Lydia Hampton

Lydia Hampton is the Founder and Executive Director of Learning Lab Wichita, a first-of-its-kind K–12 education launchpad and co-learning hub designed to support families, educators, and innovators building new learning pathways. A former public school teacher, Lydia began her career in Kansas City, Kansas, where she experienced both the power — and the limitations — of traditional systems. She later joined Empowered (formerly Youth Entrepreneurs), where she developed curriculum and trained educators nationwide in experiential, student-centered learning. In 2023, Lydia launched Learning Lab Wichita, bringing together multiple learning models under one roof and creating the conditions for education entrepreneurs to prototype, refine, and grow. Today, the Lab serves as a community-powered hub impacting hundreds of learners and educators while contributing to a broader national conversation about educational pluralism and learner-centered ecosystems. Lydia is driven by a simple belief: all kids deserve an education that works for them. Her work focuses on building the infrastructure, community, and partnerships needed to make that vision possible. She lives in Valley Center, Kansas, with her husband, Conner, and their two children.