Engineer and mother building the operating system for next-generation microschools — starting in Huntsville, Alabama, the epicenter of America's defense and space economy.
I didn't just see the problem — I built the solution. As an engineer and a mother, I watched brilliant students get stuck in systems that couldn't move fast enough. So I built something different.
MARS Microschool is a hybrid lab school for 20 high school Trailblazers (grades 9–12) focused on AI, robotics, and drones. They meet weekly in the Space Camp Operations Center at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, learn virtually through Microsoft Teams, and earn dual-enrollment credit at Calhoun Community College.
Now I'm packaging everything I've learned into MARS STRATA — a full operational platform so other founders can launch mission-driven microschools without the crushing operational burden that stops most before they start.
The future of education isn't one giant system — it's a thousand small, brilliant schools connected by shared infrastructure and fueled by founder vision.
— Jennifer, Founder of MARS
The story of MARS Microschool's first year — documenting how we're building the future of education at the intersection of AI, robotics, and human-centered learning. A behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to reimagine school from scratch.
Also the author of Word Wizards: The AI Prompting Spellbook for Young Novelists and Block by Block: Minecraft Education Edition & ChatGPT for Homeschool Parents.
Get the Book on Amazon →A hybrid lab school for 20 high school Trailblazers embedded in Huntsville's aerospace ecosystem. They learn AI, robotics, and drones while earning college credit. Weekly in-person sessions in the Space Camp Operations Center at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. This is the model — live, tested, real.
An 8-layer operational platform spanning learner records, AI agent orchestration, business operations, and founder wellbeing. Designed for non-developer founders who want to build schools, not manage software. Joy and simplicity are core architecture principles.
A four-tier sponsorship model connecting Huntsville's defense, aerospace, and tech companies directly to the next generation of STEM talent. Sponsors don't just fund — they mentor, host, and hire.
Building the network of microschool leaders across Alabama and nationally. Sharing playbooks, operational blueprints, and the lived experience of founding a school from scratch.
From Riding Horses to Flying Cars — the story of MARS Microschool's first year at the intersection of AI, robotics, and human-centered learning.
GET THE BOOK →Presented "School Choice and Artificial Intelligence: Why Microschools Will Lead the Pivot into the AI Age" at the International School Choice and Reform Conference in Rome, January 2026.
Author of Word Wizards: The AI Prompting Spellbook for Young Novelists, Block by Block: Minecraft Education Edition & ChatGPT for Homeschool Parents, and featured in EdChoice, 1819 News, and more.
The MARS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Every dollar goes directly toward equipping Huntsville's Trailblazers with the skills, tools, and mentorship they need to lead in the AI era. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible.
Drones, robot dogs, AI tools, and the hardware Trailblazers need to build real projects.
Dual enrollment fees, program tuition, and removing financial barriers for families.
Hackathons, the Presidential AI Challenge, Portfolio Night, and national competitions.
R&D for the microschool model — so what we learn here can scale to founders everywhere.
Partners gain talent pipeline access, branded hackathon sponsorships, direct student engagement, and recognition across MARS programs. This is a pipeline investment, not a donation.
For partnership inquiries, email [email protected]