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Devin: What is your superpower?
David: My superpower is seeing the gifts and the light in others.
Innovation is reshaping education, and Changemaker Education is leading the charge with a bold, disruptive solution: micro schools. Rather than trying to fix large, traditional schools, micro schools embrace intimacy and personalized learning as their foundation for success.
David K Richards, founder and CEO of Changemaker Education, explains that micro schools are “a redux of the one-room schoolhouse”—small schools hosting anywhere from five to 100 students. These schools nurture close relationships between educators, students, and families. “You get to know the child really well. You get to know the family really well. And now you have this small community raising your child,” David shared in today’s episode.
The movement aims to replace public education’s “factory model,” which David describes as a system designed to batch-process students: “The system isn’t broken; it’s doing what it was built for.” However, some 75% of high school students today dislike their schools—a statistic that highlights the need for an alternative approach.
Changemaker Education supports teachers and community leaders in launching micro schools by providing business tools, coaching, and resources. David summarized the goal: “We provide you with the business infrastructure, the marketing, the budget—all the things you need—so you can focus on your magic as an educator.” This affiliate-based framework allows schools to maintain local autonomy while tapping into a national network for resources and scalability.
A powerful factor helping the micro school movement grow is the rise of state voucher programs. In 24 states, families can use education savings accounts to fund alternative schooling options, including micro schools. “In Texas, for example, the state will write you a check for $10,000,” David noted. This funding empowers educators to create transformational learning environments while keeping costs low for families.
Changemaker Education is scaling rapidly, with 25 affiliated schools across 18 states and ambitious plans for growth. To accelerate their impact, the company is raising capital through a regulated crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder.
The opportunity to invest in Changemaker Education isn’t just about potential financial returns. It’s about joining a movement that’s rewriting the narrative of education in America and beyond. As David said, “Look what happens when you create a system where kids are loved, and adults are empowered.”
tl;dr:
Micro schools offer a revolutionary solution for students unhappy with traditional education systems.
Changemaker Education provides tools and support for teachers and leaders to start micro schools.
State voucher programs empower families to fund alternative educational options like micro schools.
David’s superpower, seeing the light in others, led him to empower educators like Mary Jo Fairhead.
Changemaker Education’s crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder fuels their mission and rapid growth.
How to Develop Seeing the Light in Others As a Superpower
David describes his superpower as the ability to see the gifts, strengths, and potential in others. “My superpower is seeing the gifts and the light in others.” By recognizing individuals’ hidden talents and unique traits, David has helped educators and students identify their paths to success. He insists that this skill stems from cultivating self-awareness and self-love: “Once you start to see the gifts in yourself and truly love yourself…you can see the gifts that everybody has.”
David shared the transformative story of Mary Jo Fairhead from South Dakota’s poverty-stricken Pine Ridge Reservation. As David coached her, he uncovered her dream to start a school, helping her channel her passion into creating a successful micro school. Mary Jo’s school has won prestigious funding and dramatically improved her community. “I could see there was something missing in her fulfillment. When she said she wanted to start a school, I knew we had to make it happen,” David explained.
Actionable Tips to Develop This Superpower:
Reflect on your own strengths, gifts, and accomplishments to cultivate self-awareness.
Replace judgment with curiosity when interacting with others.
Ask open-ended, meaningful questions to understand others’ passions and aspirations.
Practice empathetic listening to uncover hidden potential in those around you.
Create opportunities or provide guidance that empowers others to act on their strengths.
By following David’s example and advice, you can make seeing the light in others a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
David K Richards (he/him):
Founder & CEO, Changemaker Edu Inc.
About Changemaker Edu Inc.: Join the microschool movement—whether you’re a family searching for a more human, personalized approach to learning—or a visionary founder ready to run your own school, you’re part of a growing movement. Changemaker Education is reimagining school from the inside out. One microschool, one community, one child at a time. Changemaker Education helps families discover extraordinary life-changing microschools and supports Founders in launching personalized learning environments that nurture your child’s full potential through love, autonomy, community, creativity, and equity.
Website: changemakereducation.com
Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575163837323
Instagram Handle: @changemakeredu
Other URL: wefunder.com/changemaker.education
Biographical Information: With 25+ years in education reform, David is dedicated to elevating human potential and consciousness through transformative educational programs for both children and adults. Changemaker Education is the culmination of his experience launching award-winning unconventional schools (charter, micro, private), serving as a teacher, school principal, executive, and drawing on his expertise in leadership development, life coaching, and mindset teaching. David’s personal healing journey inspired the creation of the Mind, Body, Soul (MBS) program—a core element of Changemaker Education’s mission to empower communities and individuals. David holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Stanford University and lives in Sacramento with his family.
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/davidkrichards
Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/david.richards.94695
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