June 13-15, 2024

Dominque Burgess

Founder and Head of School, Burbrella Learning Academy Inc

Dominque Burgess is a visionary educator and the driving force behind Burbrella Learning Academy Inc, a 501(c)(3) microschool network that is redefining education through its innovative approach. With 15 years of experience in the field of education, Dominique has dedicated her career to transforming the educational landscape by infusing STEAM, nature, project-based learning, and play-based methodologies into non-traditional learning environments.

Justin Shell

COO, WEquil App

After more than a decade as a marine engineer and yacht designer, Justin Shell found his true calling in education. Dissatisfied with traditional schooling, he launched MySchool in 2018 to help parents explore diverse, local educational options including microschools and homeschooling resources. Realizing that educators were struggling to communicate what they were building, and that parents were struggling to understand these unconventional programs, MySchool began producing videos to showcase the work of microschool educators nationwide. Through short video narratives, MySchool aims to inform families of alternative educational options while inspiring a new wave of microschool founders to provide personalized learning opportunities for all children.

Manisha Snoyer

CEO & Co-Founder, Modulo

Manisha Snoyer is a thought leader in the growing modular learning movement and the co-founder of Modulo, a curated educational marketplace designed to help parents customize children’s education using a mix of in-person and online resources. With over 20 years of experience in K12 education, she has taught over 2,000 children in three countries. Prior to starting Modulo, she founded CottageClass, the first marketplace for microschools which trailblazed a path for the growing microschool movement we see today. Her other initiatives include launching virtual learning programs during the pandemic, building a free math tutoring platform for underserved youth, and creating SchoolClosures, leading a network of 80 partners and 300 volunteers assisting families through the crisis. She received the VELA bridge grant to expand access to homeschooling to families across the United States through Modulo's in-depth guides on modular learning.

Nicole Doyle

Executive Director, DeKalb Christian Home Educators, Inc.

As a school choice and parents’ rights advocate, Nicole champions the "Parent-as-Educator" movement in the Georgia homeschooling community. As Executive Director of DeKalb Christian Home Educators, Inc. (DCHE), she oversees a multigenerational homeschool cooperative that has fostered a community-driven education hub for over 30 years. DCHE is a sanctuary where parental dreams take flight. Here, parents embody program administration, thought-leadership, teaching, and advocacy that activates an ecosystem of parent-led educational choice. Her advocacy extends beyond DCHE, as Nicole collaborates with various organizations such as the Home School Legal Defense Association, Empowered Parents Invested in Change (EPIC) with GeorgiaCAN, and the EdChoice Parent Corps to amplify parental voices in education. During the educational crisis of the pandemic, she co-founded the Georgia Black Home Educators Network to present the Flourish Homeschool Conference to highlight homeschooling as a pathway to educational freedom for Black families.

Peter Laipson

Senior Fellow, Mastery Transcript Consortium

Peter Laipson is a longtime educational leader in both K-12 and higher ed and the former Chief Academic Officer of a competency-based graduate school of education. A Senior Fellow at Mastery Transcript Consortium, he recently led a pilot program for 25 VELA founders to introduce them to MTC's tools.

Chrystal Bernard

Founder, Braveheart Christian Academy

After building a successful CPA practice, Chrystal Bernard, along with her husband Joshua, propelled her entrepreneurial and academic background into committing herself to building innovative, unconventional learning environments where each student’s education experience is personalized, allowing them to develop a love for learning and explore their gifts. As a result, Chrystal has raised the level of instructional practices, equipping students with mastery and life tools while improving educators’ teaching experiences.  Under Chrystal’s leadership, Braveheart Christian Academy received its initial accreditation status from Cognia, NCA CASI, NWAC, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) during the 2023-2024 school year, and successfully incorporated computer technology into the school curriculum.  Chrystal believes that education involves more than a child’s intellectual abilities; it should ultimately inspire students to fulfill God’s purpose in their lives.

Nasiyah Isra-Ul

Executive Director, Canary Academy Online Inc.

