Texas Public Policy Foundation

Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin

Kids EN ↓ 81 episodes

Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin is a product of the Texas Public Policy Foundation that hosts real conversations with real parents from across Texas where they share their experiences, struggles, and victories within the Texas education system. From concerning content in public schools to classroom behavior and wins in homeschooling, Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin covers all aspects of Texas education through the parents eyes—and asks how we can ensure transparency, quality, respect, and choice for all Texas parents, students, and taxpayers.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.texaspolicy.com

Author

Texas Public Policy Foundation

Category

Kids

Podcast website

www.texaspolicy.com

Latest episode

Oct 23, 2026

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Episodes

Cassandra Posey, Homeschool Mom & Former Teacher 29.04.2025

Mandy chats with Cassandra Posey, homeschool mom and former public school teacher, about her experiences in the classroom and what parent empowerment means for all Texans. 

Jen, Texas Public School Teacher 26.03.2025

Jen, a Texas Public School Teacher, shares insight on the crisis in our public schools. 

Representative Jeff Leach, HD 67 19.03.2025

Representative Jeff Leach, HD 67, is a father of three kids who go to Texas public schools, and he knows how important it is to get education right. Representative Leach breaks down his support for ESAs and what other things he's working on for public education. 

Greta and Miracle 12.03.2025

Greta, a north Texas mom, shares the heartbreaking story of how the public school system failed her son and how a scholarship has saved her Miracle. 

Abraham George, Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas 27.02.2025

Abraham George, Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, shares his support for empowering parents! 

Representative Nate Schatzline, HD 93 21.02.2025

Representative Nate Schatzline, a fearless fighter for parents, joins Mandy to break down school choice and the newly filed House Bill 3. 

James Quintero, TPPF 05.02.2025

TPPF's James Quintero makes his second appearance on the podcast to break down the staggering half a trillion dollars in debt owed by local Texas governments--with more debt on the way! 

Tracy Hanson, Oak Creek Academy 21.01.2025

Tracy Hanson runs the Oak Creek Academy in Killeen, which specifically works with students with special needs. She shares her experiences and details how Oak Creek Academy is serving kids with special needs for a fraction of what Texas public schools spend per student. 

Doree Collins, Cultivate Academy-CTX 15.01.2025

Doree Collins runs Cultivate Academy-CTX in Temple, TX, where serves the underserved youth in her community. Join us as she and her students share their incredible stories! 

John Papola, Dad Saves America 09.01.2025

The Parent Empowerment movement continues to grow! One incredible father fighting alongside us to pass Education Savings Accounts is none other than John Papola of Dad Saves America. Parents from across our country are hooked on the Dad Saves America podcast because John is “on a mission to celebrate, empower, and entertain Dads, could-be Dads, and father-figures of all stripes.”

James Quintero, Taxpayer Protection Project 17.12.2024

Today, Mandy is joined by her colleague, James Quintero, the policy director for TPPF's Taxpayer Protection Project, local government expert, and father of five, to discuss how the public education system breaks Texas' election laws to advocate against parents and propose solutions to solve this pervasive problem. 

Dr. Michael Adams, Texas Southern University 10.12.2024

Mandy is joined by TPPF's Dr. Richard Johnson and Dr. Michael Adams of Texas Southern University, to break down statewide polling on school choice and discuss the opportunities it provides to all Texans, no matter their background, economic situation, or zip code. 

Dr. Matthew Ladner, Heritage Foundation 03.12.2024

Dr. Matthew Ladner, the Senior Advisor for the Heritage Foundation's Center for Education Policy, father of three, and education expert joins Mandy to break down the success of parent empowerment in other states, what Texas stands to gain with Education Savings Accounts, and how Texas' education system can bring itself into the future of education. 

Ryan Hecker, Charter Schools Now 19.11.2024

Tens of thousands of Texas students sit on charter school wait lists because there simply are not enough charter schools to meet demand. Ryan Hecker, father of four and managing director of Charter Schools Now is changing that through fearless advocacy for Texas students and the charter schools that serve them.  

