1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,720 Speaker 1: We have seen record breaking illegal immigration under Joe Biden. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: He's allowed so many legal immigrants into this country that 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: we could create entire new states out of the people 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: who have come here. But one thing that doesn't get 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: discussed enough is what's the impact going to be for 6 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: your kids? What impact is this going to have on 7 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 1: K through twelve in America now that you have all 8 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: these illegal immigrants that are going to be going to schools. 9 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: We'll talk to one woman who's sounding the alarm on this. 10 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: Her name is Erica Donalds. She's married to Congressman Byron Donalds. 11 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 1: She's also guest faculty at the Leadership Institute's school Board 12 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: programs and CEO of Optima Edge. She's launched five charter 13 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: schools here in the state of Florida, and she also 14 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: launched the world's first virtual reality charter school, Optima Academy Online. 15 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: We're going to talk to her about her concerns about 16 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,519 Speaker 1: this influx of illegal immigration and also talk about her 17 00:00:52,560 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: fight for school choice in America. Stay tuned for Erica Donalds. Well, 18 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 1: Erica donald it's great to have you on the show. 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: You're doing a lot of great work here in the 20 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: state of Florida. So I appreciate you making the time. 21 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 2: Oh I'm so happy to be with you, Lisa. Thank you. 22 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: You know. So before we get into this big topic 23 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: of how this just massive influx of illegal immigrants is 24 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: impacting our schools, how'd you get into this fight? 25 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 2: Well, definitely accidentally and just as a mom. I have 26 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: three boys, as you probably know, and I discovered with 27 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: the second one that they all learn differently, and it 28 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: doesn't matter if you buy an expensive house in an 29 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: expensive neighborhood so that you can go to the best schools. 30 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 2: Not every school is going to work the same way 31 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: for every child. And I discovered school choice when I 32 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: found out I didn't have it right. I needed a 33 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 2: different option for my second child. At the time, you know, 34 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: we were young parents. We couldn't afford private school. There 35 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 2: were no charter schools in our community, and we really 36 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: had to rearrange our lives to get my son into 37 00:01:56,640 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: a school, driving him back and forth, and it completely 38 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: changed his outlook on learning. He went from being absolutely 39 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 2: miserable in school to loving what he was learning in 40 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: a classical environment, talking all the way home when we 41 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 2: were driving him to and from about what he had learned, 42 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 2: and it just made me think how many other Darrens 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 2: are out there that I could perhaps help, you know, 44 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: if I get involved in this school choice movement. So 45 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 2: that's what got me started. I ran for school board, 46 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 2: learned a lot about the system and all the things 47 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: that are broken about it, and I've just gone about 48 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 2: and creating optima ed and starting charter schools and virtual 49 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 2: schools to just try to give options to families like 50 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: mine who need something else for their children. 51 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,919 Speaker 1: You put together or created five charter schools across Florida, 52 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: and then you launched the first virtual reality charter schools. 53 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 1: So you didn't just take this on. I mean you 54 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: really really took this on and actually launching these schools. 55 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: So I mean that's pretty remarkable. 56 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 2: Well thanks. I don't know how to do anything small, 57 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 2: as my husband will tell you, and I do find 58 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 2: it to be a national emergency. I know that with 59 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: my own children. I felt that urgency because you know, 60 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 2: these kids don't get another chance at first grade, they 61 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: don't get another chance to read on grade level because 62 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 2: they don't catch up if you don't teach them at 63 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 2: the age of you know, kindergarten, first grade. And I 64 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 2: just know how it felt as a mom how desperate 65 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: I was for another option, and so I feel like 66 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 2: we can't build them fast enough. I wish I could 67 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,679 Speaker 2: do it faster, but we are going as quickly as 68 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 2: we can while maintaining the quality that our families deserve. 69 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,200 Speaker 1: You know, I had Betsy de Vas on the podcast 70 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: I guess it was like a year ago, and it 71 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: was remarkable because you know, she gets vilified, but she's 72 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: trying to help people. It's like, why do you think 73 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: you know, school choice gets criticized so much. Is it 74 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,000 Speaker 1: just the teachers union influence or why do you think 75 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 1: that is. 76 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 2: I definitely felt that hatred. As I mentioned, I was 77 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: on the school board here, not the union's favorite school 78 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 2: board member for because I did advocate a lot for 79 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: options for families. Free market. You know, the monopoly doesn't 80 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: like competition, and for one hundred years, the public schools 81 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: and government run schools have enjoyed a monopoly in this country. 