Innovation in Action: Volume 9
Education Unbound: Disruption, Design, and Deep Impact
Next Level Learning with VR: Chesapeake Bay Academy and Aloe VR Lead the Future of Learning
What happens when roughly a third of students feel sad or hopeless nearly every day? At Chesapeake Bay Academy (CBA) (2023 Semifinalist), an independent school in Southeastern Virginia serving students with a variety of learning differences, addressing this reality isn’t optional but essential. That’s why Head of School Dr. Judy Jankowski partnered with Founder and CEO Vedant Peris of aloeVR (2023 Quarterfinalist), a VR (virtual reality) company that creates immersive socioemotional learning simulations to teach mindfulness and meditation to K-12 students.
Born out of the 2023 Yass Prize accelerator, the partnership first explored how aloeVR could integrate into the school’s existing social pragmatic curriculum. What followed was a two-month study using iPhone photosensors to measure student heart rates during VR sessions, paired with follow-ups from school counselors and student self-assessments. The results? Promising gains in students’ coping skills and emotional self-regulation.
By pairing virtual reality with evidence-based socioemotional learning, CBA and aloeVR are paving the way for scalable, research-backed solutions that put student well-being at the center.
A Game that “Sneaks in” Learning Content: Boddle Featured on “Startup Hustle” Podcast
“Startup Hustle” spotlights Edtech company Boddle Learning's (2024 Finalist) inspiring journey to build educational games that kids actually ask their parents to buy.
In a conversation with host Matt Watson, Boddle co‑founder Clarence Tan shares how the company began in a humble Kansas City basement, struggling to build prototypes without a development team or users. They discovered early on that most educational games lacked fun, so Boddle flipped the script. Build engaging games first, then weave in the learning. That pivot, grounded in relentless classroom observation, helped the platform grow to over 10 million users because kids genuinely enjoyed it, teachers used it, and parents recommended it.
Boddle’s most valuable lesson? As heard on the podcast, Clarence shares, “Get out of the office and actually watch users interact with your product. We discovered our biggest product issues simply by visiting classrooms and observing how kids used our app.”
Christoper Simmonds, Founder of CARE Elementary, and Zumba team Up
Zumba, the largest branded dance fitness company in the world, announced a partnership with Christopher Simmonds, visionary founder of Miami’s CARE Elementary School (2021 Finalist). They will combine forces to launch Zumba 4 Education, a program “designed to enhance cognitive development, improve focus, and make learning a truly immersive experience”. CARE Elementary has long incorporated Zumba and movement into its classroom culture as a tool to sharpen both physical and mental aspects of learning. And it's not just for the students. Simmonds adds:
“It is imperative for school administrators to invest in the health and well-being of their instructional staff. Zumba 4 Education is a transformative tool that energizes and motivates teachers, creating more interactive, engaging, and meaningful instruction to their students! A win for the entire school.”
Under Simmonds guidance, Zumba 4 Education will blend the movement and music of the Zumba experience with professional insight into its alignment with the pedagogy and curriculum of participating schools. In addition to providing workshops and PD to help schools create more dynamic and engaged learning environments, they have curated a suite of resources to support teachers in their journey towards more active – and activated – learning.
STOP for Education is an initiative focused on developing and expanding the transformational impact of Yass Prize awardees and partners who are dedicated to the four core STOP principles - Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless education. This new publication, Innovation in Action, will feature the latest from best-in-class education providers.
Follow along STOP for Education on X @edreform. Learn more about STOP for Education and CER’s initiatives here.