TrailBlazED Leadership Forge

08/10/2026

The biggest regret wasn’t what happened at the retreat…

It was hearing, “I wish I would’ve been there.”

If you’ve ever wondered whether stepping away from your learning community for a few days is worth it, swipe through this carousel before you decide.

Inside you’ll see:
✨ How founders’ sense of connection changed after the retreat.
✨ The sessions they said had the biggest impact.
✨ What they rated the experience.
✨ And how many are already planning to come back.

The truth is, building an independent learning community can feel incredibly lonely. Whether you’re leading a microschool, homeschool co-op, learning pod, learning club, tutoring program, enrichment program, or another innovative learning model, you’re making big decisions, wearing every hat, solving problems no one prepared you for, and wondering if anyone else truly understands.

That’s exactly why TrailBlazED exists.

This retreat wasn’t about escaping your work.

It was about returning to your learning community with more clarity, better tools, deeper relationships, and the confidence that you’re not building alone.

If you missed 2026, don’t let 2027 become another “I wish I had.”

Follow TrailBlazED Forge on Instagram and Facebook so you’re the first to know when next year’s retreat details are announced.

Your learners deserve the best version of you.

Sometimes the greatest investment you can make in your learning community is investing in yourself.

👇 Which slide surprised you the most?

08/01/2026

07/30/2026

What if we’ve been measuring education all wrong?

“Being educated and being schooled are not the same thing.”

That single sentence captures so much of why Denise Lever founded Baker Creek Academy and why she’s dedicated her work to expanding meaningful learning opportunities for families.

In this conversation with Tomis Parker, Denise shares:

✨ How a rural Arizona community built a network of 11 microschools

✨ Why relationships, autonomy, respect, and real competency matter more than checking boxes

✨ How personalized learning plans help learners thrive

✨ The incredible story of how one unconventional learning journey led to a college scholarship and a passion for archaeology

This isn’t just a conversation about microschools.

It’s a conversation about what education can become when we stop asking learners to fit a system—and start designing learning around the learner.

🎧 Watch the full episode on YouTube (link in bio/story or here): https://youtu.be/VtGVtagLRl4

What does being educated mean to you? We’d love to hear your thoughts below. ⬇️

Denise Lever tomisparker

EducationInnovation Homeschool EducationEntrepreneur BakerCreekAcademy TrailBlazED PersonalizedLearning FutureOfEducation

07/30/2026

07/27/2026

🎉 FREE SPA TREATMENT WINNER UPDATE

Due to traveling, the original winner of the spa credit will not make it to the retreat on time! She has offered her win to another random winner. That winner is…

Katie Turner!!!

🎉 Congratulations, Katie!

You’ve officially won our FREE Spa Treatment Prize from the 2026 TrailBlazED Microschool Leadership Retreat Early Bird Giveaway!

After spending a weekend pouring into your leadership, your mission, and your learning community... now you’ll get the chance to pour a little back into yourself.

Thank you to everyone who registered early and helped make this year’s retreat so special. We can’t wait to see you all soon!

Help us congratulate Katie in the comments!


RetreatWinner

07/22/2026

✨ Speaker Spotlight: Tomis Parker ✨

Some of the most meaningful learning doesn’t fit neatly into a test score or letter grade.

That’s why we’re excited to welcome Tomis Parker, founder of Prism: Learning Made Visible, to the 2026 TrailBlazED Founders Retreat!

Tomis has spent more than 15 years helping educators create learning environments where curiosity, ownership, and authentic growth thrive. As co-founder of the Agile Learning Centers network and founder of Prism, he’s passionate about helping educators and families capture the learning that traditional grading often overlooks.

📚 Session Topic: Prism

Discover how innovative schools and learning communities can document authentic learning journeys, celebrate meaningful growth, and make visible the progress that happens beyond standardized tests and grades.

If you’re building a Microschool, homeschool hybrid, learning center, or other learner-centered program, this session will give you practical tools and a fresh perspective on honoring every learner’s unique path.

We’re so excited to have Tomis share his experience with the TrailBlazED community!

📍 July 31 – August 2, 2026
📍 Eagar, Arizona

Registration is still open—we’d love to see you there!

🔗 Register: https://trailblazed.futurefund.com/go/68492-2026-trailblazed-microschool-leadership-retreat

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07/22/2026

🎙️ NEW PODCAST ALERT!

If you’re building a microschool, homeschool hybrid, learning pod, enrichment program, or any innovative learning environment, this is one episode you don’t want to skip.

The truth? Great curriculum and a strong mission are only part of the journey. Zoning, occupancy, fire codes, licensing, inspections, and state regulations can quickly become overwhelming—and one mistake can delay or even derail your vision.

In this guest-hosted episode of the LiberatED Podcast, TrailBlazED founder sits down with Lynn Swanson ( ), Chief Counsel for Education at Stand Together, to unpack the legal side of launching and growing an education venture.

You’ll learn:
✨ The biggest compliance mistakes founders make
✨ Why facilities are often the toughest hurdle
✨ How to confidently prepare for inspections
✨ Free tools, checklists, state-specific guides, and coaching available through the Edupreneur Resource Center (ERC)
✨ Practical strategies to help you stay compliant as regulations evolve

Whether you’re just getting started or already serving learners, this conversation is packed with practical insights that can save you time, stress, and costly mistakes.

🎧 Listen here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-legal-challenges-as-an-education/id1608978473?i=1000777715990

💬 What’s been the biggest regulatory or compliance challenge you’ve faced as an education entrepreneur? Share below—we’d love to hear your experience!

AlternativeEducation HomeschoolHybrid LearningPod EducationInnovation Edupreneur

07/18/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EgKKJQLvd/

07/16/2026

🤍 Partner Spotlight: From Scratch Baking 🤍

A huge THANK YOU to From Scratch Baking for partnering with the 2026 TrailBlazED Founders Retreat by providing delicious gluten-free breakfast goodies for founders with gluten-free dietary needs! 🥖✨

Creating a truly welcoming retreat means making sure every founder feels seen, cared for, and included—and we’re so grateful to Daryen Gutierrez (.gfbaking ) for helping make that possible with homemade gluten-free treats made with love.

If you’re gluten-free (or simply love incredible baked goods!), be sure to follow .gfbaking and support this amazing local small business. 💛

Every partnership helps create an unforgettable experience for the founders investing in themselves this summer.

📅 July 31 – August 2, 2026
📍 Eagar, Arizona

There’s still time to join us! Check out our speaker lineup, retreat agenda, and recent reels, then register before it’s too late.

🔗 Registration: https://trailblazed.futurefund.com/go/68492-2026-trailblazed-microschool-leadership-retreat

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