Amber Okolo-Ebube is the founder of Leading Little Arrows. With 14 years of experience as a home educator, shaped by the challenges of supporting BIPOC and neurodivergent children in traditional schools. Her journey began with her neurodivergent daughter, whose needs inspired her to explore alternative education models emphasizing academic and emotional well-being.

Amber’s role as Outreach Director for a local church deepened her understanding of family dynamics and community engagement, laying the groundwork for Leading Little Arrows (LLA). LLA focuses on creating a personalized, inclusive educational environment that supports diverse learners, addressing gaps she witnessed in traditional systems.

Amber's work has gained national recognition, including speaking at SXSW and features in Forbes and The 74 Million. As a 2023 Yass Prize Quarterfinalist and VELA Next Steps grant recipient, she continues to advocate for innovative education solutions. Her latest roles as a McLead Fellow and ASU Microschool Prep Entrepreneur Fellow underscore her commitment to scaling models like LLA that empower underserved learners through holistic education.

For the past seven years, Andrew Shahan has been building small Learner Driven Communities in Atlanta Georgia inspired by the idea of creating a school that prepared his own children for, well- life! Andrew started as a Special Education teacher and had experience with KIPP Schools in the early 2000’s- when there were a handful of KIPP schools! He went on to found ARISE Academy, a transformational Charter School, in New Orleans and ultimately replicate the model while leading ARISE Schools. Andrew has three children, four cats and a crazy dog. He plays a lot of tennis and loves the Atlanta Hawks ("we are a player away- I swear!") Andrew eats pizza and drinks beer every Friday.

Mrs. Ar'Jillian Gilmer is the wife of Little Rock Fire Department Captain, Charles Gilmer, Jr. They have four children. Mrs. Gilmer holds a Bachelor's in Education Studies from the University of Arkansas - Monticello and an MED from Arkansas Tech University. She has been in education since 2013 and is the owner of multiple businesses, one of which is Gilmer's Learning Solutions, where she and her staff offer personalized academic support and operate Christian Microschooling by Gilmer's Learning Solutions for homeschool families. She is a firm believer in Christ and doing the work of educating children with love.

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.

Prior to her role at the Center, Ashley served as the Chief of Staff at Nevada Action for School Options. In this role, Ashley played a critical role in designing, building and operating the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy, the first of its kind public-private partnership with the City of North Las Vegas. The microschool, created to combat pandemic learning loss, has received substantial national and local attention for its powerful track record of academic growth and innovation.

Born and raised in Southern Nevada, Ashley is incredibly proud of, and grateful for, the diverse microschooling ecosystem in the greater Las Vegas valley.

Before working in education, Ashley worked in the Las Vegas independent film community as an actor, casting director and producer.

Ashley is the proud mother of three talented children, all currently microschooling. Ashley, her husband Don, and their three children enjoy traveling, playing games and learning together.

Daniel Hamlin is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma. In his research, Hamlin focuses on the effects of education policies related to student health and safety, parental involvement, school climate, and school choice.

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. Darla is also the National Microschooling Center's Partnership Microschooling Field Coordinator.

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.

Prior to opening the Center, Soifer has been President of Nevada Action for School Options, an award-winning nonpartisan “action tank” he founded in 2017 to support the growth of diverse choices of rich, high-quality and personalized educational opportunities for all students. He previously served as Executive Vice President of the Lexington Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Arlington, VA that he cofounded in 1998.

Soifer directed the institute’s education and other domestic-policy research programs, and his research has been published and discussed in many of the nation’s most influential news publications and policy journals, and cited by policy decisionmakers at all levels of government, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Soifer earned a record as one of the nation’s most accomplished charter school authorizers, serving an unprecedented three mayor-appointed, Council-confirmed terms on the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board beginning in 2008. He was widely regarded as a driving force transforming one of the nation’s most successful charter authorizers as it instituted systems for prioritizing quality for the 120+ schools oversee. He subsequently served as a board member on the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority, appointed by the State Board of Education, from 2019-2021.

Soifer has been an Aspen/Pahara Institute education fellow since 2018. 

Christina and Eric Threeton are a dynamic educator couple from Las Vegas, who have been teaching and leading schools locally for over a decade. Christina and Eric started their journey in education as teachers in the Clark County School District, before moving into the local State charter school system. They have been a part of starting new schools, and helping schools grow to achieve the State's highest ranking of 5-stars. Each had been serving as administrators for different Las Vegas charter schools, before bringing that momentum and success to the Nevada School of Inquiry.

Originally from New England, Eric fell in love with the desert and moved to Las Vegas after serving in the United States Marine Corps. Christina and Eric both hold Nevada State K-8 teaching licenses with endorsements as school administration.

Christina and Eric enjoy the outdoors, traveling, and exploring new places, which is also the driving force behind their educational philosophy. Along with bringing their passion for exploration to Las Vegas youth, they strive to instill the value of helping others, as both are heavily involved in community service.

Dr. Erin Flynn founded the Hedge School Cooperative in Austin, Texas in January of
2021. Having served as teacher, department head, and principal for 10 years at a Texas
public charter school and previously taught at university in Ireland for 6 years, Doc
Flynn decided to forge a new path in education for herself and her students. She believes that students need to be the driving force behind their education and adults need to serve as guides, mentors, cheerleaders, and models. The Hedge School Coop focuses on Compassion, Creativity, and Critical Thinking in order to provide that experience for every learner.

