What's Really Happening in Texas Classrooms and What Parents Can Do About It | Susan Perez

If you've been wondering whether someone is actually out there doing the hard work of protecting Texas kids — meet Susan Perez.Susan is the founder of Citizens for Education Reform in Lubbock, Texas, an organization she built from the ground up in 2021 to stop indoctrination in our schools and put communities back in control of their children's education. She's an Amazon Bestselling Author of Take Your Stand: Raise Strong Children Who Can Guard Against Deception and Stand for Truth — and she was just named a 2025 Texas Hero for Children by the State Board of Education. That award doesn't go to people sitting on the sidelines.In this episode, Susan and I get into the real conversations Texas parents need to be having right now.We talk about the reading crisis — why students are still being left behind despite what the legislature thinks they've fixed, and what classical education actually gets right that our current system doesn't. We break down what parents should do the moment they find explicit material in their child's school, the conflict of interest buried inside school board training, and why 66% of education budgets never make it into the classroom.We also go deep on the future of education in Texas — the case for multiple graduation pathways, why we have to stop asking "where is your kid going to college?" and start asking "what is your kid going to DO after high school?", and how honoring trade and technical careers could change the trajectory of an entire generation.This is the kind of conversation that reminds you why this fight matters.In this episode:The reading crisis — and why it's far from fixedHow to respond when you find explicit content in your child's schoolThe TASB conflict of interest parents aren't talking aboutClassical education vs. the one-size-fits-all public school modelMultiple graduation pathways and honoring every trackWhy 3rd grade reading level is a pipeline to prison or welfareMerit-based pay, vendorism, and where the money is really goingTeaching kids to find their purpose — not just fill a seatConnect with Susan Perez: 🌐 educationempowermentcoach.comAbout The Ashley B. Cash Show: The Ashley B. Cash Show features conversations with education leaders, policy experts, parents, teachers and reform advocates who are working to transform K-12 education. Host Ashley B. Cash brings her perspective as both a parent and business owner to explore systemic education issues and practical solutions for creating better outcomes for students, families, and communities.About Ashley:  As both a mother and business owner, Ashley brings a unique dual perspective to education reform advocacy, driven by her desire for better educational outcomes for future generations and informed by her firsthand experience with the skills gap facing employers today. Her passion for transforming K-12 education stems from witnessing the real-world consequences of educational failures and recognizing the critical need for a system that prepares students for diverse career pathways, not just college. Through this podcast, Ashley champions solutions including aptitude-based education tracks, expanded school choice, practical skills integration, and alternative career pathways that align with students' individual strengths and interests.Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram & @Ashley Bowes Cash on Facebook.Visit www.AshleyBCashOfficial.com for more content and features.