Today, our guest on The State of Education is a woman who had no previous experience in the realm of education before becoming a member of her local school board. No experience—except that she loved her children and dedicated ten years to homeschooling them. After her children went back to public school in their teens, Veronica Gemma was dissatisfied with the low standards and lack of parental involvement her district offered. She and several other candidates decided to run for school board and ...
Apr 12, 2023•19 min•Ep. 61
Do small classrooms and close-knit communities offer something big public schools could never offer? Our guest today, Robert Mitchell, is a rural school teacher and college professor. In his small Colorado school, he only teaches about thirty-five students, but he loves what he does. He also wants other people to see the value in America’s small rural schools, recognize the challenges they face, and do something to help. GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwef....
Apr 05, 2023•28 min•Ep. 60
Jenny Clark is—first and foremost—a mom. But she’s also the founder of Love Your School, a non-profit in Arizona that empowers parents and educators to make choices about the education plan that works for them and their kids. Today on The State of Education With Melvin Adams, Jenny talks with us about the incredible strides she and others have made to get a universal ESA passed in Arizona. Listen in to learn more. Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Check out Jenny’s organization, Love Your ...
Mar 29, 2023•40 min•Ep. 59
Today on The State of Education with Melvin Adams, we’re once again talking with Nina Rees, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Nina has had a lot of experience in education, but she’s especially passionate about the opportunities and ideals that charter schools hold up for families. What’s one reason why she thinks charter schools are highly sought after? Parental involvement. Charter schools help children—and, by extension, families—flourish. Resources Mentioned in T...
Mar 22, 2023•28 min•Ep. 58
In order to have accountability in a school, you must connect with families. That’s why Nina Rees sees charter schools as a step towards restoring quality education in America because charter schools offer parents a chance to keep schools accountable. Rees, a long-time advocate of charter schools and school choice, has decades of service behind her, including a stint with the U.S. Department of Education. Listen in this week on The State of Education as she and Melvin uncover the benefits and po...
Mar 15, 2023•21 min•Ep. 57
In a society where college degrees are worshiped, it’s sometimes difficult for highschool graduates to find an alternative path that’s meaningful and pays the bills. But, there’s a revolution of thought on the horizon through organizations like Build Smart — a fully furnished trade school for students interested in construction. Today’s guest, Gary Feazell, shares his massive success story with us and encourages youth to seek out the needs of their communities and start working with their hands…...
Mar 08, 2023•26 min•Ep. 56
Why doesn’t modern therapy work? Part of the reason is simply: “affirmation.” Many therapists are pressured to affirm everything, even dangerous delusions and irreversible gender changes. Today on The State of Education with Melvin Adams , we’re again talking with conservative therapist and activist Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, who isn’t shy about her views on where the mental health industry is headed and how we can take a stand. Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Conservative Therapists is a d...
Mar 01, 2023•15 min•Ep. 55
In celebration of Black History Month, friend of NWEF Ted Lamb is sharing a weekly story about a little-known black patriot. Don’t miss these special episodes each Friday! Resources Mentioned on Today’s Episode: “History Moments With Ted” is an engaging Facebook group run by Ted Lamb. There, he shares daily history facts and lessons that help broaden your knowledge of history in a memorable way: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1199381647176869 GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https:/...
Feb 24, 2023•20 min
The wave of change towards gender ideology and transition has swept across America, even affecting the smallest hearts in our communities, i.e. our children. For some of our children there’s been damage—some beyond repair. The reality of that tragedy is partially rooted in the mental healthcare industry where some therapists are affirming a change in a child’s gender identity before adulthood, sometimes even before puberty. Today’s guest, Pamela Garfield-Jaeger, has styled herself as “the truthf...
Feb 22, 2023•26 min•Ep. 54
In celebration of Black History Month, friend of NWEF Ted Lamb is sharing a weekly story about a little-known black patriot. Don’t miss these special episodes each Friday! Resources Mentioned on Today’s Episode: “History Moments With Ted” is an engaging Facebook group run by Ted Lamb. There, he shares daily history facts and lessons that help broaden your knowledge of history in a memorable way: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1199381647176869 GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https:/...
