Dr. Sandra Breece on the Power of Community and the Future of School Leadership

In this episode of Innovating Education, Dr. Riley Williams talks with Dr. Sandra Breece—CEO of School Founders Academy and founder of Telesis Center for Learning—about how one mother’s determination to support her son grew into a K–12 charter movement for hands-on, inclusive learning. Dr. Breece shares stories from founding a school in her duplex to racing fire codes with 10 days to spare, naming the resilience, flexibility, and community support it takes to build a school from the ground up.​They dig into the most common mistake new founders make, what no one tells you to prepare for, and why “community” is not a buzzword but the engine that sustains schools over decades. This conversation offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the journey featured in the anthology The Power of Community: Courage, Compassion, Collaboration.​Key takeaways:How Dr. Breece went from a kitchen-table idea to leading a long-standing charter organization designed for kinesthetic and diverse learners.​The practical and regulatory challenges founders face—from facilities and fire codes to staffing and governance—and how to navigate them.The number one mistake new school founders make and how to avoid it through planning, mentorship, and flexibility.​Why authentic community partnership is essential to starting, sustaining, and growing a mission-driven school.Resources & links:School Founders Academy: https://schoolfounders.academy​Book: The Power of Community: Courage, Compassion, Collaboration – available on major book platforms.This episode features a founder discussing their own organization; inclusion is for informational purposes and is not a paid promotion.