What is an Edupreneur?
The thirst for knowledge is an inherent human quality. From the time we are born, we are seekers. We learn to talk so we can ask questions about our ever-expanding world. We learn to walk so we can explore it more fully on our own.
As we grow, the desire for learning manifests differently in each of us, yet we’re all connected through the same foundational yearning for knowledge.
Those who have dedicated their talents and energies to the field of education understand this need fundamentally. Call it a passion, a gift, or a skill, but the fact is, educators change lives by answering the call for learning, inside and outside the classroom.
Educators in a Challenging System
We hear a lot about how education in America is failing, and in some ways, it’s true. Governmental red tape has rendered the educational landscape nearly impossible to navigate for teachers, administrators, students, and parents alike. Some educators have become resigned to following the status quo, for all its flaws and limitations.
Others are rising to the occasion and innovating from within. We call these daring souls “edupreneurs.”
Teachers all over the country are disrupting the educational system through the simple, brave act of meeting students where they are.
How One Teacher Transformed a Failing School and Became an Edupreneur Pioneer
Take the example of the New York City teacher who refused to stand idly by while her students struggled against a system set up seemingly to let them fail. There weren’t enough books, or desks, or teachers. Her school was physically crumbling, along with the spirit of almost every educator in the building.
She could have quit. She could have taken her talents and her education to a more affluent community, or, like so many of her college classmates, she could have left the field altogether.
Instead, she took a look around and realized that though the system seemed broken, she had the power to change the score, anyway. She partnered with community organizations and businesses to get the building fixed up. She leveraged her passion for education to get parents and teachers to buy into a new educational approach—one tailored to the real needs of her students, not some generic ideal of what a student should be.
And it worked. Today, the failing school is a nationally-recognized magnet school focused on helping students thrive, not just survive.
Edupreneurs Take the Reins
Some might point to this teacher’s commitment to education as her key to success, but for Sandi Herrera, CEO of Educator Dynamics, it’s more than that. This teacher is her definition of an edupreneur.
Edupreneuers, Herrera says, are those educators who push boundaries and take the risks others aren’t willing to take. “They want to be a part of something bigger than themselves,” she explains. “For the edupreneur, it’s not about the status quo, whether that’s inside or outside of the school.”
In fact, many educators have embraced the idea that the world itself is a kind of classroom. Herrera points to the example of a theatre teacher who leveraged her skill and enthusiasm to expand her classroom beyond the school building. Today, she is launching her own community theater program.
Edupreneurs in the News
The public has embraced the educator-entrepreneur movement. Media outlets consistently feature stories about educators who have made the leap from classroom to boardroom, and it’s no wonder. These moving stories remind us all that lifelong learning is part of why we’re all here.
Spend a little time exploring online, and you’ll find that edupreneurs are disrupting the education paradigm. They are changing special education. They are embarking on educational philanthropy projects. The movement even has its own Wikiversity entry.
While most edupreneurs won’t become millionaires like this teacher-turned-CEO, stories about teachers channeling their passion into meaningful, lucrative careers are increasingly common. Edupreneurs are changing the way the world thinks about education and educators.
Are You an Edupreneuer?
Have you ever dreamed about funneling your passion and purpose into an idea or new business that will improve education as we know it? Our upcoming Educator to Edupreneur Master Class will empower you to amplify your value and control your own destiny.