Feb 17, 2023•13 min
Competition almost always increases product quality. And it’s no different with education. Some see school choice as a nefarious attempt to defund public schools. Others see it as a tool to hype academic quality in all schools. Which is it? Today on The State of Education with Melvin Adams , Matt Beienburg shares how states can (and should!) enact policies that give parents the academic freedom and transparency they deserve for their families while not defunding public education. Resources Menti...
Feb 15, 2023•32 min•Ep. 53
In celebration of Black History Month, friend of NWEF Ted Lamb is sharing a weekly story about a little-known black patriot. Don’t miss these special episodes each Friday! Resources Mentioned on Today’s Episode: “History Moments With Ted” is an engaging Facebook group run by Ted Lamb. There, he shares daily history facts and lessons that help broaden your knowledge of history in a memorable way: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1199381647176869 GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https:/...
Feb 10, 2023•13 min
Recently, Virginia’s Board of Education decided to revise the history and social study standards for public school students. This generated both praise and backlash, and Jillian Balow, our guest today on The State of Education , is right in the thick of it. Jillian is not only the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the Virginian State School Board, but she was a teacher herself and formerly the Superintendent of Wyoming’s education board. Listen in on The State of Education as she and Melvi...
Feb 08, 2023•25 min•Ep. 52
In celebration of Black History Month, friend of NWEF Ted Lamb is sharing a weekly story about a little-known black patriot. Don’t miss these special episodes each Friday! Resources Mentioned on Today’s Episode: “History Moments With Ted” is an engaging Facebook group run by Ted Lamb. There, he shares daily history facts and lessons that help broaden your knowledge of history in a memorable way: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1199381647176869 GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https:/...
Feb 03, 2023•13 min
Join us for School Choice Week 2.0! Technically, School Choice Week ended last week, but we wanted to keep celebrating with part two of our conversation with Terrye Seckinger—school choice expert and champion in South Carolina. Today’s conversation focuses on the need for our communities to be open minded about the possibilities of school choice. Because every child must be respected as an individual with unique needs and strengths, we should focus on giving them an opportunity best suited for t...
Feb 01, 2023•22 min•Ep. 51
It’s national school choice week in America. And today, we’re going to celebrate through a conversation with Terrye Seckinger. She has been a champion of school choice in her home state of South Carolina for years. Always caring for the wellbeing of youth, Terrye has served in multiple roles that directly impact the education and overall trajectory of young generations in her state. Today, she has lots of practical insight and advice to share with us about America’s need for school choice and ac...
Jan 25, 2023•28 min•Ep. 50
Good communities make good schools. And Paul Lott wants us to start taking that seriously. No matter a child's race or socio-economic status, if his/her community lacks integrity, so will that child’s education. Not only are communities failing students, but also the form of instruction is failing kids too. Every child needs healthy person-to-person interaction throughout their education. Instruction that leans too heavily on technology is failing students too. GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on...
Jan 18, 2023•39 min•Ep. 49
Have you heard of America's classroom situation compared to its industrial age setting? They’re not much different. And that’s a problem for many reasons. First, the world we live in—the world we are supposed to be preparing kids for—is significantly different from that world. Secondly, kids have to learn much, much more. And inside this model, it’s impossible to learn it all well. How can we expect students to thrive when we stash their minds with too much information…or the wrong information w...
Jan 11, 2023•38 min•Ep. 48
As a young nonprofit, joining the national grassroots movement to improve our schools has been rewarding. Collaborating with you has allowed us, as a small but growing voice in society, to chip away at the hard outer layers of an education system entrenched in decades of misused ideas and their consequences. That’s why we approached contemporary issues this year, like transgenderism, school library ethics, the use of technology, school choice, and more. Our online presence and storehouse of reso...
Dec 28, 2022•15 min•Ep. 47
In September, NWEF held an awareness Luncheon titled, “Our Children & Country” where concerned citizens, school board members, and parents gathered to learn more about the mission, vision, and impact of Noah Webster Educational Foundation. Today’s episode gives a sneak peak of the great content that was shared by two of our speakers, one of which was Melvin Adams himself! GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwef.org/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com...
