Say Yes To Reinventing School. A Conversation with Julie Young.

We trace Julie Young’s path from loving traditional school to building some of the most influential virtual and hybrid learning models in modern K-12 education. We pull leadership lessons from Florida Virtual School and ASU Prep Digital, then zoom out to what microschools and unbundled learning could mean next.

• early student identity, structure, and the social side of school
• the mindset shift from teacher and parent perspectives
• IBM-era blended learning centers and what changed for students
• why innovative programs evolve or fade inside government systems
• the 1996 origins of a “web school” and the first FLVS pilots
• lobbying with student stories, research studies, and going statewide
• treating each student as an individual and families as customers
• building culture through humility, feedback, and continuous improvement
• “say yes” leadership, mentorship, and lessons from ASU
• the future of microschools, hybrid models, and parent involvement

About our guest
Julie Young is an edupreneur, a lifelong educator, innovator, and builder of bold new learning models. Known for her “say yes and figure it out” philosophy, she has spent her career transforming challenges into opportunities. A recipient of the prestigious McGraw Prize in Education, Julie is nationally recognized for her pioneering leadership in virtual and digital learning. She brings deep expertise in leadership, organizational growth, and launching and scaling startups. In her former role as Vice President of Education Outreach and Student Services at Arizona State University and CEO and Managing Director of ASU Preparatory Academy, her work blurred the boundaries between K–12 and higher education, expanding ASU Prep’s digital network across states and around the globe. Her pioneering journey began as the founding President and CEO of Florida Virtual School (FLVS), where she turned a bold idea into the nation’s first fully online public school, eventually serving hundreds of thousands of students and setting the stage for a new era of digital learning. Julie continues to inspire educators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to challenge conventional thinking, turn bold ideas into reality, and lead with courage, curiosity, and a resounding “yes” to new opportunities.

Connect with Julie
Florida Virtual School
Arizona State University Prep Digital
Say Yes: How Virtual Became Reality
Virtual Schools, Actual Learning: Digital Education in America

About the podcast
The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments.

Powered by Prenda Microschools, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being.

Got a burning question?
We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to podcast@prenda.com. Let's dive into the conversation together!

Important links:
• Connect with us on social
• Get our free literacy curriculum

Interested in starting a microschool?
Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today. More info at ➡️ Prenda.com or if you're ready to get going ➡️ Start My Microschool‍