My school choice story began over a decade ago, not in a policy meeting or at the state capitol, but in the busy, everyday moments of motherhood.
It began with questions: Why was my child struggling? Why wasn’t the system meeting their needs? And why, as a parent, did I feel like I had so few options to help?
I am a mother of three, and like so many parents, my journey into education advocacy was born out of necessity, not ambition.
Each of my children learns differently. As a dyslexia therapist and a mom, I have seen firsthand how critical it is to meet a child where they are. What works for one child does not always work for another, and yet too often, families are expected to fit into a one-size-fits-all system.
I remember sitting down with my husband and saying, “Do we need to move? Do we need to go somewhere else just to find a school that can help our child?” It felt like the only option in front of us. But deep down, we knew that could not be the answer. Uprooting our entire family should not be the requirement for a child to receive the education they need.
So, it was back to the drawing board.
Instead of moving, I went back to my husband with a different idea. If the system was not going to meet my child where they were, then I would learn how to do it myself. That decision led me back to school, and ultimately to becoming a dyslexia therapist. What started as a way to help my own child became a calling that shaped both my family’s life and my professional path.
That experience is what first opened my eyes to the importance of school choice.
I have experienced both the strengths and limitations of our education system. I have seen incredible teachers who are deeply committed to their students, and I have also seen the gaps where children can fall through. As a parent, there is nothing more difficult than knowing what your child needs and feeling like you do not have the ability to provide it within the system you are assigned to.
I was not looking to become an advocate. I was simply trying to help my child succeed. But as I navigated those challenges, I realized that my family was not alone. There were parents across Mississippi facing the same struggles, asking the same questions, and searching for the same opportunities.
That realization is what moved me from being a concerned parent to an advocate.
I began speaking up not because I had all the answers, but because I knew parents deserved a voice in their children’s education. Over time, that voice grew into a mission. Today, I serve as the Executive Director of Mississippi Ready, where I work alongside families across our state who are asking for the same simple opportunity: the ability to choose the educational path that best fits their child.
For me, school choice is not about politics. It is about people. It is about parents who are trying to do what is best for their children and need the freedom to make those decisions. It is about students who thrive when given the right environment, support, and opportunities.
Every child is unique, and our education system should reflect that. Families should not be limited by their zip code or financial circumstances when it comes to accessing the education that best meets their child’s needs.
My story is not unique. It is shared by parents across Mississippi and across the country who are navigating similar challenges and seeking better options for their children.
I will continue to advocate, to speak, and to stand alongside these families until every parent has a voice, and every child has access to the opportunities they deserve.
