The End of the Beginning: Why Back-to-School Season Is Our Moment
Three minutes and one email can change everything for your child's future
."Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." - Winston Churchill
Here's what I know from growing up in Western PA: Sometimes the most important battles happen when everyone else is too busy to notice.
Right now, we're all caught up in back-to-school chaos. New backpacks, lunch money, school supply lists that seem to get longer every year. It's easy to get lost in the shuffle and forget about the bigger picture.
But this moment - right now - is exactly when we need to speak up.
Why This Moment Matters
Churchill spoke those words during World War II, after a hard-fought victory that marked a turning point. Not the end of the war, but the moment when everything began to shift.
That's where we are with education in Pennsylvania. We've been fighting for school choice, for parent voices, for kids to have options that actually work for them. And we're not done - not even close. But we're at the end of the beginning.
The foundation has been laid. The conversations have started. Now it's time to build on what we've won.
A Real Story from a Real Family
Let me break this down with a simple example. Here's what I'm saying when I email my state rep and senator this week:
"Hey, it's back to school time. We start on September 3rd. My daughter is in 10th grade at CCA, a public cyber charter school. She loves it."
That's it. No fancy policy language. No complicated arguments. Just the truth about what's working for my family.
Why Your Three Minutes Matter
As a parent and advocate, I see this every day: Lawmakers making decisions about education without hearing from the families actually living it. They get plenty of input from professional lobbyists and education bureaucrats. But they don't always hear from parents like us.
Your three-minute email matters because:
It's real: You're not a paid lobbyist. You're a parent sharing what's actually happening in your family.
It's timed perfectly: While everyone's focused on back-to-school prep, your voice cuts through the noise.
It's personal: Your story about your specific child in your specific situation is something no policy expert can argue with.
The Simple Template That Works
Don't overthink this. Here's all you need:
"Hey, it's back to school time. We start on [DATE]. My [son/daughter] is in [GRADE] at [SCHOOL NAME]. [One sentence about how it's going - good or bad]. Thanks for listening."
Add your name. Hit send. Done.
This Is Our Turning Point
Churchill's words remind us that big changes don't happen all at once. They happen in moments like this - when regular people decide to speak up during the ordinary chaos of life.
We're not at the end of our fight for better education options. We're not even close. But we're definitely at the end of the beginning - the point where staying quiet is no longer an option.
Every email matters. Every story counts. Every parent who takes three minutes to share their truth moves us closer to a system that actually works for kids.
The Choice Is Yours
You can get lost in the back-to-school rush and hope someone else handles the big picture. Or you can take three minutes right now and make sure your voice is heard when it matters most.
Your state rep needs to know how school is going for your family. Your senator needs to hear your story. Not next month when things settle down. Not after the next crisis hits the headlines.
Right now. Today. While your back-to-school experience is fresh in your mind.
Because this isn't the end of our fight. It's not even the beginning of the end.
But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.
And that's exactly where we need to be.