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 Ombudsman, which operates sixty schools in
ten states for at-risk students; Jan Davidson, English teacher turned
educational software pioneer, who sold Davidson and Associates for over $1
billion; Barbara Baker, elementary teacher who started Challenger Schools with
six children and now operates seventeen schools with over 7,500 students in
California and Utah; as well as the originators of a tutorial service,
consulting services, an educational travel service, a homeschool service,
educational services for charter schools, child care, children's books,
educational materials, private school, school for at-risk students, and an
educational camp, all begun with little more than a good idea and a strong
determination to make each of these businesses work.
In the end, these educational entrepreneurs managed to turn their dreams into
significant opportunities for students. And despite their differing paths, they
had much in common. Each had a refreshing passion for education and an
unwavering desire to make a difference in student's lives. They took
ordinary educational concepts and made them extraordinary. They each dared to be
a different kind of educator. Adventurous risk-takers, they were not afraid to
put everything on the line, and where others saw only problems, these educators
saw opportunities.
Present day educators as well as parents, business leaders, elected
officials, and others who regard education as something more than buildings,
books, and schedules are captivated by the lives of these men and women. We are
aware that in large measure because of their efforts, new markets are emerging
for educational programs, products, services, and technologies. The purpose of
this book is to provide models for future entrepreneurs who wish to take
advantage of these widening horizons in education.
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