Education Matters With MySchoolOptions

In this episode, host Cesar Roman sits down with Neil Carmichael, Director of Arts and Education at the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center in South Bend, Indiana. A celebrated music educator, composer, and community leader, Neil has helped transform the Kroc Center into a hub for accessible arts education and youth development. Tune in as they discuss the programs that are connecting South Bend fa...

In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan unpack Indiana’s bold new redesign of the high school diploma. With student needs and workforce demands rapidly evolving, Indiana's 2025 legislation marks a turning point for K-12 education. These new diploma requirements aren’t just about credits—they’re about preparing students for real life. We’ll walk through what’s cha...

In this episode of Education Matters, hosts Cesar Roman and Sarah Milligan sit down with Betsy Wiley, President & CEO of the Institute for Quality Education, to unpack one of the most consequential legislative sessions for school choice in Indiana history. Despite facing a surprise $2 billion budget shortfall, Indiana prevailed—delivering major wins for Hoosier families and students. From the mira...

In this episode of Education Matters, host Cesar Roman sits down with Ely Page, Regional Organizing Director at My School Options, to uncover how school choice is transforming communities across Indiana. From his deeply personal homeschooling background to his policy work during Indiana’s historic school choice expansion, Ely brings a unique lens to the evolving education landscape. His mission? E...

On this episode of Education Matters, host Sarah Milligan sits down with Taki Floutsis, Regional Organizing Director for MySchoolOptions, to explore the evolving landscape of school choice in Indiana. For Taki, education advocacy is more than a job—it’s personal. His own school choice journey fuels his passion for helping Indiana families navigate their options and find the best fit for their chil...

On this episode, host Sarah Milligan sits down with Indiana State Senator Jeff Raatz, Chair of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee. As a key legislator shaping the state’s education policies, Senator Raatz has been at the forefront of expanding school choice and strengthening career pathways for Indiana students. Tune in as they discuss Indiana’s latest legislative advancements i...

Join our guest host, Betsy Wiley, as she is joined by Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston. Together they discuss Speaker Huston’s involvement in championing educational freedom and expanding school choice options for families across the state. From overcoming initial challenges to garnering public support for voucher programs, Speaker Huston shares his insights and experiences that have contributed...

On this episode of Education Matters, host Cesar Roman discusses the evolution of school choice with Indiana State Representative Robert Behning. From personal stories of choosing education paths to monumental legislative victories like the 2011 voucher bill, Cesar and Representative Behning discuss how these changes are reshaping the educational landscape. They dig further into the power of schoo...

In this bonus episode, Sarah Milligan and Cesar Roman discuss the Nation's Report Card, also known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). They explore its significance as a comprehensive measure of student performance across the U.S., particularly focusing on Indiana's recent educational outcomes in reading and math. The conversation highlights the importance of NAEP in providi...

In this episode, join our host, Sarah Milligan, as she explores the potential impact of key legislative bills shaping Indiana's education landscape. Sarah and guest, Betsy Wiley, President and CEO of Institute for Quality Education discuss House Bills 1001, 1002, 1136, and 1636, which could transform education funding, regulation, and school choice options across the state. From the intricacies of...

On this episode of Education Matters, Sarah sits down to an inspiring conversation with Anastasia, a nurse, mother of six, and education advocate who has made a powerful impact on her children's schooling! Anastasia discusses her journey in navigating various education options for her kids, leveraging school vouchers, and her proactive approach to ensuring her children receive the best education p...

In this episode of Education Matters, host Cesar Roman sits down with Mike McClain, a father, school principal, and dedicated supporter of school choice. As the principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School and a parent, Mike offers a distinctive viewpoint on the tangible effects of school choice. This discussion provides listeners with valuable insights into Mike's experiences as an educator, his adv...

