What happens when families gain education freedom, but schools face roadblocks to serving them?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Pastor Wendell Hutchins, founder and senior pastor of Church of Champions in Houston. Hutchins shares the challenges his church’s private school encountered while seeking to participate in Texas’ Education Freedom Accounts program. Their conversation explores barriers facing faith-based schools, the role of churches in education, and the importance of Texas expands school choice.

How can Texas students be set up for success when it comes to improving literacy and reading comprehension?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, former teacher, and author of How the Other Half Learns. Their conversation explores why improving literacy takes more than phonics, how Texas is building a comprehensive approach to education, and what parents should look for when choosing a school.

Irving ISD is asking voters to approve a nearly $1 billion bond package even as student enrollment declines and taxpayers continue to shoulder billions in school district debt.

On this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin is joined by Philip Harold, professor at the University of Dallas, and TPPF's James Quintero to examine Irving ISD’s proposed $952 million bond, the true cost of school debt once interest is included, and the role architecture, construction, and consulting firms play in promoting massive bond packages.

The conversation explores concerns about transparency surrounding the proposal, declining enrollment in Irving ISD, student academic performance, administrative spending, superintendent compensation, and plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on new facilities including a proposed $300 million high school.

They also discuss how school bonds can affect Texas property taxes, why taxpayers should know the full principal-and-interest cost before voting, and whether districts should prioritize maintaining existing facilities rather than taking on additional long-term debt.

With Texans demanding property tax relief, this episode asks a critical question: Are massive school bonds serving students and taxpayers or the industries that profit from building them?

Learn more about taxpayer accountability, property taxes, education reform, and government transparency at TexasPolicy.com.

On this episode of Parent Empowerment, host Mandy Drogin sits down with a Texas mother and two students from City School in Austin to discuss how school choice and Education Freedom Accounts are helping families access an education that meets their unique needs.

The students share their experiences with dyslexia, smaller class sizes, hands-on learning, individualized attention, and specialized reading support. Renee Evans, a mother of 3, explains how City School’s faith-based environment and dyslexia resources have helped her children grow academically and gain confidence in the classroom.

They also discuss the financial impact of receiving Texas Education Freedom Accounts. With three children who have dyslexia, their education can involve additional expenses such as specialized reading instruction, tutoring, and learning tools. The accounts help cover tuition while freeing up resources for the additional academic support her children need.

Later, the students describe how supportive teachers, smaller classrooms, and a close-knit school community have helped them overcome challenges and become more confident learners.

Finally, the conversation turns to expanding access to Education Freedom Accounts and giving more Texas parents the ability to choose an educational environment that fits their children’s academic, personal, and religious needs.

Watch the full conversation to hear directly from a Texas family about school choice, Education Freedom Accounts, dyslexia education, private schools, faith-based education, and parental involvement in education.

How can Texas restore academic integrity into our public higher education?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Dr. Tom Lindsay, a longtime higher education expert and former dean, provost, and college president. Their conversation explores how Texas can restore academic integrity, strengthen core curriculum, and ensure taxpayer-funded universities prepare students for civic and professional life.

On this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with attorney Justin Nichols to discuss real disputes involving Texas public schools, parental rights, student discipline, and what he describes as the growing power of the Education Cartel.

They break down several controversial cases and disputes, including a Frisco ISD student from Israel who was assigned a report on Palestine, a Belton ISD student who was suspended after expressing support for ICE and an interest in federal law enforcement, and a Plano ISD bullying dispute involving students from different social groups.

Justin also explains why parents should understand their rights, question school administrators when necessary, and be willing to push back when they believe a school district has overstepped its authority.

If you’re a Texas parent concerned about parental rights, public education, student free speech, school accountability, or education reform, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Watch now and learn why Justin says parents have more power than they may realize.
Topics discussed:
• Parental rights in Texas public schools
• Student free speech and political expression
• School discipline and bullying policies
• Frisco ISD, Belton ISD, and Plano ISD disputes
• Administrative bureaucracy in public education
• Holding Texas school districts accountable
• Parents standing up for their children

Subscribe for more episodes of Parent Empowerment covering Texas education, parental rights, school choice, education reform, and the policies affecting Texas families.

How is the education cartel trying to silence parents that speak up against it?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Laura Cervantes, president of the Jasper High School Choir Booster Club. Laura shares how questioning Plano ISD’s demands escalated into the seizure of the booster club’s funds, her arrest on a felony theft charge, and an ongoing federal lawsuit. The conversation explores school district accountability, school district transparency, and why parents must be prepared to stand up to intimidation.

Texas taxpayers are spending billions on public education but how much of that money is actually reaching teachers and classrooms?

In this episode of Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy sits down with James Quintero of TPPF's Taxpayer Protection Project to examine administrative bloat in Texas public schools, rising superintendent compensation, and the impact these spending decisions can have on taxpayers.

According to data discussed in the episode, Texas public schools spent approximately $19.5 billion on non-teacher compensation, while hundreds of superintendents earn salaries exceeding that of the Governor of Texas. Mandy and James also break down the additional benefits some superintendent contracts include, from vehicle and housing allowances to retirement contributions, bonuses, and other taxpayer-funded perks.

The conversation examines several examples from Texas school districts, including superintendent housing arrangements, administrative spending, executive search firms, school district debt, and the relationship between spending and student academic performance.

Mandy and James also discuss the dramatic growth of non-teacher staffing in Texas schools, taxpayer-funded lobbying, and why they believe the Texas Legislature should consider stronger guardrails to ensure education dollars are prioritized toward teachers, students, and classrooms.

Watch the full episode to learn more about:

Texas superintendent salaries and compensation packages
Administrative bloat in Texas public schools
How education dollars are being spent
School district debt and property taxes
Superintendent housing and additional benefits
Teacher vs. non-teacher staffing growth
Student outcomes and administrative spending
Taxpayer-funded lobbying
Potential reforms for the Texas Legislature
Transparency and accountability in Texas school districts

Subscribe to Parent Empowerment for more conversations about Texas education, property taxes, parental rights, government accountability, and the policies affecting Texas families.