What would make a successful finance executive walk away from it all to fight for America’s kids? Erika Donalds did exactly that. When her son came home miserable from school, she discovered a broken system—and made it her mission to change it.
In this powerful episode of Gen Z Unplugged, Erika shares how one mom’s love turned into a nationwide movement for school choice and education freedom. From battling bureaucrats to building better schools, she reveals how faith, family, and fierce determination can take on even the biggest machine.
Founder and Chairman of OptimaEd and Chair of the America First Policy Institute’s Center for Education Opportunity. Erika is a national expert on education policy and school choice, a frequent media commentator and speaker, and a seasoned business executive.
01:30 – Erika Donalds shares how her faith and family shaped her calling to fight for education freedom.
02:53 – From college sweethearts to changemakers: how Erika and Byron Donalds built a mission from humble beginnings.
04:33 – When her son’s school labeled him the problem, Erika refused to listen—and discovered the power of school choice.
06:05 – The moment everything changed: a miserable child, a leap of faith, and a mom on a mission.
07:35 – What school choice actually means—and why it’s revolutionizing education across America.
09:05 – How parents can take back control: education freedom explained in plain terms.
10:35 – Why Erika no longer trusts the public school system—and what she’s seen from the inside.
12:05 – Fighting misinformation: when people say school choice “defunds” public schools.
13:35 – The surprising truth: public school teachers are the biggest supporters of school choice.
15:05 – Homeschool, charter, hybrid—how the Donalds family has tried it all.
16:41 – Erika’s message to moms: “If your child is miserable, that’s not God’s plan.”
18:01 – What to do if you’re stuck in a bad school district—and how to find better options.
19:41 – “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”: Erika’s challenge to moms to put their kids first.
21:13 – The myth of “having it all”: how Erika learned to reorder her life around faith and family.
23:11 – Leaving a corporate career to follow God’s plan—how risk turned into purpose.
24:55 – The importance of setting boundaries, priorities, and putting family above ambition.
26:43 – Erika’s advice to young advocates: why showing up at school board meetings still matters.
28:19 – Why every taxpayer—parent or not—has “skin in the game” for education.
30:09 – The First Amendment, civics, and what too many Americans have forgotten.
32:00 – How Erika is helping lead America’s 250th civics revival with Turning Point, Hillsdale, and others.
33:55 – “If you don’t know your rights, you can’t defend them.” Why civics education matters now more than ever.
35:57 – Erika’s final message to young women: stay rooted in God’s Word and your priorities.
37:41 – The power of sisterhood, faith, and finding your calling with like-minded women.
GenZ Unplugged is the official podcast for the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women. Rotating hosts are Lauren Husmann, Catherine Hendershott, Rachel Hurley, and Hannah Faulkner. Producer is Sandra Scarlatoiu.
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