82 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: They don't like reforms, they don't like innovations, they don't 83 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 2: like being held accountable for their performance in any way, 84 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 2: whether it's top down accountability from the state or accountability 85 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: in the form of giving parents another option. And so 86 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,479 Speaker 2: they're going to fight against anyone like me who just 87 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: wants to do what's best for kids and for families. 88 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: And frankly, my mission is to bring a free market 89 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 2: into education and force them to compete for students. And 90 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 2: they definitely don't want to do that. 91 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: Well, you know, and parents want this. I mean, you 92 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: can see pull after a pull where you know, the 93 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: majority of parents of Americans support the concept of school choice. 94 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: And you look now, I mean, students aren't proficient in 95 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: anything across the board, and COVID obviously had a big 96 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: part of that learning loss, but kids are not being served. 97 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,039 Speaker 2: You're absolutely right. And there were just a poll that 98 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: came out and printed in Politico seventy three percent of 99 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: parents support ESA's education savings accounts, which we're seeing pop 100 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,239 Speaker 2: up all over the country. Well, why is that Because 101 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: you look at Baltimore, for example, where forty high schools, 102 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: forty individual schools have no students who are operating on 103 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: proficiency on grade level in math and reading. You know, 104 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 2: in New York City grades three to eight thirty eight 105 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: percent proficient in mathematics. And this is where some of 106 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 2: the smartest people in the world live and work. You're 107 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 2: talking about thirty eight percent. Twenty seven percent is that 108 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: number in Illinois? It's abysmal. In Oregon, they just got 109 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: rid of their standards for high schoolers to pass a 110 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,360 Speaker 2: proficiency test in order to graduate high school. I mean, 111 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: we can't even call them graduates anymore. They're simply finishers. 112 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 2: They got through, they aged out, but they're not prepared 113 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 2: to succeed, and they're certainly not ready to help America 114 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:02,600 Speaker 2: compete on the global stage. 115 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 1: And I wonder if some of it's intentional. I mean, 116 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: some of those scores seem to be bad enough where 117 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: you know, it doesn't seem like the intention is to 118 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: learn in some of these schools. 119 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: Well, it's not accidental. When you look at the teachers' 120 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 2: unions that we mentioned earlier, you look at what they 121 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 2: talk about in their conferences and their professional development. It's 122 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 2: not how to help children read. It's not how to 123 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: help them to be proficient in mathematics. It's about how 124 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 2: to indoctrinate them. It's about social justice and DEI and 125 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: all of these political and cultural issues that the union 126 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: has decided to prioritize over the reading, writing, and arithmetic 127 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 2: that parents want their children to learn in schools, and 128 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 2: so it is intentional. There is a priority given to 129 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 2: those ideas instead of teaching our children the history of 130 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: our country, the history of the world, so that they're 131 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 2: not doomed to repeat it. As we're seeing in the 132 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 2: streets right now when you're looking at these pro Hamas, 133 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 2: anti Israel, anti Semitic protest, including one from New York 134 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,919 Speaker 2: City students k to twelve students who are walking out 135 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 2: in support of Hamas. It's unbelievable, But it's because they're 136 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: not being taught history, and they're not being taught how 137 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: to decipher these things through the lens of the history 138 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 2: of this world. 139 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: It certainly paints a grim prospect for the future. And 140 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: you know just what we're up against and just basic 141 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: common sense and even just basic decency. We see utter 142 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: Joe Biden, just I mean historic floods of illegal immigrants 143 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: to the United States. I mean so much so that 144 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: we could create entire new states out of the illegal 145 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: immigrants who have come into this country. What's been that 146 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,200 Speaker 1: impact on schools across America. 147 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 2: Well, this is a huge concern that no one is 148 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 2: really talking about. This massive, uncontrolled influx of migrants coming 149 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: across the southern border is putting an unmanageable strain on 150 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 2: the public education system, which is just further damage the 151 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 2: quality of education that our children deserve. It's completely unfair 152 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: to American families and children who deserve to have a 153 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: top notch education. And by nature of adding these students 154 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 2: to our system, the teachers are going to have to 155 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,480 Speaker 2: pull away their time and attention to the students who 156 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 2: are not speaking English. They're already very far behind academically. 