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Message to Ida Villavicencio: Prenda Research & Alternative Model

Date: 2025-12-15 To: Ida Villavicencio From: Gary Sheng Subject: Prenda Research

Ida,

I know you're deep into charter school planning with your dad. I want to share some research that might be worth considering alongside that path.

Today I had a call with Prenda, a platform that powers microschools. The founder is a believer. The head of sales, Brittany Munk, is a Christian mom. Good vibes all around so far. (Founder just followed me on X btw)

I'm early in exploring all of this. Wanted to share what I've learned so far and what's on my mind.

Where I'm headed with this:

I'm probably going to recommend Prenda to Tauren Wells and his team at Whitestone Church (unless I find a better option in the next 30 days). Given that churches have been using Prenda to run microschools out of their buildings, this seems like the clearest path for them. My recommendation: start with one pod, and if the first year goes well, expand the number of pods each year. Build expertise at the campus. Grow capacity over time.

I'm also interested in Encounter Church starting one pod with Prenda.

And Zach Levi? I'd recommend Prenda to him too. He's passionate about education and faith. This could be a way for him to channel that energy into something tangible.

My thought for you: I know you have a big vision for a charter school. I'm wondering to what extent you want to focus on the bigger citizenship and sustainability and faith-based projects while letting Prenda handle the core academic stewarding of students. You could be the overall architect of a system with multiple pods, designing the project-based learning layer, the values, the community connections. Prenda handles the day-to-day academics. You bring the vision.

Full research document attached: [Prenda Research by Gary Sheng]

Key Points from My Research​

Texas TEFA Opportunity:

  • ~$10,000 per student in scholarship funding
  • Prenda expects to be on Texas vendor list by end of December
  • We should know soon if this path is viable

The Model:

  • Guide provides space, relationships, daily facilitation
  • Prenda provides curriculum, software, insurance, invoicing
  • No need to be a trained teacher
  • System meets students where they are, helps parents set targets
  • Guides have full autonomy to incorporate faith, values, projects

Church-Based Schools:

  • Florida has proven this model extensively
  • Churches solve location (free), values (built-in trust), and now funding (TEFA)
  • Brittany said this is "going to be a big path" in Texas

What You Could Weave In:

  • Your sustainability projects and UN SDG curriculum
  • Global citizenship and project-based learning
  • Social-emotional learning (their morning "Connect" time is perfect for this)
  • Faith formation and values
  • Whatever else aligns with your vision

Flexibility:

  • No contract with Prenda - can leave anytime
  • Guides set their own additional programming
  • Can charge separate fees for after-school activities
  • Your comprehensive K-12 workbook could inform the project-based learning

Multi-Guide School Structure​

I did some research on how this could work. Prenda allows multiple guides under one roof:

Co-Located Microschools (Most Common):

  • 20-30 students with 2-3 guides in the same building (church, community center)
  • Each guide is responsible for their own roster of 5-10 students on the platform
  • In practice, guides collaborate, rotate subjects, or host joint activities
  • Examples: Micah Studios (NH) and Haven Learning operate this way

Guide + Assistant Model:

  • One primary Guide, one Assistant
  • All adults must pass Prenda background check
  • Primary guide receives payment, pays assistant privately

The Interesting Part: In Arizona, charter schools actually operate as networks of Prenda pods. The charter is the "school of record" and Prenda is the service provider. Students are legally charter students, but day-to-day they attend Prenda-powered microschools in homes or community spaces.

This means: You could potentially structure your charter vision WITH Prenda as the platform (pending Texas regulations). Charter handles compliance, accountability, reporting. Prenda handles the day-to-day learning experience. Your sustainability projects and citizenship curriculum become the project-based learning layer on top.

Questions to Consider​

  1. Could a multi-guide microschool network achieve your vision faster than a charter?
  2. Would funders see value in proving the model at small scale first?
  3. Could Last Chance Ministries or another church host multiple pods?
  4. Could your charter vision actually USE Prenda as the platform?
  5. How does this compare to the charter path in terms of timeline and control?

Let me know what you think.

Gary