Erika Donalds, education entrepreneur and former finance executive, has turned her frustration with traditional schooling into a national movement. She is the founder of multiple charter schools and of OptimaEd, the world’s first virtual reality K–12 curriculum, which now serves thousands of students tuition-free and supports schools nationwide.
Donalds joins us on today’s episode of The Small Business Show to discuss how she’s bringing business principles and innovative technology to the world of education.
“I take great pride in the pushback that we’ve gotten from a failed system. That means that we’re doing something impactful. If you start something new and you’re not disrupting the status quo, you probably haven’t gone far enough.”
Her journey began as a parent seeking the right fit for her children. When the public schools did not meet their needs, she discovered classical education, and her son went from hating school to loving it. Her experience inspired her to expand school choice by founding charter schools and advocating for state and federal policies that support education freedom.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Donalds adapted her classical charter schools to online learning, adding a virtual reality component to engage students in interactive lessons. Students can now take VR field trips to ancient Rome, explore the moon landing, or study the interior of cells in 3D. The programs combine live classes with recorded, mastery-based lessons, allowing students to learn at their own pace with guidance from master teachers.
Donald’s financial expertise proved critical in scaling her vision. As a former CFO and CPA who managed billions in assets, she navigated bond financing for school buildings, federal charter startup grants, and private investment to fund her programs. She also founded the Education Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit that helps families and entrepreneurs build school-choice programs and manage back-office operations.
Optima Ed and Optima Academy Online are now active in 17 states and several international locations. Programs offer both full-time and supplemental courses, hybrid learning through Optima Learning Labs, and traditional offline components such as cursive handwriting and paper-based annotation to reinforce classical skills. The VR component generally starts in fourth grade, with online programs for younger students supported by parents.
Looking ahead, Donalds plans to expand Optima Ed and Optima Academy Online to all 50 U.S. states within five years. She anticipates growth through hybrid schooling models and partnerships with other charter schools and entrepreneurs, creating a scalable franchise-style network.
Through innovation, persistence, and entrepreneurial execution, Donalds is demonstrating how personalized education can thrive at scale, providing families with more options and students with more engaging learning experiences.
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