David K. Richards: How Micro Schools Work

An episode of the Have a Life Teaching podcast, hosted by John Schembari, titled "David K. Richards: How Micro Schools Work " was published on September 30, 2025 and runs 41 minutes.

September 30, 2025 ·41m · Have a Life Teaching

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Summary

In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with David Richards, CEO of Changemaker Education, to discuss the revolutionary world of micro schools. As a leader in the micro school movement, David shared his personal journey from traditional education to launching micro schools, emphasizing the importance of personalized learning, project-based learning (PBL), and social-emotional learning (SEL).David’s insights on the benefits of small, community-driven schools—where students are seen, heard, and supported—highlight the future of education in a world where one size doesn't fit all. We also explored the entrepreneurial spirit required to build sustainable, high-quality micro schools, as well as the risks involved in starting from scratch.🔑 Key takeaways:Micro schools offer highly personalized, relationship-based education that larger schools often can’t provide.The growing micro school movement is not just about small size but about innovative, student-centered learning models.The entrepreneurial journey of starting a micro school is rewarding but comes with unique challenges in sustainability.💡 Want to learn more about micro schools? Check out David Richards' work at Changemaker Education and dive deeper into the evolution of education!🔗 Changemaker Education Website🔗 Changemaker Education Podcast🔗 David Richards on LinkedInMusic by Aylex

Episode Description

In this episode of the Have a Life Teaching Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with David Richards, CEO of Changemaker Education, to discuss the revolutionary world of micro schools.

As a leader in the micro school movement, David shared his personal journey from traditional education to launching micro schools, emphasizing the importance of personalized learning, project-based learning (PBL), and social-emotional learning (SEL).

David’s insights on the benefits of small, community-driven schools—where students are seen, heard, and supported—highlight the future of education in a world where one size doesn't fit all. We also explored the entrepreneurial spirit required to build sustainable, high-quality micro schools, as well as the risks involved in starting from scratch.

🔑 Key takeaways:

Micro schools offer highly personalized, relationship-based education that larger schools often can’t provide.
The growing micro school movement is not just about small size but about innovative, student-centered learning models.
The entrepreneurial journey of starting a micro school is rewarding but comes with unique challenges in sustainability.

💡 Want to learn more about micro schools? Check out David Richards' work at Changemaker Education and dive deeper into the evolution of education!

🔗 Changemaker Education Website
🔗 Changemaker Education Podcast
🔗 David Richards on LinkedIn

Music by Aylex