Reimagining Schools Led by Teachers

As we step into 2026, we’re returning to a core question: what becomes possible when teachers are trusted to lead—and children are known deeply?

Last year, Wildflower CEO Matt Kramer joined education journalist Michael B. Horn on The Future of Education to reflect on Wildflower’s first decade: from one small Montessori microschool to now 81 schools across the country, each designed to be deeply local, teacher-led, and responsive to the children and communities they serve.

This conversation captures the essence of Wildflower—why we exist and what makes our model distinct. Below are the highlights we’re carrying forward into the new year.

[Watch the full episode: https://michaelbhorn.substack.com/p/10-years-of-wildflower-microschool]

A Different Kind of School Network

The episode opens with Matt’s personal story—first as a child with ADHD who struggled in traditional classrooms and thrived in a Montessori setting, then as a leader at Teach For America, where he saw a trend of brilliant educators whose impact was stifled by systems that weren't built to support their leadership.

He began asking a radical question, that is at the heart of Wildflower’s approach:

What if teachers—those closest to students—were also the ones shaping the schools they work in?

Wildflower schools are typically one or two classrooms, led by educators who take on the dual role of teacher and administrator. Each school is a nonprofit. Each Teacher Leader is supported—but not managed—by a small national team.

“The secret sauce of this is the Teacher Leaders,” Matt says. “When somebody comes to us and they have a vision for a school that reflects their learnings about the world and a community they’ve lived in… it doesn’t matter where they are. We should help those people.”

What Montessori Really Means

Matt also offers a clear, grounded explanation of Montessori education. It’s not just “let the kids do whatever they want.” It’s a carefully prepared environment—scripted lessons, observation of children, open-ended materials, and student choice working in harmony.

Montessori is both free and structured. That nuance is often lost, and this episode offers clarity.

“If you believe that children have something valuable inside them, then observation isn’t optional—it’s essential.”

“Montessori doesn’t rotate kids through a new project every month. The elementary curriculum is one long project—six years long—and the child is the one choosing their path through it.”

Wildflower’s Role: A Prepared Environment for Educator-Founders

Wildflower isn’t a school operator—it’s a support system for teachers who want to start their own schools. Each Wildflower school is a tiny nonprofit, led by the same people who are in the classroom every day. The national team helps by providing tools, coaching, and startup support—but decisions stay with the Teacher Leaders.

As Matt puts it, the role of the Wildflower Foundation is to create “a Montessori for adults”—a prepared environment where educators can design something that reflects who they are and what their communities need.

That support includes structure in places that matter, like school planning, licensing, or budgeting. But it also includes intentional restraint. For example, although some new teachers initially asked Wildflower to manage the school’s back office, the team declined—because learning to manage a budget is essential to long-term leadership. Instead, Wildflower provides systems and tools that make it possible for teachers to lead in full.

Each school is different—shaped by its founders’ experiences, values, and vision—but all are grounded in the belief that teachers can do extraordinary things when they’re trusted to lead.

Listen to the Full Episode

Matt and Michael cover much more in their conversation—from Wildflower’s experiments with classroom tech to how the network measures impact through family trust.

Watch to the full episode of  The Future of Education featuring Matt Kramer [here: https://michaelbhorn.substack.com/p/10-years-of-wildflower-microschool].

Stay connected

If you’re new to Wildflower—or reconnecting with us this year—welcome. We are a network of small, teacher-led Montessori microschools that are locally rooted and built to expand access to child-centered learning. Whether you’re inspired by nature-based education, culturally affirming curriculum, or designing a school where neurodivergent children thrive, Wildflower’s model shows that it’s possible to build something meaningful.

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• Interested in starting a school? Explore Wildflower’s Support for School Startup