coaching program, Microschool Masterminds, where you’ll get monthly coaching, tools, and community to help you grow with clarity and confidence. Start here 👉 www.teachersletyourlightshine.com/masterminds 🎙 Your microschool deserves to shine—so let’s get the community around it to shine too. Let’s plan events that are fun, fulfilling, and fuel your mission. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 371: From Lonely to Thriving: How to Build a Microschool Community To Decrease Overwhlem and Increase Results (Even If You Don’t Know Where to Start)

2025-06-2328:47

Feeling alone in your microschool journey? Whether you're just starting or several years in, building a microschool community can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode of the Teacher Let Your Light Shine Podcast, I’m sharing how I went from homeschooling a few students in my living room to leading a thriving microschool with a fully engaged Parent Advisory Council and a strong waitlist. You’ll learn: How to involve parents even when you’re small What to do in Year 1 to plant seeds of connection How to grow word-of-mouth marketing organically The difference between asking for help and building advocates How to structure sustainable community systems (without burnout) Whether you’re dreaming, launching, or expanding, you’ll walk away with clear action steps, encouragement, and a reminder: you don’t have to build your school alone. 👥 Plus, I’ll tell you how to join our July Microschool Mastermind for access to my full community-building framework, a plug-and-play parent advocacy team template, and steps to help you grow with clarity and support. 📌 Join us: www.teachersletyourlightshine.com/masterminds Struggling to enroll more students? Tired of posting on social media and hearing crickets? Wish marketing your microschool felt less confusing—and way more effective? 🎉 Today’s the day! The Microschool Marketing Blueprint is officially HERE—and it’s your step-by-step system to attract the right families, grow your enrollment, and finally feel confident in how you market your school. 💡 Whether you’re in the dreaming phase, just launched your school, or are years in and ready to scale, this blueprint gives you the exact roadmap to build a brand, communicate your value, and enroll with ease. In this episode, I walk you through: ✔️ What’s inside the Blueprint ✔️ Who it’s for (and why it works for all stages) ✔️ Why organic, relationship-based marketing is your secret weapon ✔️ The #1 mistake most microschool founders make in marketing—and how to avoid it ✔️ How YOU can get started today and join the exclusive July bonus webinar 📢 BONUS: If you purchase the Blueprint before June 30th, you’ll receive a private invite to a live webinar this July—where I’ll answer your marketing questions and give you even more tailored support to help you thrive. 🎯 It’s time to stop guessing and start growing. 👉 Grab the Blueprint now at: teachersletyourlightshine.com/blueprint Let’s light up the path to your full and flourishing microschool—one brilliant message at a time. 🌟 Microschool Masterminds. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 370: Introducing The Microschool Marketing Blueprint! A Course Designed To Attract, Enroll, and Grow Your Educational Program. A Foundational Marketing Course Designed Just For YOU!

2025-06-2033:07

You didn’t start your microschool to become a marketing expert… But without students, your vision can’t grow. 💔 If you’re unsure how to get the word out, or you’ve tried everything from social media to word-of-mouth with little return, you are not alone—and you are exactly who I created the Microschool Marketing Blueprint for. In today’s episode, I’m officially introducing you to the 5-step framework that helped me grow Lighthouse Learning from 5 students in my living room to nearly 100—with a waitlist. This isn’t theory. These are the exact steps I used to build consistent momentum, even when I didn’t know where to start. 🔑 Inside the Microschool Marketing Blueprint, You’ll Learn: Module 1: Clarify Your Vision and Voice Before anyone enrolls, you must clearly communicate what you offer. You’ll get tools to refine your messaging so families immediately understand the value of your school. Module 2: Attract Your Ideal Families You don’t need every family—you need the right ones. Learn how to find, understand, and speak to the people you're meant to serve. Module 3: Build Your Brand & Story This is where your school’s identity becomes magnetic. You’ll learn how to build trust through storytelling and create a consistent brand (even if you’re not techy). Module 4: Create a Marketing Rhythm Ditch the burnout. I’ll show you how to build a weekly marketing flow that fits your life, using my exact calendar and workflow templates. Module 5: Turn Interest into Enrollment You’ve got leads—now what? Learn how to follow up effectively, book more tours, and confidently close with enrollment tools that work. 💡 Whether you’re in Year 1 or Year 3, still in the classroom or newly launched—this course is your marketing foundation. You don’t need to do it all. You just need a system that works. 🎯 Enroll in the Microschool Marketing Blueprint here: 👉 Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 369: Struggling to Find Students in a Small Town? How Becky McNichols Built a Thriving Microschool Business from Her Basement While Homeschooling in Rural Kansas