Fawzia is a senior program officer for the Education Program. The Foundation's Education Program supports all children in finding their unique path to a life of opportunity and purpose.

Before joining the Foundation, Fawzia was a senior director with Arabella Advisors, where she grew the firm’s education initiatives and managed its emerging family foundation practice. She began her career in K-12 education as director of special projects with Achievement First, a charter management organization based in Connecticut and New York. She previously worked across a number of fields as an economic consultant, in finance and working for a family office. She has published on the social mobility of ethnic minorities, on healthcare outcomes and on philanthropy.

Fawzia has a B.A. in economics from the University of Cambridge and a M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management.

Serving as the Director of Microschool Outreach, Indiana Field Coordinator, and Ecosystem Builder with the National Microschooling Center, and as the Founder of the Indiana Microschool Network and Kainos Microschool, Jill Haskins is an innovative leader in the microschooling movement, bringing a wealth of experience to the movement from her background as a public school teacher, homeschool mom, and microschool educator and leader, and ecosystem builder. Jill lives in Fort Wayne, IN.

Some of Justine’s best and earliest memories came before the nightly dinner bell would call all the neighborhood kids home. You could find her and neighbor kids knee-deep in the muddy creek, as they worked together to build dams and bridges all the while falling in love with nature. Justine went on to become an educator having worked as an outdoor science educator, grade 1 and 5 teacher, literacy coach and Prk-5 principal in 4 countries over 17 years. Recently, she gave herself the gift of time to reflect and align the purpose which drives her as an educator. She has a passion for trusting children and empowering them through self directed learning. She finds joy in facilitating and supporting children’s curiosities and interests inspired from nature. With this passion and drive, Justine founded Curious and Kind Education in January of 2023 and has built 4 programs which serve 100 children. She has created her dream job which brings out the best in children and the Curious and Kind Team!

You may know Kathryn in her current role as Director of Microschool Leadership Development and Supports at The National Microschooling Center, but she has a long career as an educator and business owner as well. Kathryn has worked in education well over 15 years and has held just about every position on a school staff (including a microschool guide). Most recently, before joining the NMC Kathryn was leading her consulting business training school district staff and superintendents in social emotional learning and designing school-wide mindfulness programs. When she is not hard at work for the NMC Kathryn can be found homeschooling her kiddos, developing new trainings, taste testing her husband's culinary creations or playing with her dog.

Kyle is our fearless leader and lead learning instigator. One of our students once described Kyle as a "walking icebreaker," which perfectly describes his people-person attitude. Kyle most loves the community and culture aspect of La Luz. He instills important life skills in our students: keeping their playfulness as they get older, giving a proper handshake, and the finer points of pickleball. His staff appreciates his infectious positivity and the trust he affords them as education professionals.

Kyle comes found La Luz after many years as a K-12 principal both here in the States and abroad in Mexico. He saw the middle school was a really "horrible product" and has been on a journey ever since to demonstrate that there has to be a better way.

Madeline Gregory, originally from Panama, embodies perseverance, leadership, and a strong commitment to her career and community.

As Administrative Director at Soar Academy Augusta, Madeline advocates for educational choice, focusing on ESL and neurodivergent students. She also lobbies at state and national levels to promote educational equity and innovation.

Madeline is a key organizer of events such as the National School Choice Week Expo and the CSRA Science Homeschool Fair. Her dedication to volunteerism within the Hispanic community and efforts to bring non-traditional education models to Latin America highlight her global vision and commitment to inclusivity.

She has participated in prestigious educational leadership programs, including VELACon 2024, Hispanic Leaders in Education - AFC Cohort 2024, the National Microschool Conference, and the 50 CAN Summit.

Phinn Campbell is currently a sophomore at The Forest School Online, a microschool led by Dr. Tyler Thigpen. Phinn has experienced many types of schooling, public-charter, private, homeschooling and microschooling. She is an advocate for allowing children to select the learning environment that works best for them.

Phinn has been featured on education panels in Palm Springs, California; Madrid, Spain and Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition Phinn has been an organizer and host on the Pride Tree Podcast, a podcast focusing on highlighting resources for LGBTQ+ youth in the Las Vegas area.

Phinn is currently studying psychology and is focusing on a research project that will help to determine the benefits of microschooling on the mental health of children, which includes the level of preparedness that teens feel for their future and the impact that has on their stress level.

Phinn also enjoys performing and has been in several productions in Las Vegas, including The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and has sang solo in multiple performances on the Las Vegas Strip. Phinn made her debut performance in a feature film that premiered in 2023.

In her free time Phinn enjoys sketching, writing and spending time with her friends and three dogs.

Miss Rachel is the founder, director and lead teacher at Integrative Learning Academy (ILA). She is a certified teacher and has taught in both Colorado and Arizona for the past 20 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis on Bilingual Education as well as a Masters degree in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners from the University of Colorado Boulder. She holds licensures for K-5 General Education, K-12 Special Education, and K-12 ESL and Bilingual Education and has experience teaching preschool through 5th grade as a bilingual teacher, ESL teacher, Spanish teacher, Reading Interventionist and Special Educator.
Her passion for teaching learners who don't fit into the box magnified when her third child was diagnosed with Autism. She is passionate about inclusive education, learner-centered education, and holistic education.
When she's not teaching she loves running, doing Crossfit, spending time with her husband Andrew, their four children, and their labradoodles Maddox and Jolene. She loves Jesus and believes that it is her mission to share His love to every family that comes into ILA.