On this episode of Education Matters, John Elcessar, Executive Director of Indiana Non-Public Education Association, Molly Collins, Executive Director of Policy and Government Affairs at IQE, and Cesar Roman, Director of Community Engagement for MySchoolOptions, dive deep into the transformative impact of the Indiana Choice Scholarship (Voucher) Program, highlighting its growth, the barriers famil...

This conversation explores the role of the Institute for Quality Education (IQE) and its Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) in providing educational opportunities for families in Indiana. The discussion highlights the importance of Giving Tuesday, the impact of SGOs on school choice, and personal stories that illustrate the program's significance. Both Mary and Lori share insights on how fami...

Ashley Robbins, the executive director of FIRST Indiana Robotics, discusses the world of robotics and the impact it has on students. She explains that robotics provides a safe space for students to be creative and explore their interests, regardless of their background or social skills. The robotics teams are mentor-driven and consist of students with various roles, such as coding, mechanical desi...

In this conversation, Sarah, Derrell, and Marc discuss the educational landscape in Indiana, focusing on the work of 50 Can, a campaign aimed at improving educational opportunities for all children. They explore the impact of COVID-19 on school choice and parental satisfaction, the purpose and methodology of their recent study on educational options, and the importance of mental health support in...

In this bonus episode, host Sarah Milligan welcomes Molly Collins, Executive Director of Policy and Government Affairs at Institute for Quality Education, and Jennifer Wagner, Vice President of Communications at Excel in Ed, to break down the big wins for school choice in the latest elections—both in Indiana and nationwide. They dive into how legislative support drives progress for school choice,...

Dr. Robin Koslowitz, a licensed clinical psychologist, discusses her book 'Post Traumatic Parenting' and the impact of trauma on parenting. She introduces the AIM model (Acceptance, Integration, and Meaning) to help parents break the cycle of trauma and create positive experiences. Dr. K emphasizes the importance of creating a parent mission statement to align actions with values. She also address...

In this episode, Tom Fisher, Vice President and Director of Litigation for Ed Choice, discusses the critical role of legal advocacy in the school choice movement. He shares insights from his experience as Solicitor General of Indiana, the challenges faced in defending school choice programs, and the importance of parental choice in education. Fisher highlights the successes of Indiana's voucher pr...

Shaunette Parker, Director of Awareness Events for National School Choice Week, discusses the education climate in South Carolina and the importance of education choice. She highlights the need for options and opportunities for families, especially those from underrepresented groups. Parker emphasizes the importance of parent advocacy and engagement in education. She also discusses the work of the...

In this episode of Education Matters with MySchoolOptions, host Cesar Roman is joined by two leading voices in the education policy arena: Betsy Wiley, President and CEO of the Institute for Quality Education, and Robert Enlow, President and CEO of Ed Choice. Together, they dive into the recent media debate surrounding the Indiana voucher program and school choice efforts across the country. The c...

In this episode of Education Matters with MySchoolOptions, Sarah is joined by Dr. Rebecca Estes, Assistant Secretary of Educator Talent at the Indiana Department of Education, to discuss challenges and ongoing initiatives in education in Indiana along with exciting innovation’s such as the stat’s real-time supply-demand marketplace to address the educator shortage and identify areas of need, progr...

Brianna Morse, Director of Youth Initiatives and Field Support for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, discusses the JAG program and its impact on students. JAG, which stands for Jobs for America's Graduates, is a program that focuses on workforce preparation and career development for high school students. The program provides employability skills, leadership opportunities, and mento...

Jill Haskins and Don Sofier of the National Microschool Center and this episode is all about the innovation of micro schooling. We dive into what exactly a “microschool” is, how they’re formed, how they fit into the school choice framework, and why these exciting educational innovations are key to furthering great, personalized educational opportunities for all students in Indiana and across Ameri...

Ryan Black, Vice President of Education for Stand Together, discusses the importance of education choice and the need for a pluralistic approach to education. He shares his personal experience in choosing the best education for his son and emphasizes the role of parents in navigating the educational experience. Ryan explains the work of Stand Together in partnering with change makers to solve Amer...