In this episode of Choice Words, host Jay Artist-Wright sits down with Crystal Felix Clark, a bold charter school leader from Atlanta, Georgia, who has built a school community that centers immigrant, refugee, and Latino families.

Crystal shares how her school, PATH Academy, serves a vibrant and diverse population of students and why culturally responsive education, family engagement, and food as community-building are core to their success. She talks candidly about the school’s unique model, including teacher autonomy in curriculum development, and the overwhelming demand that’s led to a waitlist even larger than the school itself.

In this powerful conversation, we sit down with educator, author, entrepreneur, and microschool founder Isis Spann to unpack what true freedom can look like when communities take education into their own hands.

Isis shares her journey from public school teacher to small school founder, and how her experience—as a mother, an advocate, and a woman deeply rooted in her community—shapes her approach to reimagining education for Black and Brown families.

We talk about the barriers families face in accessing school choice, the liberating potential of small schools, and why community is key to breaking through systems that don’t serve our kids. Isis also opens up about parenting a child with special needs, and why inclusive, flexible, and affirming education options are not just necessary—they’re non-negotiable.

What does a quorum break in Texas have to do with your child’s school? Host Jay Artis-Wright is joined by Texas State Board of Education member Staci Childs and Paula White of JerseyCAN to unpack how redistricting, state politics, and legislative gridlock impact school choice and access—especially in Black and Latino communities.