“Market education is about helping people understand why a model matters, not just that it exists.” - Maria Vogelei

In this episode of Evolution Stories, Christian Talbot sits down with Maria Vogelei, Head of School and founding team member at the Village School in Arlington, Virginia, a learner-driven microschool centered on agency, purpose, and self-directed learning.

Maria shares her unconventional path into school leadership, transitioning from brand-building and entrepreneurship into education after searching for a school that aligned with her daughter’s needs. She unpacks the difference between marketing and market education, explaining why new school models require deep trust, social proof, and sustained explanation rather than surface-level promotion.

The conversation explores what surprised her most when stepping into the head of school role, particularly the centrality of people leadership. Maria reflects on rebuilding morale, restoring trust among educators, and why prioritizing guides is foundational to student and family success. She also shares lessons from a previous mental health technology venture that struggled to launch, offering candid insights on champions, timing, and how leaders metabolize perceived failure.

As the Village School prepares to expand into a learner-driven high school, Maria discusses the tension between credential-focused expectations and the skills young people need in an AI-shaped future. This episode offers a grounded perspective on change leadership, agency, and building schools for the world students are inheriting.