157 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 2: The teachers are slowing their pace to accommodate the limited 158 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: proficiency of these students, and we're having to use resources 159 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 2: to hire social workers, other special services, more guidance counselors 160 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 2: for these additional students. Inevitably, that takes resources away from 161 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 2: Native students who are already behind because of the pandemic. 162 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, how many schools have you know, bilingual 163 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 1: teachers or have teachers that you know. I mean, we're 164 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: seeing people come into the United States not just from 165 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,600 Speaker 1: you know, Central and South America. We're seeing people come 166 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: in from around the world, So, you know, how do 167 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: you accommodate Yeah, you're talking about people from math, you know, 168 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 1: so many different countries or in continents. How does a 169 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 1: school even address. 170 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 2: That dozens of languages are coming across the border. It's 171 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 2: estimated that about three million people have come through just 172 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,679 Speaker 2: this year alone. If a third of those are students, 173 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 2: a million K to twelve students, that's larger than the 174 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 2: largest school districts in America New York City or LA Unified. 175 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 2: It's the largest school district. Think about how much money 176 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 2: it costs to educate those children, and that it's going 177 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 2: to be more than what it normally costs to educate 178 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: an American child because of all the deficiencies that they're 179 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 2: coming in with. And so, yes, you're right, it's not 180 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 2: just about hiring an ELL teacher, an English Language Learners teacher, 181 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 2: because they're not going to speak all of these languages. 182 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 2: You're talking about Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic that are coming across 183 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:58,079 Speaker 2: the border. So it's an immigration problem, a mass influx 184 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 2: problem that is going on at the southern and border, 185 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 2: and no one is talking about how unfair this is 186 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 2: to our American students who absolutely need these resources to 187 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 2: get caught up after the learning loss that they received 188 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 2: in COVID nineteen. 189 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: Let's take a quick commercial break back with Erica Donald's 190 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: what kind of impact do you think that's going to 191 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: have on the proficiency and math and reading and some 192 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: of these different subjects that we've already seen fall dramatically. 193 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 2: We're losing a generation, Lisa. We just saw a study 194 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:35,000 Speaker 2: out recently that students are going to need four months 195 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 2: of additional math instruction to get caught up after the 196 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 2: pandemic and the closed schools. Well, we look at LA 197 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: Unified and you mentioned school unions earlier, they wouldn't allow 198 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 2: an extra ten days of learning in the school year. 199 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 2: I think they got it down to three days that 200 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 2: were optional. How are our students going to get four 201 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 2: more months? And that's four months with the tension that 202 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 2: they need from their teachers, and we're also battling a 203 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 2: teacher shortage. I'm telling you the only solution here is 204 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 2: a free market that will help to solve these problems 205 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 2: using the latest innovations technology bringing other players into the space. 206 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 2: We're talking about micro schools, online schools, different ESA programs 207 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 2: that allow you to allakarte the education experience for your child. 208 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 2: So if they're just deficient in math, you can find 209 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,240 Speaker 2: that math tutor and use those ESA dollars a little 210 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 2: extra money towards whatever it is your child needs. The 211 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 2: free market is the only way to solve this problem. 212 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 2: We know for sure that the monopoly is not going 213 00:11:42,559 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 2: to reform itself. It's not going to solve this issue. 214 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 2: And the Biden administration frankly needs to solve the real 215 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 2: route problem here and stop the massive illegal immigration at 216 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 2: the border. Yeah. 217 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: I feel like it's not discussed enough, just the impact 218 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: and the damage that COVID had on children. Even as adults, 219 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: it was difficult. I mean, I moved down to Florida 220 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: for the end of it to be free, but you know, 221 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,600 Speaker 1: when I was in New York, it was difficult. You're isolated. 