Nasiyah Isra-Ul is the founder and Executive Director of Canary Academy Online Inc., a research fellow at the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, and a current 2024 50CAN National Voices Fellow. As a homeschool graduate, Nasiyah is deeply passionate about all-things unconventional education and edupreneurship. She is highly involved in community advocacy, research, and providing mentorship to other homeschooled youth. Additionally, Nasiyah serves as an advisor for a number of organizations, a business coach and edupreneurship consultant for ED-You Consulting, and the co-director of the National Edupreneur Institute. When she is not working or studying, Nasiyah enjoys spending her time reading books ranging from historical fiction to the latest research in education alternatives, leveling up her skillset in multicultural cooking techniques, and spending quality time with her family.

Kym Kent

Co-Founder & Director, eXtend Homeschool Tutorial

A twenty year veteran homeschooling mom of six, Kym Kent is the Co-Founder and Director of eXtend Homeschool Tutorial, an academic homeschool tutorial which meets on two campuses in Bowie, Maryland, serving students in grades one through high school. Kym's passion for homeschooling and non-traditional educational environments has enabled her to mentor and coach countless students and families, speak at local and national educational events, and serve as a voice of empowerment for families and educational entrepreneurs across the country.

Coi Morefield

Founder & President, The Lab School of Memphis

Coi Morefield, an award-winning school founder, learning designer, and mother of four, has dedicated her career to student-centered learning environments emphasizing equity and future-focused outcomes. Beginning in public schools, she honed her expertise in educational theory and pedagogy. Motivated to expand her impact, Coi pursued an MBA in Leadership & Change Management, transitioning into the private sector where she excelled in business development and organizational learning design. In 2020, Coi founded The Black Inquiry Project™, introducing an inquiry-based  ELA curriculum centered on amplifying Black voices. In 2021, Coi founded The Lab School of Memphis to provide customized learning pathways and community-based learning experiences. Ever the supporter of meaningful, lifelong learning, Coi offers comprehensive training for microschools and innovative educators through the Educator Expand™ e-learning platform. Coi embodies the spirit of transformational education, her life's work serving as a powerful reflection of the impact of combining passion and innovation to drive progress.

Kerry McDonald

Senior Fellow, Foundation for Economic Education

Kerry McDonald works closely with the VELA team to spotlight and support education entrepreneurs who are building innovative K-12 learning models and expanding education options for families. She is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education and host of the LiberatED Podcast. She is also the Velinda Jonson Family Education Fellow at State Policy Network, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, and a regular Forbes contributor. Kerry is the author of the bestselling book, Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom. She has a B.A. in economics from Bowdoin College and a Master’s degree in education policy from Harvard University. Kerry lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts with her husband and four children, who have always been unconventionally educated.

Blair Lee

President, SEA Homeschoolers Organization

Blair Lee, MS, is the founder of the SEA Homeschoolers Community, a thriving network of approximately 150,000 members that ranks among the largest homeschooling groups globally. An advocate for innovative educational methods, Blair promotes approaches that prioritize optimal learning experiences over traditional metrics. Her mission is to empower homeschoolers, encouraging them to tailor education that is academically enriched and personalized for their students' needs. In line with this, Blair helped establish the SEA Homeschoolers Organization, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a supportive community and providing resources and guidance for homeschooling families. As a grassroots advocacy group, SEA Homeschoolers Organization is committed to promoting accessible, high-quality home education that respects the individuality and potential of each student. Through these endeavors, SEA Homeschoolers Organization is working to make a significant impact in the alternative education space, driving forward a movement that values depth, customization, and the holistic development of learners.

Iman Alleyne

Founder & Visionary, Kind Academy

Iman Alleyne, a highly accomplished educator and entrepreneur, is the founder of Kind Academy Microschool Network. Holding a Masters' degree in School Counseling, her diverse teaching background in public, charter, private, and homeschooling programs fueled her passion for a personalized learning approach.