Our Schools USA
Head of the Class
A weekly conversation between the founders of Our Schools USA, covering the latest headlines and hot topics in public education. Hosted by Christina Gagnier, a former school board member, and Kristi Hirst, a former teacher and current public school parent.
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Episodes
Schoolhouse Power: The Push for Christian Nationalist Curriculum in Public Schools 11.12.2025 44:57
In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss the Christian nationalist curriculum pipeline: how a network of ideological organizations, private colleges, political operatives, and media influencers are working to reshape what kids learn in public schools. The episode explores why this movement exists, how it is spreading, and how it has rapidly become a multi-million-dollar influence industry tar...
Dropping Some Knowledge: Who Is Behind the Chaos Emerging in Public Schools? 03.12.2025 44:53
In this episode, Kristi and Christina jump into the first of a series of podcast episodes exploring the forty year plus plan to defund, delegitimize, and, ultimately, privatize public education. This episode is a 101 for those wanting to understand where the chaos started and how got to the now national attack on public education. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). S...
When They Come for the Department of Education 26.11.2025 51:14
In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss the Trump (err) Project 2025 agenda and how its calls to eliminate the Department of Education are happening in function, if not in form. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools USA. Text OURSCHOOLSUSA at (855) 575-7888 or visit ourschoolsusa.org/donate to donate today.
It All Started with Threats at a School Board Meeting 21.11.2025 51:41
Head of the Class is back! In this episode, Kristi and Christina reintroduce Our Schools USA and their "origin" story since it has been a beat. If you can relate, this podcast is for you! If this is all new, join Kristi and Christina every week in learning more about the fight for public education. And, of course, for spicy commentary. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @our...
Let's Put a Freeze on All Things Trump White House 30.01.2025 54:51
It has not even been a week since the last podcast, but when the firehose of Executive Orders is at full blast, we got to keep up. In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss the funding freeze fiasco, the Executive Orders impacting public education, RFK Jr.'s dangerous nomination, the state voucher pushes in Tennessee and Texas, and how none is this is making America great at all. Visit us...
We Don't Know That We'll Be Safe and Sound 24.01.2025 54:57
This past week was a blur of executive orders and agency actions emerging from the Trump Administration. While some of these actions may have been under your radar, these actions will have deep impacts on the safety of public schools. In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss school safety, covering how everything from the U.S. leaving the World Health Organization to cybersecurity changes wil...
Trump II: The Orange Tyranny 17.01.2025 55:08
Come Monday, we are in the second Trump Administration (we are calling it "T2A"). What happens Day 1? What can Trump do unilaterally through Executive Orders? Who will be told "You're Fired?" How will Trump's moves immediately impact public education in America? Kristi and Christina dive into these questions and more. All they know is that it's going to be very u...
The University We Won't Be Applying To: Moms for Liberty University 16.01.2025 47:21
Low and behold, the group behind the chaos that has enveloped public schools and that has rejected expertise and education has launched its own university How fitting. In this episode, Kristi and Christina introduce listeners to M4LU. Not to bury the lede, but they did fail the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) "Quiz" provided by M4LU to parents. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instag...
"Of Questionable Value": The Far-Right's Newest Pro-Fertility Push for Public Schools 07.01.2025 56:36
It's Season 3 of Head of the Class , and what a topic to start off with: public schools as a conduit for "increasing the married birth rate." No, we cannot make this stuff up. In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss the Heritage Foundation's (yes, the Project 2025 architects) education policy reforms, which are to gut pro-college education and programs for public schools,...
The Miseducation of MAGA 31.12.2024 46:32
In this episode, Kristi and Christina dive into the debate around U.S. immigration policy, American education, and the increasing demand for highly skilled labor. While the recent conflict has been sparked by figures like Elon Musk, Laura Loomer, and Vivek Ramaswamy fighting on the Internet, the Our Schools team explores the impacts of culture wars in U.S. public schools and discusses how these is...
Schools Out Forever: The Disturbing Trend of School Closures in West Virginia 21.12.2024 42:01
In this podcast, Kristi and Christina discuss the trend of school closures in West Virginia and how what is happening in these rural communities in the state are a sign of what is to come nationally as the far-right Christian Nationalists continues to push the defunding of public education. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools USA. Text OURSCHOOLSUS...
Show Me The Money: How Public Schools Get Financed 11.12.2024 58:26
In this episode, Kristi & Christina discuss how public schools are funded from federal, state, and local funding streams, and how cuts to the Department of Education funding to public schools could have deep impacts to your local local public school district. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools USA. Text OURSCHOOLSUSA at (855) 575-7888 or visit...
