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Kelly Smith

Background​

  • Role: Founder and CEO of Prenda
  • Education: Physics degree from Brigham Young University, graduate work in nuclear science (fusion) at MIT
  • Faith: Believer (BYU background, values-aligned approach to education)
  • Family: Wife and four children, based in Mesa, Arizona

Professional History​

  • Pre-Prenda: Technology and engineering roles including GridConnect Platform Manager at Johnson Controls (demand response and smart grid systems)
  • Prenda Origin (2013): Started volunteering at Mesa, AZ public library teaching coding to neighborhood kids through Code Clubs of Arizona
  • 5 Years at Library: Personally worked with 2,000+ kids, discovered effective learning is about environment (individualized, student-driven, small groups with supportive adults)
  • Founded Prenda (January 2018): Launched first microschool in his own home with 7 children including his son
  • Growth: From 7 students (2018) to 1,000 students (December 2019) to 10,000+ K-8 students through 1,000+ guides nationwide
  • Recognition: Y Combinator alum, recognized as top leader in education innovation

Book: "A Fire to Be Kindled"​

  • Based on Plutarch quote: "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled"
  • Explores how intentional learning can transform lives
  • Gary listened to entire audiobook December 2025

Prenda Model​

  • Four learning modes: Connect, Conquer, Collaborate, Create
  • Self-paced, student-centered learning in small mixed-age environments
  • Guides (not teachers) facilitate; platform handles curriculum and assessment
  • $2,200 annually per student to Prenda; guides set additional tuition
  • Helps families navigate ESA/school choice programs

Connection Points​

  • Travis Oliphant: Gary's mentor was professor at BYU while Kelly was getting bachelor's degree
  • Faith Alignment: Both called to intersection of faith, technology, and education
  • Texas Opportunity: Kelly recently visited Texas; Prenda expecting Texas vendor approval by end of December 2025
  • Brittany Munk: Head of Sales told Kelly about Gary's call immediately; CEO followed Gary on X and subscribed to Substack

Key Interactions​

  • 2025-12-15: Gary had exploratory call with Prenda team (Katelyn Gibson, Brittany Munk); Brittany immediately told Kelly about the call; Kelly followed Gary on X and subscribed to Substack same day
  • 2025-12-16: Gary sent email requesting call before holidays to discuss vision alignment
  • 2025-12-18: PARTNERSHIP STRUCTURE CALL - COMMISSION MODEL AGREED - Formalized partnership structure for Texas church microschool expansion. Kelly proposed commission-based contract with residual payments per live microschool per year. Gary preferred this model: "I like being incentivized to not only sign on a school but keep them on board. That creates skin in the game for me to help them design a good school that stays forever." Agreed on 3-4 month pilot aligned with Texas marketing push (January-April). Gary proposed Christian Micro School Alliance as independent sponsored organization; Kelly loved Gary's 2030-perspective website: "I love it that you wrote this from the perspective of 2030. That's brilliant." Kelly to work with head of finance on commission numbers. Gary offered to go fully commission-based rather than stipend to reduce Kelly's risk. Both discussed spiritual framing - Kelly admitted struggling with whether secularizing divine principles for broader audience is hypocrisy. Gary framed education as "tied for first as most important territory the devil has claimed" and sees this as spiritual war. Kelly shared Prenda path to profitability (40% confident, need more data from Jan-Feb) with Texas as potential breakthrough market. Kelly open to Gary joining as engineer long-term as Prenda scales.
  • 2025-12-17: FIRST DIRECT CALL - PARTNERSHIP EXPLORATION - Extraordinary 45+ minute conversation where both recognized meeting as "providential." Kelly shared: "It seems to me like Gary basically invented this independently and he's just sort of out there promulgating this very similar vision... This exists like outside of us. It's fun to see the work of God in all of it." Revealed Joe Liemandt invested $5M in Prenda after single 30-minute call but remains completely hands-off - contrasting with his controlling Alpha approach. Kelly acknowledged pedagogical alignment with Joe but divergence on "human OS" - "I think he cares, but his model of humanity is just different." Discussed Prenda's Texas strategy: zero current staff, just turned on Instagram ads, worked with lobbyists to shape regulations creating 2-year operational moat through affiliation requirements. Kelly expressed strong interest in collaboration: "If somebody that was good at selling and that really was able to get in and solve problems with people was willing to do that... we'd see a lot more success. I would feel bad just having you do it for free." Discovered mutual connections: both know Heather Clayton Staker well, Kelly went to Esmeralda (Zuzalu-style event) and knows Janine. Kelly's long-term vision: "I want millions of kids doing micro schools and I don't see any reason why that doesn't happen." Scheduled follow-up call for December 18 at 4pm MT to explore partnership structure.

Strategic Alignment​

  • Both believe in empowering learners over traditional teaching models
  • Both see church-based microschools as major opportunity
  • Kelly's humble, soulful approach resonates with Gary's values
  • Prenda could be default platform for Gary's Christian Micro School Alliance vision

Potential Collaboration​

  • Call before holidays to get acquainted
  • In-person meeting during Prenda's February Texas trip
  • Blog/podcast collaboration on church-based microschools
  • Prenda as platform partner for Christian microschool network
  • Content creation around faith-based education freedom

Key Quotes (from book/interviews)​

  • "How do kids learn?" - fundamental question driving Prenda
  • "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled" - Plutarch, Prenda's guiding philosophy
  • Mission: "Empower learners"

Contact​

  • Twitter/X: @kellysmithinaz
  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kellysmith35
  • Company: Prenda (prenda.com)

Transcripts​

transcript-iddateone-line-summary
2025-12-18-kelly-smith-prenda-partnership-commission2025-12-18Prenda Church Microschools Partnership Exploration with Commission Model
2025-12-17-kelly-smith-prenda-ceo-partnership-exploration2025-12-17First conversation with Prenda CEO exploring partnership for Texas faith-based microschools