The School Choice Road Trip

The School Choice Road Trip was created to explore how school choice is transforming education across America—through the powerful stories of parents who found the right path for their children, and the educators who are making it possible. Our Events and Program Services Coordinator, Scott Leven, led the effort, traveling to five states—Ohio, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas—to showcase how a wide range of educational options are providing real solutions for families nationwide, including traditional public, public charter, magnet, private, online, home-based, and non-traditional schools.

Part of a five-part series, these stories highlight the many dimensions of school choice and how families are navigating their options with confidence. In our first two stops, we visted Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee, where we met the parents and educators of a public charter school and two private schools. Now, we’re on the road again, this time hearing from four parents in Arkansas who have chosen the path of microschooling at Lighthouse and the Learning Lounge.

“When you go to certain places, you feel a certain energy, and the energy we felt when we visited the Learning Lounge was very welcoming. It just drew us in. "
Natalie Craig
Mother of a child attending The Learning Lounge

Missed the first two stops in our journey? Don’t worry – you can still catch up below and hear how school choice is making a difference through the voices of parents, students, and educators at Explorers Academy, Second Baptist Christian Preparatory School and Lakeway Christian Academy. Their stories offer a powerful look into how school choice is shaping the lives of families nationwide.

More Stories Coming Soon

This is just the beginning. Over the the coming weeks, we’ll release more stories from the road—each one highlighting a different part of the country. Stay tuned for the next chapters in our series, where we will continue to share stories that shine a light on how families are finding support and opportunity through education. For more information on school choice in your state visit Navigate School Choice.

Alissa Jacques

Manager, Digital Communications

Alissa Jacques serves as manager of digital communications at the National School Choice Awareness Foundation (NSCAF). In this role, Alissa oversees the organization’s English-language social media presence and develops high-impact advertising campaigns to inform, inspire, and empower parents about their K–12 education options.

Previously, Alissa owned her own digital marketing agency, served as an adjunct writing professor at Bloomfield College, and spent two years as an elementary school teacher at Democracy Preparatory Charter School in New York.

Alissa attended both public and private schools as a child, where she developed a love for creative writing. She holds a bachelor of arts in education policy and entrepreneurship from New York University, and a master of arts in sociology of education from Teachers College at Columbia University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, scrolling through TikTok, and exploring NYC with her husband and cavapoo, Russ.