2025-06-1753:23

Can you really start a microschool in a rural town, homeschool your own kids, and grow an online business—all at the same time? Let me introduce you to Becky McNichols, a former public school teacher from a small town in rural Kansas. After stepping away from the traditional classroom to homeschool her two children, Becky didn’t stop there. She transformed her basement into a learning hub—what would become the start of her thriving microschool. Today, Becky not only runs a growing homeschool hybrid, but she also operates a successful Teachers Pay Teachers store, combining her love of teaching with entrepreneurship. In this inspiring episode, Becky opens up about: Leaving the public school system and embracing homeschool life Teaching from her home in a rural Kansas community Starting her microschool in her basement with no blueprint Finding confidence and clarity through the Microschool Marketing Blueprint Growing her student base, creating curriculum, and balancing it all with family life Becky is proof that you don’t need a big city, a big budget, or a big building to start. You just need the courage to begin, the willingness to learn, and the heart to serve. If you’re feeling stuck in a small town… if you're unsure where the students will come from… or if you’re balancing homeschooling and dreaming of more—this episode is your sign to keep going. 🧭 Ready to follow the same path Becky took? 👉 Join the Microschool Marketing Blueprint today: Follow Rooted Life Academy on Facebook! Microschool Masterminds. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

Ep 368: Struggling to Find Students? How Florida Teacher-Turned-Microschool Founder Lori Rubel Grew Bloom Beautiful Academy Into a Thriving Homeschool Hybrid With The Microschool Marketing Blueprint

2025-06-1353:48

If you’ve ever thought: “I know I’m called to this work… but why aren’t families enrolling?”—you are not alone. In today’s powerful episode, I’m introducing you to Lori Rubel, a former teacher and now the successful founder of Bloom Beautiful Academy, a growing microschool and homeschool hybrid in Florida. Lori didn’t start with a marketing degree. She started with a calling—and her living room. Like so many of us, Lori left the traditional classroom with a dream to build a safe, joyful, and personalized space for students—but struggled with one major hurdle: How do I find families? She joined our Microschool Marketing Blueprint course during those uncertain early days, and today, she shares what happened next: how the course helped her build clarity, consistency, and confidence—and how she grew Bloom Beautiful into a place where students and parents feel seen, supported, and empowered. 🌱 What You'll Hear in This Episode: How Lori transitioned from teacher to school founder (and what surprised her most) Why marketing felt overwhelming—and how she overcame it The exact steps and mindset shifts she used from the Microschool Marketing Blueprint The turning point when parents finally started showing up, scheduling tours, and enrolling Encouragement for anyone who feels behind, confused, or afraid they’re not cut out for this 🌟 Lori’s story is proof that you don’t need perfection—just a process. If you’ve been struggling to find students or doubting your ability to grow, this episode will speak directly to your heart. 🛠️ Ready to follow the same steps Lori did? Join the Microschool Marketing Blueprint at: 👉 Follow Bloom Beautiful Academy on Facebook! Microschool Masterminds. Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We also invite you to join your new FAVORITE online community full of resources, templates, videos, LIVE Q and A, Group Coaching and New Monthy Content Centered around your Educational Entrepreneurship Needs! Microschool Masterminds, designed to help you start or grow your micro school by maximizing your time, optimizing your finances, and mastering your marketing. Whether you are a seasoned microschool owner or a teacher with a dream, Microschool Masterminds provides a dedicated space to share resources, collaborate with fellow educators, and access expert guidance. Join us as we embark on this journey together. Your dreams are about to take flight. No more fears, no more hesitations. Microschool Masterminds is here to fuel your journey. It's your time. Your destiny awaits. Let's soar together into a future of limitless possibilities. VELA Organization: VELA Education Fund Join our Mastermind Program! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Launch and Scale Your Microschool or Homeschool Hybrid by Maximizing Your Time, Optimizing Your Finances and Mastering Your Marketing! With our program, you'll confidently navigate the journey of starting or growing your educational venture, equipped with the tools and support needed to achieve lasting success! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Join Our Facebook Group for a supportive community and the “best place on the corner of the internet” Teacher, Let Your Light Shine's Microschool Community | Facebook Book a Clarity Coaching Session: Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching Get started on your dream school right now! Get all the documents you need to jumpstart, market and enroll students! Teacher Let Your Light Shine Microschool, Learning Pod, Tutoring and Homeschool Business Coaching We have step-by-step instructions to help you write powerful marketing brochures, enrollment forms, introductory packets, and so much more! You’ll also find easy-to-use templates made to simplify your creation process, as well as beautiful real-life examples used by my micro-school, Lighthouse Learning, to give you creative inspiration when designing your very own forms. You will be able to seal the deal with peace and clarity when you hand deliver your new handbook and contract. Tune in to today's episode to find out more and head over to our shop to purchase your documents at teachersletyourlightshine.com!

#box-pro-ellipsis-175919821748782{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}Teacher, Let Your Light Shine! Start a Micro-School, Homeschool Hybrid or Tutoring Business! From Teacher or Homeschool Mom to Teacher Entrepreneur and Education Advocate

Teacher, Let Your Light Shine! Start a Micro-School, Homeschool Hybrid or Tutoring Business! From Teacher or Homeschool Mom to Teacher Entrepreneur and Education Advocate