Dec 21, 2022•38 min•Ep. 46
What is the role of government in education? And how do school board members, as a governmental body, make a healthy impact on their communities? It’s questions like these that Melvin Adams is passionate about finding answers to—and guiding people to make a difference in education. Listen in on today’s special episode from Melvin’s lecture at NWEF’s School Board Summit this year to learn more about the 5 core principles of education and how they can help school board members orient their mindset...
Dec 14, 2022•32 min•Ep. 45
Do you ever feel alone in your desire to make change in our society? Well, ironically, you’re not alone in feeling alone; we all feel that way sometimes. And also, you’re not actually alone. Did you know that there are over 100,000 parents across America who are actively engaging with the school system? Our guests on The State of Education today are the cofounders of Moms for Liberty—a grassroots organization whose momentum has washed over the US, fueled by a desire to stand up to the government...
Dec 07, 2022•26 min•Ep. 44
Since the early 1900s, parental rights have been disputed in America’s courts. From circuit courts to the U.S. Supreme Court, your right to direct the education and care of your child has been molded and shaped by various cases and legislation all over America. See how the Parental Rights Foundation, led by William Estrada, is fighting for parents and what you can do to help! Resources from Today’s Episode: Visit the Parental Rights Foundation for resources and information that will help protect...
Nov 30, 2022•54 min•Ep. 43
The math doesn’t add up—failing students doesn’t equal success. As we conclude our interview with Steve Newman, Melvin asks tough questions about how policy makers view school budgets and who the “assembly line” education system is leaving behind. Failing grades create battle lines, and Steve shares how lost accountability is creating space for the government he feels to use schools as a social experiment, a veritable lab for social change. On the small scale, he expounds on how school districts...
Nov 16, 2022•28 min•Ep. 42
The strength of a company lies with the quality of its leadership. Our guest, Steve Newman, learned this first hand while serving in the Virginia Senate and other elected positions, including his local city council. In 2010, he was instrumental in the Governor’s Higher Education Reform Commission and coined the word “educrats” to describe those in government who are more interested in self-serving agendas than changing student’s lives. Join us today as Melvin and Steve discuss policy creation an...
Nov 09, 2022•25 min•Ep. 41
Navigating a child’s education is challenging for parents and teachers. Parents have the job of teaching their children values and character; teachers have the role of challenging children academically and broadening their view of the world. It’s not an easy balance. And today’s guest on The State of Education understands that. Debe Terhar advocates for the parent-teacher relationship and for the real focus of education: our children. Keep listening to learn more about how Debe helped improve ed...
Nov 02, 2022•23 min
Today, Melvin’s guest on The State of Education, Debe Terhar, shares about the holistic nature of education—and each child’s need to be taught that every facet of their life matters. As a mother, the former Ohio State School Board President, and a former Montessori educator, Debe has some wise input for parents seeking to help their young ones achieve wholeness and fulfillment in life. GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwef.org/ Follow us on Twitter: https://t...
Oct 26, 2022•23 min
Today’s episode of The State of Education tells the story of KrisAnne Hall. She is an experienced author and speaker who champions the U.S. Constitution with a passion and fervor you don’t see everyday. Hall and her husband run an organization that focuses on educating American citizens about their government and the power of the people so that they can live well, vote well, and reclaim our culture for good. Resources mentioned on today’s episode KrisAnne has founded an organization called Liber...
Oct 19, 2022•47 min•Ep. 38
Schools everywhere are struggling after COVID, some more than others and each with their own struggles. Rural school districts have completely different needs than suburban or city districts. Bill Outlaw, school board member in Nottoway county, VA, shares about the needs and successes of his local district today on The State of Education. GET CONNECTED WITH NWEF Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nwef.org/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NWEF_org Follow us on Instagram: http...
Oct 12, 2022•41 min•Ep. 37
Education freedom takes a lot of work to secure, and Michael Benjamin isn’t afraid to do it. Over the past decades, he has served children in southern parts of the U.S. as he’s fought for school choice and helped create programs that assist low-income students get the education they need. His work as a choice-advocate has spurred on generational change and growth. Resources mentioned in Today’s Episode: Michael helped co-found this extraordinary foundation that helps K-12 students from all backg...
Oct 05, 2022•35 min•Ep. 36
