TALK MIDLAND w/ Logan Richetti
A podcast with a mission to promote small businesses in the Midland, Michigan community. The show is hosted by Logan Richetti, the managing broker of Modern Realty, the largest real estate brokerage in Midland. He has a passion for supporting small business leaders in our area, and this podcast is a spotlight for their stories. Follow along to learn more as we #talkmidland.
TALK MIDLAND w/ Logan Richetti
New Public Charter School coming to Midland! | #77
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Imagine deciding to open a brand new public school in your community.
Logan sits down with Sara Ladwein, President of the Board for Founders Grove Classical Academy, to talk about the vision behind Midland’s newest charter school set to open in Fall 2026.
Sara explains how a group of local parents came together to launch a tuition-free public charter school using the Hillsdale classical curriculum, what makes classical education different, and why more families across the country are looking for alternative education options.
They discuss:
-How charter schools actually work
-Why Founders Grove will be tuition-free
-The philosophy of classical education
-Teaching logic, rhetoric, and reasoning
-Why parents nationwide are exploring new education options
-The challenge of launching a school from scratch
-And the long road to opening day
If you're a parent, educator, or simply interested in the future of education in Midland, this episode offers a fascinating look at what it takes to build something entirely new.
Stay Connected with Us!
Please like, share, and subscribe to the #TalkMidland Podcast to stay updated on future episodes and help spread the word about the amazing people and programs in Midland, Michigan.
Follow #TalkMidland on social media for the latest updates and episodes:
@TALKMIDLAND
Join the conversation and be part of the Midland, Michigan community!
#TalkMidland
Chapter Notes
00:00 – The Challenge of Opening a Public School
What it really takes to start a school from scratch
02:10 – What Is Founders Grove Classical Academy?
Overview of Midland’s newest charter school
05:15 – Charter School vs Public School
Understanding how the system works
08:45 – Why the Hillsdale Curriculum
The philosophy behind classical education
13:10 – Teaching Students How to Think
Logic, rhetoric, and reasoning in education
17:50 – Why Parents Are Seeking Alternatives
The national shift after the pandemic
22:30 – How Charter Schools Are Funded
Why Founders Grove will be tuition-free
26:15 – The Years of Work Behind Launching a School
Fundraising, staffing, and planning
31:40 – Visiting Ivywood Classical Academy
The school that inspired the Midland project
36:00 – Teaching History Through Context and Reason
Balancing facts, perspective, and understanding
42:15 – Why Logic Is Missing From Many Classrooms
Helping students reason through information
47:50 – Finding the Right Building for the School
The search for a location in Midland
Keywords
Charter schools explained, Classical education curriculum, Hillsdale curriculum, Midland MI podcast, Talk Midland podcast, Public charter school Michigan, Alternative education options, Education reform discussion, Teaching logic and rhetoric, Midland charter school, Parenting and education choices, Future of education Midland