From Teacher to Founder: Creating Limestone Community School

After a decade in public education, Madeline Herrera reached a crossroads: compromise her vision for meaningful, project-based learning—or build a new kind of school. In this episode, Education Entrepreneurship Lab Senior Contributor Kelsy Achtenberg speaks with Madeline, founder and director of Limestone Community School in Lawrence, Kansas. They explore how Limestone combines project-based learning, community service, play, and student agency to help young people become thrive. Madeline shares the experiences that shaped her educational philosophy, the pushback that prompted her leap into entrepreneurship, and how Limestone students collaborate with community partners. She also offers practical encouragement for families defining their educational "non-negotiables" and educators wondering whether it's time to pursue a different path. Visit the Education Entrepreneurship Lab for a steady stream of new articles and fresh content by school founders, for school founders.