Policy Forum 

# Showcasing Education Entrepreneurs 

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Date and Time 

January 30, 2024 12 - 1:30 PM EST 

Location 

Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 

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##### Featuring 

![Sharon Masinelli - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-01/Sharon-Masinelli.jpg?itok=ECj_NzHz) 

Sharon Masinelli 

Founder, St. John the Baptist Hybrid, Georgia

![Dominque Burgess cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-11/dominque-burgess.jpeg?itok=4TlhTbR9) 

Dominque Burgess 

Founder, Burbrella Learning Academy, North Carolina

![Jack Johnson Pannell - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-01/JackJohnson-Pannell.jpg?itok=RTXGBObH) 

Jack Johnson Pannell 

Founder, Trinity Arch Preparatory School for Boys, Arizona

![Amy Marotz - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-01/AmyMarotz.jpg?itok=ITgPXZWk) 

Amy Marotz 

Founder, Awakening Spirit Homeschool Collaborative, Minnesota

![Eric Eisebry cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-01/EricEisebry.jpg?itok=3Bwc78ml) 

Eric Eisenbrey 

Founder, Eyes and Brains STEM Center, West Virginia

[![Colleen Hroncich cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2025-06/Colleen%20Hroncich%20cropped.jpg?itok=OWGarcCl)](/people/colleen-hroncich) 

[Colleen Hroncich](/people/colleen-hroncich)

Policy Analyst, Cato Institute

[ 

](https://x.com/ColleenHroncich) [ 

](mailto:chroncich@cato.org) 

Educational freedom is gaining ground throughout the country. In 32 states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, many families can use school choice programs to select the learning environment that works best for their children. At least ten states are on the path to offering universal or nearly universal access to these programs. But challenges remain, such as having an adequate supply of educational options and spreading awareness of those options. Please join us for a robust discussion with five education entrepreneurs who have created diverse learning options for their communities. They’ll share the stories behind their unique entities and the challenges they’ve faced along the way. Three of them of are in universal choice states and can speak to how those programs are helping families. Attendees will come away with increased understanding of today’s education landscape and the wide variety of options that are available to meet students’ need.

### Lunch to Follow.

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