222 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: I live by myself. But you know, you've got these 223 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: students and these young people who you need to be 224 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: around other kids, who who need to be seeing people 225 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: smile and interacting with other humans, and you know, they 226 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: need to be learning, and instead a lot of them 227 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: were stuck at home by themselves and forced to and 228 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 1: adequately learn online. And it's you know, it's not just 229 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,400 Speaker 1: the intellectual damage to these kids. I mean it's emotional, 230 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 1: it's you know, personal, and I just feel like these 231 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: kids are sort of irreparably harmed by all of this. 232 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: A lot of them are Lisa, and we've also seen 233 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,720 Speaker 2: where the mental health crisis is really rearing its head 234 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 2: in the public school system. We're having to hire many 235 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 2: more mental health specialists in the schools, and this just 236 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 2: goes back to the limited resources that are available to 237 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,959 Speaker 2: address these concerns and having to stretch those resources even 238 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 2: further with this in flocks of students. You know, they 239 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:04,920 Speaker 2: had their own issues, I'm sure in their native countries 240 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 2: during COVID. The problem is we're not looking to buckle 241 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 2: down and solve these problems. America is not serious about 242 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 2: competing globally on academic excellence. We haven't been for decades now. 243 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 2: So we have to get serious as a society, as 244 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 2: a culture, and frankly in our leadership that this must 245 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 2: be a priority. We have to hold people accountable and 246 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 2: the best way to do that is through a free 247 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 2: market system where parents are able to vote with their 248 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 2: feet and the transparency that's necessary so we see how 249 00:13:40,200 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 2: the students are performing in various school environments, and that 250 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 2: will allow people to make informed decisions so long as 251 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 2: they have the freedom to do so. 252 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: You know, we've seen in previous elections that you know, 253 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: education can be a driver of the electorate. I believe 254 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 1: it was in twenty eighteen Governor DeSantis school choice was 255 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: impactful for him electorally. And then you know, you look 256 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: at virgil Ya with Governor youngin Should this be a 257 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: centerpiece of whoever ends up being the Republican nominee and 258 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: around some of these states, I. 259 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 2: Think it absolutely will be. And we've seen a huge 260 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: influx of moms and regular people like myself. Right, I 261 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: got elected in twenty fourteen to the school board. You know, 262 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 2: I say, like before it was cool to be on 263 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 2: school board. I was kind of out there by myself, 264 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 2: just a handful of us in Florida. But now hundreds 265 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 2: of members of like Moms for Liberty are getting elected, 266 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 2: and people who are just finally waking up to the 267 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 2: issues in our education system and taking back control of 268 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 2: our local school boards of schools and even in state 269 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: legislatures where you see people getting elected whose focus is 270 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 2: on education reform. I think that's a great movement. I 271 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 2: do think we've seen even the presidential candidates talking about 272 00:14:53,080 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: what needs to be done at the federal level, including 273 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 2: getting rid of the Department of education who has not 274 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 2: proven to have any possible to impact on the trajectory 275 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 2: of K twelve education in our country. So I do 276 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 2: think I've seen over the past twelve years that I've 277 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 2: been involved in education reform, so much more attention to 278 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:15,240 Speaker 2: it from the mainstream, both the media and as you mentioned, 279 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 2: candidates who are either running for statewide office or even 280 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: presidential candidates. At this point, I've talked about it more 281 00:15:20,880 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 2: than ever in the past. 282 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: And I do think people pay more attention than they 283 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 1: have in the past about you know, school board, particularly 284 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: since COVID talk about the significance and the role that 285 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: you know, our school board can play on your child's future. 286 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:38,240 Speaker 2: Yeah. I really learned a lot on the school board 287 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 2: about how much power that they have over what kind 288 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 2: of materials you're buying for the students, what kind of 289 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 2: standards do you have for performance in the classrooms, What 290 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 2: do you let go that teachers can sort of get 291 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,560 Speaker 2: away with. I mean, there's a lot of bad behavior 292 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 2: in schools, and I've watched teachers help students cheat and 293 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,640 Speaker 2: get a slap on the wrist and absolutely no time 294 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 2: without pay. I saw a lot on the school board. 295 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 2: It's a lot of it is driven by unions. But 296 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 2: when you have a majority, now that's really important. That 297 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:14,720 Speaker 2: you have a majority on the school board. You can 298 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 2: change policy, you can improve curriculum and accountability and transparency. 