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What if the single most powerful lever in education isn’t a new curriculum or app, but a teacher who truly knows the student? We sit down with Dr. Larry Jackson—former superintendent and now executive director of the PEE DEE Education Center—to explore how personal connection, consistent family “non-negotiables,” and community partnership lift kids higher than any quick fix. From interest inventories to real-life examples, he shows why engagement beats poverty, and why the best classrooms are built on trust, relevance, and care.
We take a hard look at school choice and the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, tracing how tax dollars gave way to lottery funds and what that means for equity, public schools, and the future of honest curriculum. Dr. Jackson doesn’t stop at critique; he challenges churches and community anchors to seize the same opportunities, launch excellent schools, and protect rigorous, truthful learning. If the rules change, our communities can adapt—and lead.
Technology and AI enter the spotlight as tools, not saviors. We talk about practical guardrails for academic integrity, the risk of outsourcing thinking, and smart ways to use digital resources to deepen, not dilute, student voice. Parents get a playbook too: homework expectations, summer learning, reading habits, and proactive communication that turns schools from silos into true partners. The takeaway is clear: when adults align—teachers, administrators, and families—students rise.
If this conversation sparked ideas or resolve, share it with a parent, teacher, or pastor who cares about kids. Subscribe for more candid talks on education, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us: what’s your top non-negotiable at home or in your classroom?

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