KaiPod Catalyst Fellow

ABOUT KAIPOD AND THE CATALYST FELLOW PROGRAM

KaiPod Learning is the country's largest owner/operator of microschools and learning pods. We pride ourselves on creating “KaiPod magic” at each of these pods. We are seeking like-minded, entrepreneurial individuals who are interested in launching their own microschools using the knowledge and infrastructure KaiPod has built.

The KaiPod Catalyst Program is a part-time (5-10 hours a week) program designed to support teachers, parents, or community members in launching their own microschool. It runs 28 weeks starting in November 2023 and the goal is for fellows to launch their own, financially viable microschool in September 2024.

WHO IS THIS FOR

This fellowship is for educators who are interested in launching a microschool for 10-15 students in September 2024 but are not sure how and where to start.

More specifically:

• Entrepreneurially-minded educators who love teaching and working with children, but want to do it outside the bounds of the traditional classroom and education system.
• A classroom teacher who is craving autonomy, wants to work for themselves, and spends more of their time doing things they view as important for student success.
• Fellows need to be relationship and community-oriented. Opening and operating a microschool is both demanding and rewarding and will require a significant amount of community outreach and conviction on behalf of the fellow.

HOW KAIPOD CAN HELP YOU LAUNCH A MICROSCHOOL

As a KaiPod Fellow you will be equipped with everything you need to launch a microschool for the 24-25 school year. This includes:

• Support in finding an ideal space to operate your pod.
• Support in understanding the regulatory environment you are operating in.
• Support in marketing your microschool and enrolling enough students such that it is financially viable.
• Direct assistance in writing grant applications in order to fundraise to cover initial start-up costs.
• KaiPod’s core curriculum resources include: learning platforms that have proven to be effective in a microschool model, a bank of enrichment lesson plans for all ages, facilitating dynamic enriching free play for all students, and strategies for whole child development.
• Free access to KaiPod OS - an online platform designed to support you with all of your microschool’s data, student information, and parent communication needs.

MORE ABOUT HOW IT WORKS

What is the Fellow's relationship with KaiPod?

The microschool you launch will be independently owned and operated by you. And, KaiPod Learning will be a highly invested partner in its success. We share all of the knowledge, information, and resources we have in order to help caring educators replicate our model or launch their own. We provide support not only in the initial planning and launch years but for the first three years your school operates. We charge a student-fee in order to sustain our operations. After three years, it would be up to you to continue on as partners or not.

How much autonomy do I have?

We know what it takes in order to operate a financially viable microschool that works for you, your families, and your students. We will initially provide you with tools and critical infrastructure like schedules, operating manuals, handbooks, advertisements, and curriculum. As your microschool grows, you are empowered to change these systems in order to fit your needs and the needs of your families.

What is the time commitment?

The program runs for 28 weeks. Fellows attend a virtual training once a week for two hours. These sessions are focused on giving you the skills and knowledge critical to your success. Fellows should expect to work for another 3-8 hours per week following up on takeaway action items, engaging the community, and other tasks related to planning for the launch of their school.

Is the fellowship paid? Can I work a full-time job and do the fellowship?

You are working to launch your own school; as such, the fellowship is not paid. It is designed to operate alongside another full-time position since sessions are scheduled in the late afternoon or evening. You would transition to working full-time at your microschool sometime in Summer 2024.