Trump's Secretary of Education Nominee: Linda McMahon's Anti-Public Education Agenda 25.11.2024 57:48
In this episode, Kristi & Christina introduce listeners to Linda McMahon (yes, that WWE McMahon family), who is Trump's pick to lead the federal Department of Education. If you think the education agenda in Project 2025 is bad, just wait until you get a load of the America First Policy Institute's agenda, of which McMahon is a driving force. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Insta...
Can He...Get Rid of the Department of Education? 19.11.2024 1:06:23
In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss whether President-Elect Trump can unilaterally get rid the federal Department of Education (no, he cannot). The team discusses what would be required to get such a proposal through Congress, as well as what would happen inside the Department of Education should Trump not succeed in its disbandment. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @oursc...
Two Different Paths to Education 04.10.2024 43:31
In this episode, Kristi & Christina contrast the education policy platforms of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Spoiler Alert: Not a lot of alignment. Further spoiler alert: One candidate's platform is eerily similar to Project 2025, so they revisit that as well. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools USA. Text...
The Looming School Closure Epidemic 30.08.2024 48:17
In this episode, Kristi & Christina discuss a looming issue in education: the inevitable trend of school closures and how America will deal with it. Across the United States, in communities that may not seem remotely similar to one another, local parents and communities are grappling with school closures. For the piece that inspired this podcast, you can read it here . Visit us at ourschoolsus...
On Tampons and On Hope 22.08.2024 40:21
In this episode, Kristi & Christina address "Tampon Tim", how menstruation became a discussion topic in the culture wars around public schools, and their hope that a return to common sense and compassion will be the theme of this election cycle. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools USA. Text OURSCHOOLSUSA at (855) 575-7888 or visit our...
When "That's Weird" Is Working 06.08.2024 48:33
In a timely podcast, in this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss how the "That's Weird" label that is now across the Internet in national politics is the exact phrase that they have been seeking out for nearly four years to describe the far-right Christian Nationalists push in public schools. Because, it's true, a lot of what has happened is just weird. Visit us at ourschools...
Whatcha Say Whatcha Say When Communicating about Public School Issues 19.07.2024 31:10
In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss communications scaffolding on public school issues to effectively communicate to friends, neighbors, and fellow voters. Using the TIPs strategy, the podcast explores how personalizing information and storytelling are key to races up and down the ballot this November. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools...
Thou Shalt Not Forget the Establishment Clause 12.07.2024 40:51
In this episode, Kristi & Christina discuss the recent passage and signature of Louisiana House Bill 71, which mandates that the Ten Commandments be posted in public school classrooms. While the story is a few weeks old, the strategy from the Christian Nationalists has been over forty years in the making. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools USA...
The Lunch Litmus Test 18.06.2024 34:37
In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss the governors who have refused to take federal funds for summer lunch programs in their states, leaving over 10 million kids without needed nutrition over the summer. They address why this is happening (political extremism) and why the failure to give kids "lunch" may be a good political litmus test for elected officials. Visit us at ourschoo...
Project 2025 = Bad News 12.06.2024 43:50
In this episode, Kristi and Christina revisit Project 2025, explaining what it is, where it is coming from, who is behind it, what it does, and how it actually would go into effect. This podcast is a follow up to a series of five podcasts on Project 2025 that delved into the Education chapter of Project 2025's manifesto, Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise . Visit us at ourschool...
Don't Be Made a Fool About "Government School" 01.06.2024 46:14
In this episode, Kristi and Christina discuss the newest branding campaign being pushed out by the extremists: government schools. And, by "government schools," they mean your local public schools, wanting to create another negative association with public education to siphon off taxpayer dollars to line their own pockets. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa )....
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changed Minds 25.05.2024 47:07
In this episode, Kristi and Christina explore the story of a far-right Christian conservative school board member in deep, deep red Texas who ran on inappropriate curriculum and indoctrination in public schools only to discover that once she was on the board, none of what she campaigned on turned out to be true. When she approached the political establishment, she was told they didn't care, b...
What's Going on With Title IX in Public Schools 14.05.2024 49:24
In this episode, Kristi & Christina discuss the recent extremist push against changes to Title IX that provide discrimination protections for all students, and the attempts to create wedge issues for 2024 school board races. Visit us at ourschoolsusa.org or on Instagram ( @ourschoolsusa ). Support Our Schools USA. Text OURSCHOOLSUSA at (855) 575-7888 or visit ourschoolsusa.org/donate to donat...
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