What happens to the kids who don’t fit the system?

In this week’s Living Undeterred episode, Jeff sits down with Dr. Cynthia Knight—founder of Iowa’s first online charter school—for a raw, inspiring conversation about meeting students where they are and helping them move forward with dignity, purpose, and love.

If you’ve ever felt like traditional education doesn’t work for every learner… this one’s for you.

Stream it now 👇

✨ Episode Highlights

🎙️ Why did you start a charter school?
“I saw too many kids fall through the cracks—including my own daughter. I knew we could do better than checklists and packets. We could build schools that actually see kids.”

🎙️ What kind of students do you serve?
“Our students are often bullied, anxious, or overwhelmed by traditional settings. They’re not failing. They just need a different path.”

🎙️ What does a school day look like?
“We use a virtual world called the CharterVerse. Students log in for live instruction, guided study halls, and weekly mentorship. And no one ‘fails’—we keep going until they’re done.”

🎙️ How do you measure progress?
“Not with seat time or test scores. We’re competency-based. Students move forward when they master the material, not when the calendar says so.”

🎙️ Is it just all online and isolated?
“Not at all. Our kids are social. They work jobs, play sports, volunteer. They just don’t want to sit in a building where they feel unsafe or unseen.”

🎙️ How much does it cost?
“Nothing. We’re a free public school. We provide laptops, Wi-Fi—everything. And enrollment is open year-round.”

Why It Matters:
Cynthia reminds us that every kid has value—and when we stop forcing them to fit a system and instead build systems around them, everything changes.

If you know a student who feels left behind—forward this.
They’re not broken. They just need something different.

Let’s Brightn lives, together.