BREAKING THE GRADE
Follow grade breakers and difference-makers as they shatter and reshape the education industry as we know it.
Breaking the Grade is a thought-provoking podcast that follows entrepreneurs as they transform learning and advance equity and impact in the global education space. Tune in for stories about breaking norms, introducing new ideas, and shaping our future through every lesson learned.
The Lessons That Led to Breaking the Grade
Breaking the Grade hosts Josh Chernikoff and John Gamba have been education entrepreneurs for most of their professional lives.
They’ve witnessed firsthand how positive change and creative thinking can impact this space.
They’ve coached other companies on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Now, it’s time to lift others up by letting more stories out.
Meet Your Hosts
Josh Chernikoff
Josh Chernikoff is a media expert and seasoned entrepreneur who is setting out to help others build and scale their education businesses. He has earned a Masters Degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and a degree in print journalism in undergrad from American University. He served as Sports Anchor and Producer/Anchor for WHSV TV and was an integral part of the Washington Commanders broadcast team.
Today, Josh hosts two of his own shows, Breaking the Grade and How I Broke That, as well as co-hosts on the Lifelong Educators Show. His motto is that all business owners and entrepreneurs have “broken” themselves or their industry in some way, and that building, breaking, and remaking is key to success. Originally born and raised in Washington, D.C., Josh and his family recently moved to (for now) San Miguel de Allende, Mexico — a small colonial town in the middle of the country.
John Gamba
John Gamba is a serial entrepreneur and currently Director of Innovative Programs and Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. His first big break came when he co-founded the first school-to-home communications software that allowed administrators to record and send personalized voice messages to parents in a moment’s notice. His company was eventually sold to Blackboard and now generates over one hundred million dollars in profitable revenue.
After his exit, Gamba served as a Founding Director of The Gamba Family Foundation, which works every day to close the achievement gap in our country’s inner-city schools.
