Two North Carolina schools have earned national recognition for their innovative approaches to helping students thrive
Cornerstone Christian Academy in Statesville and Creative Minds Microschool in Wendell have been selected as 2026 Yass Prize Contenders, placing them among just 26 education innovators nationwide competing for the $1 million Yass Prize.
For the past 31 years, Cornerstone Christian Academy has supported thousands of students who have struggled in traditional classrooms in discovering their potential through highly individualized instruction and arming them with new career pathways, including a nursing certification program launching this fall. By refusing to let disabilities define a child’s future and expanding opportunities for all, Cornerstone is equipping students for success in both college and the workforce.
Based in rural Wendell, Creative Minds Microschool is proving that the future of education depends on building both exceptional schools and exceptional teachers. The microschool has created a state-recognized, “build your own” teacher apprenticeship program that prepares future educators through hands-on classroom experience, mentorship, and coaching, creating a sustainable workforce pipeline alongside an innovative education model. The school is simultaneously transforming how students learn and how the next generation of educators enters the profession.
What Happens Next?
In September, Cornerstone Christian Academy and Creative Minds Microschool will participate in the Yass Prize Miami Accelerator. Through the accelerator, contenders will work with expert advisors, strengthen their plans for growth and sustainability, and prepare to pitch their education models before a panel of judges.
The competition will culminate in the pitch for the $1 million grand prize. The 2026 Yass Prize winner will be announced October 6 at the Power of Innovation Summit in Philadelphia.
We are proud to see two North Carolina schools recognized among the country’s leading education innovators. Their selection demonstrates the extraordinary things that can happen when educators have the freedom to create learning environments designed around the needs and potential of individual students.
Please join us in congratulating Cornerstone Christian Academy and Creative Minds Microschool! We'll certainly be cheering them on as they advance to the next stage of the competition!