299 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 2: You can punish the bad actors and set a tone 300 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 2: for a better culture in your school district. So all 301 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 2: those things are important. I definitely think that it's a 302 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 2: worthwhile endeavor to serve on school boards and to keep 303 00:16:31,520 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 2: careful watch of them, like Mom's for Liberty, the Leadership Institute, 304 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 2: which I'm also involved with, train school board members to 305 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,840 Speaker 2: be effective. I have a lot of hope for the 306 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 2: new school boards that are coming in and being trained 307 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 2: by these great groups. However, I'm also a huge proponent 308 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 2: of school choice. I think that school boards are running 309 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: a monopoly, and it doesn't matter who's in charge of 310 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: the monopoly. The monopoly is the problem, and we really 311 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 2: have to break the monopoly. In the meantime, our friends 312 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 2: to be running it instead of our enemies or the 313 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 2: enemies of our country. But school choice, education freedom and 314 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 2: putting that power further and further into the hands of 315 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 2: parents is really the answer. 316 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:17,960 Speaker 1: Quick break more in the state of education. And we're 317 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,679 Speaker 1: not even saying, you know, not just the importance of 318 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: sort of the lack of education kids are getting and 319 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,240 Speaker 1: why we need change on the school front, but also 320 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 1: just from a values standpoint. I mean, we're seeing schools 321 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 1: get involved with changing kids pronouns and encouraging transitions and 322 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: you know, hiding and concealing this information from parents. So 323 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 1: you know, it's not just an educational impact, it's a 324 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: values impact. 325 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 2: I say this all the time, Lisa. It used to 326 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 2: be when I first got involved with school choice, it 327 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 2: was all about kids are in failing schools or the 328 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,360 Speaker 2: schools not working for them. It was about academics and 329 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 2: improving academics for children, and that was a lot of 330 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 2: the focus of charter schools and school choice options, including 331 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 2: private school choice. Today that conversation has changed and parents 332 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: are making these choices more based on a difference in 333 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 2: their value systems and trust. They simply do not trust 334 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,879 Speaker 2: the schools that they are being forced to send their 335 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,239 Speaker 2: children to to teach according to the values that they 336 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,159 Speaker 2: have at home, or simply just not teach any of 337 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 2: these cultural or political ideas that just don't belong in 338 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,120 Speaker 2: K to twelve public schools. So there's definitely an issue 339 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 2: with trust, with ideology and values that parents want to 340 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 2: be able to choose that and safety is another major 341 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 2: one that has changed over the years. That is definitely 342 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 2: a reason that families are wanting to choose something else, 343 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 2: and it could be safety in terms of physical safety 344 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 2: obviously school shootings and fights and things that we see, 345 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 2: but safety in terms of also bullying, cyber bullying, the 346 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 2: things that administrations let students get away with and the 347 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 2: lack of discipline creates a safety issue for parents that 348 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 2: they want to get away from. 349 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: What's your hope on the school choice front? You know, 350 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: what would you like to see happen in the next 351 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 1: few years. 352 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 2: Well, my dream for school choice is truly an a 353 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 2: la carte marketplace for families. I want to see more 354 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 2: and more states adopt education scholarship account essays where families 355 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,240 Speaker 2: can put together the best academic program for their child 356 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:28,199 Speaker 2: that meets their students' unique needs. And what does that 357 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 2: possibly look like. It means that if my child is 358 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:34,440 Speaker 2: really good at math and they could be taking college 359 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 2: mathematics in the eighth grade, I can go to the 360 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 2: community college and have them take a course there for mathematics. 361 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 2: They could take a course on history at my local museum, 362 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 2: because that museum has all of these great artifacts and 363 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 2: it's a wonderful place for them to learn history from 364 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 2: the people who have studied it their entire lives. Then 365 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 2: maybe they're just really good at reading and literature. They 366 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 2: don't really need a lot of guidance there. So they're 367 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 2: doing an online class that. And they're passionate about music, 368 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 2: and so I get them a one on one music 369 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: instructor so that they can really excel in that area. 370 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,639 Speaker 2: And that's how I decide to use my essay for 371 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 2: my child to build out an experience that they wake 372 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:17,600 Speaker 2: up every day and they love learning, they love going 373 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 2: to school. And we also have the flexibility as a 374 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 2: family to interact and allow me to be a little 375 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: more involved even as a working mom with my children. 