Making The Leap

Christine and Chris devote a show to discussing how public schools are adopting gender ideology policies which override parental control, confuse adolescent children, and even lie to parents about what is happening with their children. They talk about the roles and limitations of teachers.Chris interviews Kimberly Hermann, General Counsel with the Southeastern Legal Foundation, who is suing the Springfield, MO school district on behalf of two teachers over their "anti-racist" teacher training programs. Christine and Chris talk with Ginny Gentles, Director of the Education Freedom Center at the Independent Women's Forum, about the teacher training programs and administrative policies that attempt to promote and affirm gender confusion, no matter the view of parents. You can follow Kimberly Hermann on Twitter or LinkedIn. Find out more about the Southeastern Legal Foundation on their website and follow them on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.You can find Ginny Gentles on Twitter. To read her article on school choice, go here. For more information on the Independent Women's Forum visit their website or check out their Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube sites. If you liked this episode of Making the Leap, leave us a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Check out our new YouTube Shorts too!If you're interested in learning more about the Herzog Foundation, visit herzogfoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Join Christine and Chris as they explore Missouri's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, Arizona's wide-ranging school choice initiative, and other school choice options.Today's guest is Missouri State Representative Josh Hurlbert. Representative Hurlbert was first elected in 2020. Hurlbert works for the Herzog Tomorrow Foundation to implement the MO Scholars program and connect students to donor dollars.If you liked this episode of Making the Leap, leave us a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Check out our new YouTube Shorts too!If you're interested in learning more about the Herzog Foundation, visit herzogfoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.  For more information on the MO Scholars program, visit the Missouri State Treasurer's page.To apply for a MO Scholars ESA through the Herzog Tomorrow Foundation, visit here.You can follow Representative Hurlbert on Facebook and Twitter or visit his Missouri House page for more information.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Join Christine and Chris as they discuss their family's experiences with children in both public and private schools. They explore the current state of public education and examine the "culture shift" in public schools.The Stigalls are joined by their daughter, Anna, now in her second year attending a private Christian school. Anna and her parents discuss her perspective on her education, the transition from public to Christian education, how the move has benefitted her personally, and her advice for parents and children considering Christian education.If you liked this episode of Making the Leap, leave us a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Check out our new YouTube Shorts too!If you're interested in learning more about the Herzog Foundation, visit our herzogfoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.  Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Many parents who are considering removing their children from public schools are immediately faced with the cost of private education, whether it's Christian or secular, private education. Some parents will never even investigate their options because the costs are daunting while others begin the process but change their minds over a lack of funds. However, many families and churches have found ways to meet the financial challenges. Chris and Christine discuss how parents can plan for the increased costs with creative and proven ways to tackle the financial issue of funding private education.This week's guest, Sam Sorbo, holds many titles including filmmaker, radio host, actress, international model, author, wife, mother and education activist. She has homeschooled her children for the their entire education. Sam is married to actor Kevin Sorbo. She discusses the new documentary she appears in, "Truth and Lies in American Education" as well as the current state of public education.For more information about Sam Sorbo, visit her website or follow her on Instagram and Twitter. You can also learn more about the "Truth and Lies in American Education Documentary" here. To learn more about United States Parents Involved in Education (USPIE) visit their website. For additional resources, follow USPIE on Facebook and Twitter.For additional information regarding The Lion article mentioned in today's episode, read more here.If you're interested in learning more about the Herzog Foundation, visit our website. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.  Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

