Keeping a promise we make to every child
There is a moment I love in every school visit. The building is already humming. A teacher is greeting students by name. A custodian waves as they finish a quick repair. In the library, a student logs in and the page loads fast. That little blue bar on the screen might not look like much, but it represents something bigger. It is a community choosing to open doors for all kids, not just a few. That is public education. That is why I support it.
I have spent my career helping schools and libraries connect students to opportunity. At Funds For Learning, we call ourselves Guides because our work is to serve, explain, organize and support. We are intentional about that work. We talk openly about values, we rely on each other’s strengths, and we take time every week to focus on how we serve. Those rhythms matter because the stakes are high for the people we serve.
I know there are seasons when people question the role of federal support for education. Rather than argue point by point, I want to share the reasons I stand with public education and the professionals who make it work every day.
Public education is a promise of fairness
Zip code should not determine bandwidth, literacy, or hope. When we pool resources, we make fairness real. The U.S. federal E‑rate program is a good example of that promise. It helps schools and libraries afford essential connectivity. Support is higher where need is higher. That simple, practical design has helped level the playing field for rural and urban communities alike, including public libraries that serve learners of every age.
Fairness is not abstract for me. It is the student who stays after school because home internet is unreliable. It is the job seeker at a library computer filling out forms that are only online now. It is the teacher whose lessons come alive because the network actually works. A fair system equips them, not with special treatment, but with a fair shot.
Public education strengthens freedom
Strong public schools and libraries protect freedom in two ways. First, they protect the freedom to rise. Education is the most reliable path from potential to possibility. Second, they protect the freedom to participate. Literate, connected citizens can think for themselves, hold leaders accountable, and contribute to their communities. The library down the street that offers free access to information is not a luxury. It is a civic safeguard, and E‑rate eligibility for library systems recognizes that truth.
Public education is how we prepare for the future
The world our students are entering will ask more of them, not less. They will need to collaborate, to discern fact from fiction, to solve problems that are new. Preparing students for that future requires reliable infrastructure and professional educators who can focus on teaching instead of fighting slow networks or broken processes. In our firm’s culture, we talk often about professionalism, reliability, and learning on purpose. Those habits matter in schools too. When adults model high standards, steady follow‑through, and a learning mindset, students notice. They carry it with them.
What support should look like
Support should be practical, accountable, and people‑first.
Practical means we solve the real problems educators face. Clear documentation. Clean processes. Tools that save time. In our work, we say that neatness counts because clarity prevents mistakes, speeds reviews, and reduces stress. That principle holds for classrooms and offices as well. Tidy information and organized workflows are not cosmetic. They are how we honor people’s time and protect scarce resources.
Accountable means we welcome guardrails and transparency. Programs should be well documented, well communicated, and measured. When we organize our work and “show our math,” auditors can do their job faster and schools can get back to theirs. That is not bureaucracy for its own sake. It is stewardship.
People‑first means we start and end with the human beings in the system. I have met principals who act as chief cheerleader and chief problem solver before lunch. I have worked with technology leaders who carry the weight of compliance, security, and support for thousands of users. I have watched librarians make a welcome out of a whisper and a Wi‑Fi password. These professionals deserve our respect and our partnership. In our company, we formalize that respect through shared standards and weekly conversations about how we serve, not just what we deliver. That same spirit makes schools stronger.
A quiet success worth keeping
E‑rate funding is not flashy. It does not grab headlines. Yet year after year it has helped communities get connected and stay connected. Discounts scale with need, from a low of 20 percent to a high of 90 percent, and eligibility extends to public libraries as well as schools. That is a simple, durable design that has supported millions of learners and patrons. It works because it respects local leadership while recognizing that some challenges, like broadband access, are best solved together.
What I will keep doing
Here is how I choose to support public education.
- Share the reason. I will explain the why behind decisions and invite dialogue. Clarity builds trust and equips people to act.
- Reinforce the good. I will name what educators and staff are doing well, with specificity, because encouragement fuels excellence.
- Insist on professionalism. I will hold myself and my team to high standards, especially when the pressure is on. Students deserve nothing less.
- Be reliable. I will show up, follow through, and do the work the right way. Consistency reduces anxiety and builds confidence.
- Keep learning. I will push myself and our team to learn on purpose, because yesterday’s solutions are not enough for tomorrow’s needs.
A personal word of thanks
To the teachers who stayed late to help a student finish an application. To the paraprofessionals who show up with patience and kindness. To the network admins who keep the signal strong. To the librarians who make the first internet lesson feel safe. Thank you. You are building something precious.
Public education is a promise. It is a community saying to every child, you belong here and we are with you. I support it because I believe in the dignity and potential of every learner. I support it because freedom and fairness depend on it. I support it because our future requires it.
Let’s keep the promise. Together.