376 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 2: People will always continue to choose some form of full 377 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:33,119 Speaker 2: time school, whether that's public or private or charter and 378 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 2: whatever it is. But I want families to be able 379 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 2: to look at all the options out there and make 380 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 2: the choices. And really, I think we are. We have 381 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 2: no idea what is possible in terms of education innovation 382 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 2: because the marketplace has never been open. I think innovations 383 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 2: are going to come about that we can't even imagine 384 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 2: right now when people have the capacity to make those purchases. 385 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 2: Through these essays, Eric. 386 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:00,720 Speaker 1: Anything else you'd like to leave us with. 387 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 2: Well, I like to say too, that universal choice is 388 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 2: the only free market choice. You know. I've watched policies 389 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,639 Speaker 2: in various states, including my home state of Florida, put 390 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:14,479 Speaker 2: limitations on school choice. Well, maybe we should start with 391 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 2: only low income students, or maybe only students who are 392 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 2: in failing schools. I truly think that we need to 393 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 2: advocate for universal choice because the larger the market, the 394 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: larger the customer base, the more innovations are come into 395 00:21:30,119 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 2: the marketplace, the better access and quality for everyone, including 396 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 2: those who are the most disadvantage and have currently the 397 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 2: least number of options for education. And then, secondly, we 398 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:44,480 Speaker 2: need to make sure that our politicians, our elected officials, 399 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 2: our leaders are serious about academic excellence across our country 400 00:21:49,600 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 2: and holding people accountable to that, because as a country, 401 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 2: we are not competing right now with the rest of 402 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 2: the world, and we may not see that as much today, 403 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 2: although I would argue if you look at the national 404 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 2: leadership and the way things are going, you can pretty 405 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,399 Speaker 2: much tell how our schools have done over the past 406 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 2: several decades. But it's going to get worse and worse 407 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 2: as these children move through the system and are going 408 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 2: to be the leaders of tomorrow, or we'll have a 409 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:14,560 Speaker 2: lack of leadership. 410 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: Where do you hope to take the Optima Foundation? What 411 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: are your personal goals with that? 412 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 2: Well, Optima ed exists in order to make classical education 413 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: available to every family tuition free, and right now we 414 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 2: do offer Optima Academy online in every state in the 415 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,560 Speaker 2: country and even internationally, but some people have to pay, 416 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:35,600 Speaker 2: and I don't believe in that. I really want to 417 00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:38,639 Speaker 2: make sure that it is a tuition free, high quality 418 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 2: option that anyone can access, and so we're working on 419 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 2: that every single day. We're going down the list of 420 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:48,800 Speaker 2: states that are offering essays or virtual charters or some 421 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 2: other form of public funding to just navigate that landscape 422 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:57,400 Speaker 2: and make it available for free for any family. And secondly, 423 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 2: we are building brick and mortar school with a classical 424 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 2: model of education. We've created our own classical curriculum and 425 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 2: I want to make that curriculum available to any school 426 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,159 Speaker 2: who would like to infuse classical education into their current 427 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 2: model into their current classrooms, using virtual reality or not. 428 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 2: I just love the classical model. I think it gives 429 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 2: students equips them with the knowledge and the virtue that 430 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 2: they need to be successful and of course to be 431 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 2: American great American patriots and leaders of the future. 432 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:26,119 Speaker 1: That's awesome. 433 00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:26,280 Speaker 2: You know. 434 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:29,880 Speaker 1: I always love talking to problem solvers, and that's very 435 00:23:29,880 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: cool what you've done. So appreciate you taking the time. 436 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 1: Erica Donalds, thank you. 437 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:36,040 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me, Lisa. I appreciate it. 438 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:43,840 Speaker 1: That was Erica Donald's guest faculty at the Leadership Institute's 439 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: school board programs. Also the CEO of optima Ed. Appreciate 440 00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:50,360 Speaker 1: her making the time and what she's doing to make 441 00:23:50,359 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: a difference. Appreciate you guys at home for listening every 442 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: Monday and Thursday, but you can listen throughout the week. 443 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:57,639 Speaker 1: I dont think John Cassio, my producer, for putting the 444 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,240 Speaker 1: show together. Feel free to drop us a review on 445 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,000 Speaker 1: Apple Podcast or give us a rating. Always love looking 446 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: at those. Thanks so much.