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About Burbrella Learning Academy Inc.

We’re Not Just a School. We’re a Movement.

Burbrella Learning Academy Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization reimagining how children learn, grow, and thrive online and in community spaces across North Carolina and beyond.

🌱 Who We Are
A Nonprofit Built to Reimagine Learning

Burbrella Learning Academy Inc. was founded to create accessible, joyful, and personalized education for all children  especially those who don't thrive in traditional classrooms. We operate both in-person and online microschools, serve neurodivergent, gifted, and creative learners, and work alongside families as co-educators in the journey. Since our founding, we’ve grown into a national learning network rooted in joy, identity, and innovation.

🕰 Our Journey
From One Idea to a National Microschool Movement
2019

✨ The idea for Burbrella is born during a conversation about what education could be if it centered the child.

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2020

🌐 Burbrella Global Online Microschool launches; from a parent and educator facebook group that led to a small group learning pod of virtual learners during the pandemic

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2021-2023

💻 Online microschool expands to serve learners across multiple states.

🎓 Over 200 families served with live instruction, tutoring, showcases, and virtual events.

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2023

🏢 Burbrella Burlington Microschool opens — inside a reimagined Foot Locker at Holly Hill Mall for K–5

🧠 Burbrella gains national media attention for its bold school design and learner-centered model. Burbrella is a Semifinalist for the Yass Prize.

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2024-2025

Reimagined RadioShack for Grades 6–12.

🚀 Burbrella prepares to expand into Raleigh and 2 new NC cities by 2026.

 🤝 Launches Burbrella Partnership Microschool Program for other microschools to access our online core instruction.

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🎤 Our National Reach
When You Lead with Vision, People Take Notice

Founder Speaking Engagements & National Recognition:

🗣 SXSW EDU (2024) – “The Future of Education: I’ll Build It Myself”

🏛 Cato Institute (2024) – Education Entrepreneurs Panel

💼 Forbes (2023) – “Timeless School Models for the 21st Century”

🔧 VELACon (2023) – “Reimagining Time, Space, and Labor”

🧠 Transcend Education Freedom Dreams Lab (2023)

🌍 Partnered with The National Microschooling Center, The Drexel Fund, VELA, and more

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💡 What We Stand For

We Believe In…
We Believe In…

🌈 Joyful Learning — driven by curiosity, creativity, and play

🤝 Family Partnership — parents are co-educators, not bystanders

🌍 Equity & Access — every child deserves a model that works for them

🧩 Whole-Child Learning — academic, social-emotional, and identity development

📦 Rethinking Space — malls, community centers, and homes can all be schools

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Core Values:
  • Affirmation of Self and Others

  • Holistic (Learning and Socially)

  • Community & Connection

  • Nurturing

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Meet Our Founder

Dominque Burgess

Founder of Burbrella Microschools

  • Former teacher, coach, assistant principal, instructional leadership coach, education consultant and principal intern

  • Visionary school designer

  • National advocate for sustainable microschools

  • Microschool Policy Advocate

  • Mom. Innovator. Doer.

“I created Burbrella Microschools because the future of education deserves to look nothing like the past.”

–Dominque Burgess

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Join the Burbrella Movement
We're Just Getting Started - Whether you're a parent, funder, educator, or community builder — we want to work with you.

The future of learning is flexible, joyful, and built by people like you.

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