Uncharted

Alex was born and raised in Northern Virginia, before attending the University of Virginia for a dual Bachelor's and Master's degree. She studied French Language and Literature for her undergrad and Elementary Teaching (PK-6) and a specialization in Integrating Technology for her masters. She then went overseas to work first at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS) where she was one of 4 teachers hired to help open their first ever elementary day school program. She then went to the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Tanzania, and taught upper Elementary before switching to becoming the ICT coordinator. After this, Alex moved to Washington DC, as the Learning and Technology Coordinator at the Washington International School, before becoming their Assistant Principal, and earning another masters degree in International School Leadership.

She then left in 2016 to pursue the opening of her own school. With fellowship support from 4.0 Schools, Alex launched Capitol Learning Academy in 2019. When the school had to close in 2023, Alex decided to use all she had learned and follow her strengths to continue coaching others who are passionate about opening their own microschools, and then in running them once they are open. Alex loves to read, bake, sew, play tennis and pickleball, and travel. She usually does a few of these activities with her husband, step kids, and dog. 

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 worked in the vibrant Las Vegas independent film community as an actor, casting director and producer.

Ashley is the proud mother of three talented teenage children. She enjoys repurposing furniture, midnight kitchen adventures, traveling with her husband Don and spending time at home with their children and their three dogs.

Brianne Parsons serves as Co-Director and Elementary Lead Guide at Vandalia Community School in South Charleston, WV. Vandalia Community School is a microschool education environment that serves children in grades 1 through 12. She has eight years of diverse experience as a Montessori teacher, administrator, and homeschool parent. The transformative Montessori education her children received sparked her passion for becoming a Montessori educator. 

Bri holds an American Montessori Society (AMS) certification in Elementary I & II from the Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Collaborative (METTC) in Lexington, MA. She has earned a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies from West Virginia Wesleyan College and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Reading Science from Mount St. Joseph University. Before venturing into education, Bri contributed to non-profit organizations, serving organizations in Kenya and West Virginia.

Bri is a lifelong West Virginian who is dedicated to helping grow and progress her beautiful home state. During her free time, she finds joy in being outside and cherishing moments with her husband, Mike, and their three children.

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.

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, Dominque 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. 

Dominque's journey in education began as a traditional teacher, where she honed her teaching skills and discovered her passion for inspiring young minds. However, she soon recognized that the one-size-fits-all approach to education was limiting the potential of many students and families. This realization fueled her drive to explore alternative approaches to learning. Drawing from her extensive experience as a teacher and school leader, Dominque embarked on a journey of entrepreneurship to bridge the gap between conventional education and the need for more personalized, engaging, and holistic learning experiences. Her vision culminated in the creation of Burbrella Learning Academy, a beacon of educational innovation and choice.

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. 

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.

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.

Katie Elliott is the Operations Development Director at the National Microschooling Center, where she works closely with the executive team, providing the foundation for seamless alignment across projects, people, and systems. 

With over six years of experience in the nonprofit sector and a background that spans both for-profit and nonprofit spaces, Katie brings a unique blend of strategic insight and people-first service to her role. She is known for her detail-oriented, proactive approach to operations, communications, and cross-team coordination.

Katie began her career teaching Developmental English at the community college level, an experience that deepened her commitment to accessible, high-quality education options. She has since supported and led operations and development efforts in various organizations, including a successful global startup investment campaign. In her recent role as Operations Manager at Embark New Schools for Mississippi, she developed a deep respect for the microschooling movement and the founders, families, and supporters throughout the ecosystem.

A native of Mississippi, Katie holds a BA in English from Mississippi College with minors in Business Administration and French. She fell in love with creative writing in junior high, and she continues to craft short stories, micro-essays, and poetry, often with pen and paper. Katie and her husband Daniel are proud parents of two adult children whom they visit often. They also enjoy traveling to new places together and spending time at home with their dog. 

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. 

Michael holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Chemistry and Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Chemistry from Marshall University. He has taught in higher education and at local Montessori schools. In his free time, Michael likes to travel and camp with his wife, Bri, and their children, Aden, Jade, and Andi.

Tiffany Blassingame is the founder of The Ferguson School, a progressive Christian microschool in metro Atlanta, GA. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and school administrator in both public and private education, Tiffany specializes in gifted education and helping students strengthen their executive function skills.

As a 4th-generation educator, she’s passionate about creating meaningful learning experiences for students and supporting teachers, which led her to launch the Microschool Teacher Academy. There, she shares effective instructional strategies with fellow microschool educators.