Michele Nuckolls, Texas Homeschool Mom and Activist 12.11.2024

Parents are demanding transparency, quality, respect, and choice in their children's education. Today, Michelle Nuckolls, a Texas homeschooling mom of four, breaks down her battle with local libraries, both in getting good books in and inappropriate books out. She also covers Texas' proposed new curriculum and the great improvements it will bring to our classrooms! 

Joel Enge, Director, Kingdom Life Academy 07.11.2024

Parent Empowerment it lifts up everyone, including kids who might otherwise be left behind. Mandy is joined by Joel Enge, the director of Kingdom Life Academy, who runs a fantastic school for the children of Tyler. Kingdom Life Academy empowers children who have been failed by other educational models - and in doing so, provides hope for so many! 

Pat Curry, Business Leader and Activist 29.10.2024

Texas' economy is on the rise, and Texas needs a workforce to match. Mandy is joined by Pat Curry, a business leader in Waco, activist, and father of four, as he discusses how Texas education needs to change to accommodate our changing workforce, what forces are standing in the way of that change, and how empowering parents with choice in education will bolster Texas into the next decades and beyo...

Joanne Shofner, Texas Mom and Activist 22.10.2024

Parent Empowerment is sweeping Texas—and it's been a driving passion in the journey of our guest today. Joanne Shofner, Texas Christian Coach, Activist, and, more importantly, mother of seven, joins Mandy to talk about her passion for ensuring that every Texas kid has access to the kind of education they need. 

John Petree, Texans for Excellence in Education 15.10.2024

This week for the Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin podcast, we chat with John Petree, the president of Texans for Excellence in Education and, more importantly, father of nine. John talked about the role that TEE plays and how their innovative strategies and products serve school districts and kids better, while saving taxpayers big money. 

Brady Serafin, Cedar Crest Health Systems 08.10.2024

Parent Empowerment is sweeping Texas because parents are demanding options that fit their children's unique needs, experiences, and situations. This week on Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy sits down with Brady Serafin, the CEO of Cedar Crest Health Systems a treatment facility with a partnership with the University of Texas University Charter school district in Belton, TX. Cedar Crest...

Renea, Texas Mom 01.10.2024

Every kid is unique, and their parents know best how to answer their unique needs. That's why the Parent Empowerment movement is sweeping Texas, because Texas parents know that they are the ones who are best equipped to make educational decisions for their children. This week on Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin, Mandy is joined by Renea, a Texas mom whose two kids took two different educationa...

State Representative Brian Harrison, HD 10 24.09.2024

 Parent Empowerment is sweeping Texas, and today, Mandy sits down with Representative Brian Harrison (HD 10), father of four and former chief of staff in the Trump administration for the federal Department of Health and Human Services, to talk with him about his perspective on Parent Empowerment as a father and lawmaker. Rep. Harrison also details his push for transparency while serving on the Tex...

Representative Chip Roy, TX-21 14.09.2024

Texas Parents are united in the fight for our children’s future, and the Parent Empowerment movement has swept the country. Today, Congressman Chip Roy from Congressional District 21 joins Mandy Drogin to talk about why he supports Texas parents’ right to select the best education for their kids and Universal Education Savings Accounts. Congressman Roy pulls no punches in calling out the profiteer...

John Colyandro, Colyandro Public Affairs 13.09.2024

Parent Empowerment is sweeping the nation, but parents in the largest conservative state in America have found themselves behind the ball on getting transparency, quality, respect, and choice out of the education system. Join Mandy as she sits down with John Colyandro, father and founder of Colyandro Public Affairs, a pro-parent and pro-freedom lobbying firm. John breaks down the special interest...

Vance Ginn, Ginn Economic Consulting 12.09.2024

Parents rightfully demand transparency from their school districts, and too often schools hide how much they're spending and what they're spending taxpayer dollars on. Join Mandy Drogin as she sits down with Vance Ginn, dad of 3, founder of Ginn Economic Consulting, and formerly an economist in the Trump administration, as they break down school finance and dive into how much our schools are spend...

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