The Yass Prize Roadshow for Opportunity is back on the road, this time visiting Yorktown, Virginia at the site of 2025 Finalist, Path of Life Learning. In a region with seven military installations nearby, Path of Life Learning attracts families looking for stability and community amongst a military lifestyle of constant moves. “We can’t change the logistics of the military,” founder Mercedes Grant said, “but we can change the experience and outcome for our nation’s heroes and their families.”
Founded by special education teacher, military spouse, and mother Mercedes Grant, this school was built entirely from her lived experience. After watching her son attend three different schools in three states, Mercedes set out to create a place of learning that combats this narrative – a school that thrives on consistency and personalization for students.
That vision was palpable during the visit, from the Pathways learning experiences – where students have access to an array of enrichment opportunities ranging from creative writing and watercolor and coding – to learners engaging in work that reflects both their interests and their individual goals. As Mercedes noted, the goal is to “challenge our students where they are, whether they come to us behind or ahead”.
The culture fostered is one that encourages students to not only take ownership of their learning, but also of their environment. Mercedes described it as a space “where students genuinely love each other.” This culture is intentionally cultivated starting from day one, emphasizing kindness and collaboration.
For many students, that environment represents a stark contrast to past experiences.
“I’ve been to a lot of schools because my dad is in the military,” noted twelve-year old Amber, who explained that at previous schools she often felt like “just a name on a roster.” At Path of Life Learning, she described having the opportunity not only to serve as a role model for younger students but also work alongside them.
“It’s more than just a school. It’s a whole community,” Kimberly shared, a parent whose two students attend the Yorktown campus. She went on to say, “Here, you already know you have an instant family.”
For another parent, Tia, switching her children to Path of Life from the local school sparked an instantaneous change, stating “A different child came home to us as soon as she started Path of Life.” So much so that Tia decided to get more involved herself, now serving as a full-time staff member. Alongside Mercedes, she built the school’s enrichment Pathways program from the ground up.
Still, access to alternative school options like Path of Life remains a critical challenge for military families across the country. While Path of Life Learning is poised to scale thanks to support from the Yass Prize, there are no universal public funding mechanisms available to military families that would provide the same level of choice and flexibility seen in education freedom states where parents are empowered to exercise fundamental decisions regarding how and where their kids are educated. Even so, Path of Life Learning continues to move forward with urgency, preparing to open a second campus in Hilton Village in September, a space four times the size of their current location. And families are already looking ahead to what that growth could mean, with parents – and students – expressing sentiments about seeking a Path of Life at every major military installation in the US.
State leaders are beginning to recognize that impact as well. Senator JD “Danny” Diggs, who joined the visit, reflected on the day by saying, “Thank you so much for inviting me here today because, without this opportunity, I would’ve had no idea that this school and the great ecosystem they’ve built existed.”
By addressing a challenge that is often overlooked, Path of Life Learning is not only transforming outcomes for the families they serve, but offering a model for how schools can better align with the realities of students’ lives. In doing so, it demonstrates what becomes possible when schools are designed not around systems, but around students and their family’s needs, creating a sense of continuity, belonging, and purpose that does not disappear when families are called to serve and move.
To enjoy more photos from this visit, please see the entire gallery here.
As we head into our final Roadshow for Opportunity stop, we’ll be visiting Long Island’s SchoolHouse this May – stay tuned for what’s ahead. In the meantime, you can revisit highlights from our previous Roadshow stops here.