Ben Colas is the founder of Heights Academy, an elementary school that emphasizes mastery-based learning and real-world application. Heights Academy will be designed around core values of growth, ownership, agency and thankfulness and aims to partner with parents to equip their children with the foundational knowledge, skills and values for a life of purpose and contribution. Ben, a Teach for America alum, taught kindergarten and founded KinderKits, an entrepreneurial initiative that supported kindergarten readiness for more than 6,000 children by providing materials for children and training for parents as the student’s “first teacher.” His experience spans roles within the education sector including classroom teacher, teacher-coach and administrator. He has also contributed to K-12 innovation at the national level through his time in the philanthropic sector and at a venture-backed education technology startup. Ben received his BS from Grove City College and MBA from The Ohio State University where he was a BRIGHT fellow.