The school choice options are endless compared to twenty years ago where Christian education alternatives such as homeschooling were viewed as unconventional and strange. More states are offering funding opportunities like education savings account programs (ESA), reallocating funds, scholarship applications, and more.   Parents are rapidly turning to these school choice opportunities as public school systems secretly implement curriculums like gender support plans and indoctrinate children on the issues of sex, gender, and race. Public education systems, teachers' unions, and secular education organizations are focused on creating diversity and pluralism within the classroom rather than instruction. Angie Hoffman is the founder of The Hearth Room Schools – a Christian Montessori school launching in Kansas City, MO in September 2022. A Montessori education is a child-focused approach that Dr. Maria Montessori, an Italian physician, developed for educating children. Students interact with curriculum in a hands-on environment and work at their own pace. Montessori learning also emphasizes practical life skills.  Join Chris and Christine as Angie explains what exactly a Montessori education is and debunks some of the myths and assumptions parents think of when they hear Montessori. Listen and subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, let us know! Rate the podcast and leave us a five-star review.  For more information about Angie and The Hearth Room Schools, visit https://www.thehearthroomschools.org/ or follow The Hearth Room Schools on Facebook. For more information about Montessori schools and accreditation, visit American Montessori International at https://amiusa.org/school-locator/. For more information about the Herzog Foundation, visit https://herzogfoundation.com/ Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.  Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Highly polarized institutions are influencing what is being taught in public schools. Parents are taking a stand for their children; they want education not indoctrination. They want schools to get back to the basics. But public schools are prioritizing gender and race agendas over learning how to read, write, and do math. School choice and funding students directly in every state for the school and education providers of their choosing – institutions that align with their values – should be made available to every family in America.  Corey DeAngelis is the national director of research at the American Federation for Children, the executive director at Educational Freedom Institute, an adjunct scholar at Cato Institute, and a senior fellow at Reason Foundation. His research primarily focuses on the effects of school choice programs on non-academic outcomes such as criminal activity, character skills, mental health, and political participation.  Join Christine and Chris Stigall's conversation with Corey as they discuss school choice achievements and advancements across the nation. Listen and subscribe wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, let us know! Rate the podcast and leave us a five-star review.  Learn more information about Corey DeAngelis HERE or follow Corey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  For more information about American Federation for Children in your state, visit HERE. For more information about the Herzog Foundation, visit https://herzogfoundation.com/ Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.  Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

As the beginning of the school year approaches, more parents are considering Christian education options as the public education system continues to fail. Culture has drastically shifted the education sphere forcing teachers and administrators to explore career alternatives or leave their profession entirely. Prior to the pandemic, a subtle shift and change happened in the public education systems and curricula. Now, teachers, administrators, school boards, and teachers’ unions are emboldened like never before.Molly Starkey, a former public-school teacher, left the public education system. She also chose to remove her three children from public school and enrolled them into private Christian education. She and her family found hope, community, and support within Christian education.A tyrannical precedent has set in as the public education continues to push parents out of their children’s education and force their political agendas into the classroom. School boards and teachers’ unions are projecting messaging and agendas that parents don’t get to choose. Public schools are more focused on over-accommodating social issues rather than listening to parents’ concerns, academic rigor, and accountability.Join Chris and Christine Stigall as Molly shares her journey in making the leap to Christian education. For more information on Christian education, please visit HerzogFoundation.com.Follow Making the Leap on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Email us at Hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

As public schools continue to shift further away from American and Christian values, school choice continues to expand in states across the nation. The result? Parents are taking their hard-earned dollars and using them elsewhere. They're spending their money at schools where teachers and administrators haven't completely abandoned patriotism and Christian values. Will the NEA and public schools be able to keep up? Will they start listening to parents? This week's guest isn't too sure. As a former teacher at a school gone woke, Beth Reams has witnessed firsthand how our culture has drastically shifted to the left in recent years. And if you don't agree with these new leftist ideologies, then you're cancelled. Or in Beth's case, fired. Luckily, there are alternatives and more parents, students and teachers can experience these alternatives thanks to school choice expansion across the U.S. For more information on Christian education, please visit HerzogFoundation.com. To participate in Missouri's school choice program, please visit HerzogTomorrowFoundation.com. Follow Making the Leap on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Email us at Hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 2003, Faith Christian Academy now stands at the forefront of classical Christian revival as the first Christian, classical, collaborative school to be fully accredited by the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS). On this week’s episode, Chris & Christine interview Jean Auxier, the Dean of Faculty and Curriculum at Faith Christian Academy. Jean has worked at the school for 19 years. She has taught in both public and private school settings and even homeschooled her own children before joining the faculty at Faith Christian Academy. Jean shares how she’s witnessed K-12 education change over the years and explains what sets classical education apart from other teaching methods. Please make sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star rating and review if you enjoyed this week’s episode. Follow Making the Leap on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Email us at Hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Long gone are the days when school boards were simply balancing budgets and negotiating contracts. These days, school board members are shaping curriculum, pushing agendas, and doing their best to hide information from parents. On this week’s episode, Chris and Christine are joined by Ian Prior of America First Legal (AFL). As a father in Loudoun County, Virginia, Ian has seen firsthand the damage that can take place when the wrong school board members are in charge. Numerous school boards across the U.S. are funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to consultant firms that push Critical Race Theory onto students of all ages. However, many of these transactions between school districts and consultants fly under the radar. Ian Prior and AFL are working on behalf of parents to expose these consultant groups and show parents what’s really being taught with taxpayer dollars. Please make sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a 5-star rating and review if you enjoyed this week’s episode.  Follow Making the Leap on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Email us at Hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.