Can America’s failing education system be fixed—or do we need to start from scratch? PragerU CEO Marissa Streit is joined by two of the boldest education reformers in America: Erika Donalds, founder of OptimaEd, and Dr. Pano Kanelos, founding president of the University of Austin.
Together, they discuss the roots of the education crisis—from the monopoly of government-run K-12 schools to the decline of critical thinking in universities. Hear how they're building the future of education with school choice, classical education, and entrepreneurial innovation.
Follow Marissa on social:
https://www.instagram.com/marissastreit/
https://x.com/marissastreit
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissastreit/
Follow Erika Donalds
https://x.com/ErikaDonalds
https://www.instagram.com/erikadonalds/
Learn more about OptimaEd and University of Austin:
https://optimaed.com/?page_id=1566
https://www.uaustin.org/
0:00 – Why Erica Donalds and Dr. Pano Kanelos Entered the Fight for Education
3:32 – Erica’s Story and Launching OptimaEd’s Virtual Reality School
6:15 – Founding the University of Austin to Restore Higher Education
10:23 – What Classical Education Is and Why It Matters Today
15:56 – How Ideological Forces Took Over Schools and Universities
23:18 – Why Reforming From Within Didn’t Work: Erica’s Shift to School Choice
25:15 – Preparing Students for an AI-Powered, Ever-Changing Future
29:30 – The Hidden Barriers to Starting New Schools and Universities
34:21 – What Are ESAs and How They Empower Parents
42:02 – The Case for Dismantling the Department of Education
48:14 – New Ideas and Entrepreneurs Driving the Future of Education
53:13 – What Should Parents Look For in a School Today?
57:51 – Breaking the Ivy League Myth and Building a New Elite
1:02:30 – Teaching Resilience and Final Advice for Parents
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