In this episode of the Changemaker Edu Podcast, host David K. Richards sits down with Jess Steele, a Changemaker affiliate founder who recently launched The Resonance Lab—a wellness-based K–8 microschool operating out of the Blue Ash YMCA in Greater Cincinnati, Ohio. Jess shares her raw journey from serving as a secondary school educator and startup charter school principal in Phoenix, Arizona, to experiencing profound burnout and ultimately taking the leap into the microschool movement.
Together, they dive deep into the philosophy of "unburdening humanity" through education, overcoming the sector's pervasive complexity bias, and how leaning into surrender and energetic alignment paved the way for community partnerships, state approvals, and a joy-filled learning community.
Key Takeaways & Highlights
- The "Unburdened" Paradigm: Why the job of modern educators is to unburden students, families, and teachers from rigid, industrial-era systems that no longer serve human well being.
- Breaking the Complexity Bias: How traditional education overcomplicates teaching with bureaucratic red tape, and why learning is allowed to feel simple, aligned, and human.
- Surrender vs. Gripping: Jess’s mindset shift on the founder's journey, letting go of rigid expectations and asking the universe to "surprise and delight me" instead of forcing outcomes.
- Serendipity in Community Partnerships: How a spontaneous message on LinkedIn led to a partnership with the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati.
- Navigating Regulatory Hurdles with Love: The tactical reality of launching a chartered non public microschool in Ohio, handling state compliance solo, and treating obstacles as "detours in the right direction."
Timestamps
- 00:00 – Welcome & introducing Jess Steele, founder of The Resonance Lab
- 01:05 – Jess’s background: High school teacher, curriculum coach, charter principal, and author
- 03:40 – The turning point: Moving from physical exhaustion to the decision to become "unburdened"
- 06:40 – From "Who am I to start a school?" to "Who am I NOT to?"
- 07:45 – Escaping the complexity bias in schooling
- 09:15 – The leap to Ohio & serendipity: Partnering with the Blue Ash YMCA
- 12:05 – The founder's mindset: Open palms, no gripping, and leading with love
- 15:35 – Tackling Ohio compliance and the chartering process without losing your soul
- 20:00 – The future of education: Building decentralized, autonomous, co-created microschool ecosystems
You can learn more about the Resonance Lab here: https://www.theresonancelab.org/
What is Changemaker ED“U”?
Welcome to Changemaker ED“U”, a podcast about all things microschools. If you are a paradigm shifter who wants to create change in your community through microschooling, this is the podcast for you!
We share the nuts and bolts of launching and running a successful microschool as well as important tips and tricks about leadership, business, and entrepreneurship.
I am David K Richards, the Founder & CEO of Changemaker Education, an affiliate network of microschools. With 25+ years in education reform, leadership development, and entrepreneurship, I am excited to host this podcast!