In a world where we can be anything, I felt that I was destined to live out the life of a social agent of change with the purpose of helping others. I coached and taught within the private school sector. After three years of teaching, I moved into the public schools. As a public Special Education teacher, I was filled with a passion for creating an educational “level playing field” for all students, no matter their weaknesses. While pursuing a PhD, I conducted a research project on innovative education related to the homeschooling population. Through that project, I created the framework for a hybrid homeschool model that would ultimately become my microschool, Micah’s Mission, located in Vicksburg, Mississippi. I am here to share how living out my calling has been one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences. In addition, I hope to offer a little insight on how to build a firm foundation for aspiring faith-based microschool founders.
Micah’s Mission began in 2017 with seven students out of my home. Later that fall, we moved to a space within a church. Founding a school is not for the faint of heart, but for one who has a vision and is focused and determined to push through the uncertainties. Over the last several years, our model has expanded into a faith-based learning and resource center with a K-12 homeschool-microschool, serving primarily educationally vulnerable students. Our learners have encountered challenge after challenge, leading them to being at risk of failing, at risk for not graduating, at risk for negative choices, at risk for constant frustration in a traditional class, and finally at risk of giving up on life itself. We meet the needs of our children and youth who have autism, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, dyslexia/dysgraphia/dyscalculia, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADD/ADHD, sickle cell disease and other medical issues, as well as those who need a small group in which to learn, with a lower student-to-teacher ratio.
All students are working toward a high school diploma or certificate of completion to be prepared for college or the workforce. Micah’s Mission provides a way for students, with or without disabilities, to learn life skills that will increase their preparedness for the real world after graduation, along with a faith-based foundation that increases character traits such as integrity, motivation, courage, and much more. Our students can learn at whatever pace and level they individually need, while also accepting others without judgement.
The linchpin that has held Micah’s Mission together is embedded within the educational team. This team embraces my vision, plans together, pulls together on hard days—and, most of all, laughs together. As a team of educators, we provide a compassionate, respectful safe haven in an environment that motivates each student to be his or her best self.
Creating this type of school climate began with little steps that have made a big difference. If you are a new or aspiring microschool founder, especially one who is building a faith-based school or learning center, here are three tips to consider:
- Determine your purpose, passion, and calling. Taking time to determine how these three are intertwined is vital for the stamina needed when building your own microschool. When leaning into my purpose and passion, I journaled. This has been a constant space to flesh out my thoughts and discern my calling, with my faith at the center of my purpose and passion. Find your own ways to reflect on, and stay committed to, the mission of your microschool.
- Establish non-negotiables. This is a starting point for a firm foundation of how the microschool will operate. One non-negotiable may be the student population and age-range you want to serve. Another non-negotiable may be offering a sliding scale tuition to increase access to your program to more families. Maybe providing certain services, such as Dyslexia Therapy, is an additional non-negotiable. List your most important program priorities and stick to them.
- Find your people! I wish that I had realized sooner the number of entrepreneurs who would be willing to walk beside me through the process of opening and becoming financially sustainable as an organization. This group of entrepreneurs that you surround yourself with is just as important as the educational team you hire for your microschool. No one can understand your entrepreneurial challenges as well as someone who has gone before you or is walking in the trenches with you. Seek out this founder support in a variety of ways, including connecting with the VELA network and the National Microschooling Center, and attending events such as the National Hybrid Schools Conference.
Just remember: Some days we are not able to see the whole staircase, but our faith and passion in what we are doing leads us to continue to push forward, fulfilling our calling for social change while serving others through entrepreneurship.
