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.

In this compelling conversation, we sit down with a powerhouse leader and founder of RISE Indy, Jasmin Shaheed-Young, to explore the intersections of motherhood, equity, and bold education reform.

We unpack what real school choice means for families of color, why “excellence” shouldn’t be exclusive, and how women of color are uniquely positioned to build student-centered coalitions that disrupt the status quo. You’ll also hear how RISE Indy is pushing the boundaries to center students, build scalable solutions, and reframe equity as foundational—not optional—in the design of public education systems.

In this episode of Choice Words, host Jay Artist Wright talks with Janie Segui Rodriguez of Stop the Wait RI and Subira Gordon of the Nashville Charter Collaborative about the power of parent-led and school-led movements in shaping school choice and education. From mobilizing 400 parents during a Rhode Island charter moratorium to uniting school leaders in Nashville, they share bold strategies for building trust, remaining hopeful, breaking down misconceptions, and putting collaboration over competition to expand quality school options for Black and Brown communities.

Education is political—and the stakes have never been higher for Black and Latino communities. In this episode of Choice Words, host J. Artists Wright, CEO of Freedom to Choose Schools (formerly FCCS), is joined by Alisha Thomas Searcy, former Georgia State Representative and founder of the Center for Strong Public Schools, and Dr. Atasha James, co-founder of Legends Charter School in Maryland.

Together, they unpack how school choice debates play out in real life—where party politics, interest groups, and self-preservation often clash with the urgent needs of students and families. From the impact of “the big, beautiful bill” to the hidden political costs for leaders who advocate for educational equity, this conversation goes beyond policy into power, accountability, and the courage it takes to disrupt the status quo.

In this episode of Choice Words, we trace the powerful civil rights legacy behind the school choice movement. From landmark decisions like Brown v. Board of Education to the present-day fight for equitable education access, we’re asking how school choice became a modern civil rights issue.

Whether you're a parent, policymaker, or advocate, this conversation challenges assumptions and uplifts the voices too often left out of the education debate.

What happens when the school system fails your child—and there’s no clear roadmap for what’s next? In this powerful premiere episode of Choice Words, host Jay Artis Wright sits down with two dynamic disruptors in education: Coy Morrison, founder of the Lab School of Memphis, and Jae Carter, creator of Homeschool Yo Kids.

Together, they unpack the reasons they walked away from traditional schooling, the quiet revolution of Black parents taking back control of their children’s educations, and how school choice is both deeply personal and political.