Teacher, Let Your Light Shine! Start a Micro-School, Homeschool Hybrid or Tutoring Business! From Teacher or Homeschool Mom to Teacher Entrepreneur and Education Advocate

May is a whirlwind — filled with reflection, burnout, celebration, transitions, and anticipation. And if you’re feeling a wave of doubt about your school, your vision, or your leadership right now — you’re not alone.

In today’s episode, I’m opening up about one of the hardest Mays in my journey building Lighthouse Learning Microschool. Sitting in my car, exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering if I had made a mistake — questionin...

May is emotional — filled with reflection, burnout, celebration, transitions, and anticipation. And if you’re a teacher, school leader, or microschool founder, chances are you’re feeling all of that at once right now. Today, we’re diving into how to finish your year with purpose — without losing your peace.

Have you ever looked up in May and thought… How am I still standing? The emails, the field trips, the assessments, the questio...

Are you still teaching every subject, every grade, every day in your microschool?

Whether you're just starting out and feel overwhelmed, ready to bring in an assistant, or completely done with teaching and ready to build a team—this episode is your roadmap.

If you’ve ever thought: 👉 “How do I hand off teaching to someone else?” 👉 “What if my new hire doesn’t know what to do?” 👉 “How can I make this school run without me leading ...

Have you changed your curriculum more times than you can count?

Do you find yourself saying:

“This just isn’t working...” “Maybe I need something different...” “What if this new one is the right fit?”

If that’s you, this episode is going to give you clarity and peace of mind. You’re not flaky. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re just trying to make it work without the systems and support you really need.

In this episode, we’re divi...

Are you a teacher thinking about starting your own microschool or homeschool hybrid—but stuck in a swirl of fear and curriculum overwhelm?

You're not alone. One of the biggest questions teachers ask when leaving public or private education is:

“How do I know what curriculum to use in a microschool?” “What if I mess it up?” “I’ve only taught one grade… how am I supposed to teach K–8?”

In today’s episode, I’m walking you through ev...

How to Build Trust and Connection with Parents and Students

Are you welcoming new families into your microschool… but not sure what to say after they enroll? 🎉

In this heartfelt and strategic episode, Makenzie Oliver shares what most founders overlook: The time between enrollment and Day 1 of school is where trust is either built—or broken.

Discover how to build strong relationships with parents and students through intentiona...

💡 Want to launch or grow your microschool without going broke? In this value-packed episode of the Teacher Let Your Light Shine Podcast, Makenzie Oliver reveals 7 smart and budget-friendly strategies to help you save money while building a powerful and purpose-filled learning environment for kids.

Whether you're a former teacher starting a microschool, a homeschool parent expanding a learning pod, or a passionate educator step...

🎉 It's Makenzie's Birthday! And what better way to celebrate than by giving back to YOU—our amazing community of teacherpreneurs, homeschool moms, and microschool founders!

In this special birthday episode of the Teacher Let Your Light Shine Podcast, Makenzie Oliver shares the Top 5 Most Valuable Lessons she’s learned from building and running a successful microschool over the past 5 years—lessons that every teacher dreaming of ed...

If You're you a teacher, homeschooler, or microschool founder trying to wrap your head around the financial side of running a school? You're not alone—and you don’t have to stay stuck or overwhelmed.

In this episode of the Teacher Let Your Light Shine podcast, host Makenzie Oliver breaks down the financial must-knows for educators building or growing a microschool. Whether you're just launching or scaling your learning community, M...

This time of year can feel like you’re juggling all the things—wrapping up the school year, planning summer programs, enrolling new families, and trying not to drown in emails and sticky notes. 😅

If you're feeling scattered, behind, or overwhelmed in your microschool journey… this episode is your lifeline.

Makenzie recaps a powerful and practical session from the Microschool Masterminds community, where leaders came together ...

Are you starting your own microschool or learning pod—and feeling overwhelmed with all the documents, forms, and marketing materials you think you need to create from scratch?

In today’s episode, Makenzie shares the behind-the-scenes story of how the Teacher Let Your Light Shine Business Bundle was born to help busy, passionate educators start strong without burnout.

This isn’t just a stack of templates. It’s your shortcut to clari...

So… you want to start a microschool or homeschool hybrid this year—but the clock is ticking. You’re feeling the pressure of the timeline, the weight of your current commitments, and the uncertainty of the road ahead.

You’ve probably asked yourself:

• Where do I even begin?

• What if I mess this up?

• Can I actually do this without burning out?

Maybe you’re still in the classroom or juggling homeschooling your own kids. M...

Raise your hand if “planning day” sounds more like a chore than a celebration 🙋‍♀️

But what if I told you it could feel like a creative retreat—a time where your teacher heart, entrepreneurial spirit, and love for students all come together in one beautifully aligned, productive day?

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my most recent planning day—how I make it not only effective but actually fun. I’m sharing the behin...

Starting or growing a microschool comes with so many unknowns—no set location, uncertainty around staffing, and questions about funding. It’s easy to feel stuck waiting for clarity before making a move. But here’s the truth: You don’t need all the answers to start making progress!

In this episode, we’re diving into: ✅ How to plan & take action when everything feels uncertain ✅ Navigating challenges like funding, staffing, and l...

Are you ready to create a dynamic, engaging learning environment but feel overwhelmed or underprepared? Whether you're starting a microschool, homeschool hybrid, or alternative education space, this episode is packed with practical, low-cost strategies to bring learning to life—even if you're new to this!

In this episode, we’re diving into: ✅ How to make learning hands-on and exciting without expensive resources ✅ The secret to eng...

Want to start or grow your microschool but worried about finances? You’re not alone! Funding your homeschool hybrid or microschool can feel overwhelming, but the good news is—you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

In this episode of Teacher Let Your Light Shine, I’m diving into real-life funding strategies that I’ve used to grow Lighthouse Learning Microschool from my living room to 80+ students (with a waitlist!). 🎉

We’re c...

Are you thinking about starting a homeschool hybrid but feeling overwhelmed by all the moving parts? Maybe you’ve already launched and want to make sure you’re setting up your program for long-term success. In this episode, I’m sharing:

✅ What a homeschool hybrid is and why it’s so valuable ✅ Who thrives in this learning model (and why families LOVE it!) ✅ The top do’s and don’ts to build a strong, sustainable program ✅ Common mist...

🚨 Struggling to enroll students in your microschool? Not sure how to market without feeling salesy?

You’re not alone! Many educators-turned-entrepreneurs find themselves stuck, frustrated, and unsure where to start when it comes to attracting families to their microschool. The good news? You don’t need a huge budget or fancy ads to successfully grow your school!

In this episode, I’m breaking down the top 5 marketing strategies tha...

Are you juggling way too many things right now? Maybe you're balancing business, family, life changes—and it all feels like a whirlwind. I get it. With our growing microschool, a major location shift, closing on a new house, and navigating high school and travel sports with my kids, I’ve had to rethink how I prioritize my time.

In this episode, I’m giving you tangible, actionable strategies to cut through the overwhelm and focus on...