Meet the Team

Don Soifer

CEO/Co-Founder

Don Soifer is Chief Executive Officer of the National Microschooling Center, America’s comprehensive resource center, movement-builder and authority for the most exciting new education movement in a generation. He co-created and co-directed the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy, the nation’s first public–private partnership microschool with the City of North Las Vegas, delivering unprecedented academic growth with a previously underserved population of families under pandemic operating conditions.

Ashley Soifer

Chief innovation officer/co-founder

Ashley Soifer is the Chief Innovation Officer of the National Microschooling Center, where she leads strategic growth, the development of new programs and outreach. Ashley guides the Center’s movement-building work.

Kathryn Kret

Director of Microschool leadership development & supports

As the Director of Microschool Leadership Development and Supports Kathryn is responsible for composing and conducting training for microschooling leaders, hosting informational meetings for the public, and working tirelessly to get learning tools and programs into the hands of microschool leaders at a reasonable cost. However, one of the best and most fun parts of her position is the facetime and support she provides for all the member microschools!

Jill Haskins

Director of Microschool Outreach & Ecosystem Building/Indiana Field Coordinator

After teaching at and leading a microschool for 4 years, Jill has become a full time ecosystem builder working with schools across the nation and with a special focus on Indiana's innovative educational landscape. She has collaborated with 100+ microschool leaders, providing guidance and support to those launching, sustaining, or expanding their educational ventures. Jill's passion for personalized education and her extensive experience in microschool leadership and development make her a valuable asset to the educational community in Indiana and beyond.

Daniel Suhr

senior fellow, legal affairs

Daniel R. Suhr is a senior legal fellow for the National Microschooling Center, where he provides legal advice and insights to parents, pod leaders, and policy-makers bringing innovation to education. As part of his broader legal practice, he frequently represents parents, schools, and allies of education reform in administrative proceedings and courts nationwide. Whether dealing with a local government bureaucrat or the United States Supreme Court, Suhr combines legal excellence with a comprehensive strategy integrating media outreach, coalition partners, and grassroots engagement.

Darla Baquedano

Partnership Microschooling Field Coordinator

Darla's 25-year educational journey began as a classroom teacher and evolved into coaching as a master teacher, serving n leadership roles as an Assistant Principal, and Principal of PK-8 schools in Phoenix, AZ. Currently, Darla serves as the Director of Education Services for Spark Community Schools. Fluent in Spanish with specialized endorsements in bilingual/multicultural education and early childhood literacy, her lifelong dedication to education began when, on her first day of kindergarten, she declared her ambition to become a teacher—a dream she relentlessly pursued. Holding a Master’s in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University, her expertise is a fusion of passion and formal training in specialized fields.

Dominque Burgess

North Carolina Field Coordinator

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 14 years of experience in the field of education, Dominique has dedicated her career to transforming the educational landscape by infusing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), nature, project-based learning, and play-based methodologies into non-traditional learning environments.

Dr. Stephanie Harper

Mississippi Field Coordinator

Dr. Stephanie Harper is an enduring educator who taught in private and public school systems. For over 26 years, she has had professional experiences in education, including being a national board-certified teacher, instructional coach, Dean of Instruction, and founder of Harper Educational Consulting, LLC and Harper Learning Academy, Inc. She has participated in many educational transformation projects focusing on improving struggling schools. She also facilitates many academic conferences sharing various research-based instructional strategies with educators across the United States.

Michael Parsons

West Virginia Field Coordinator

Michael Parsons is the founder of Vandalia Community School in Charleston, West Virginia. Vandalia Community School is a learner-led microschool focused on hands-on and autonomous learning. Vandalia currently serves students from grades one through eight and plans to serve students through grade twelve.

Sarah Tavernetti

Learning tool operator

Sarah Tavernetti began her career in education at 21 years old in Las Vegas, NV. She taught second grade at Title 1 schools for six years before resigning to create Bloom Academy- a microschool dedicated to nurturing the natural curiosity of every child through self-directed education. It was through her teaching experiences in the school district that she witnessed the confidence and overall well-being of her students suffer at the hands of the district-imposed curriculum, assessments, and policies. Sarah left determined to create a learning environment that empowered each child to tune into their natural curiosities and strengths and that supported them as they “bloomed” into their most happy, healthy, and authentic selves.

Meet Our Team

We are all microschool founders, leaders and/or microschooling parents.