In this powerful episode of Choice Words, Jay sits down with Tee Wilson, founder and CEO of B.E. Academy for Girls in Nashville, Tennessee, a culturally responsive, STEAM-based school created to ensure girls are not just surviving school, but thriving in it.

What began as a deeply personal experience with discrimination became a bold vision: a school where identity isn’t managed or minimized, it’s honored.

Together, they unpack:

What “culturally affirming education” really means

Why confidence and academic rigor go hand-in-hand

How identity-centered learning fuels risk-taking and resilience

Why school choice matters for families seeking environments where their children can be fully seen

And how one founder turned generational pain into generational purpose

With enrollment tripling in its first year and a growing waiting list, B.E. Academy for Girls is proof that families are hungry for options that reflect their values, culture, and aspirations.

Because it was never just about hair.

It was always about dignity, belonging, and the freedom to choose a school that loves your child back.

What happens when a 5th grader’s love of learning is stifled—and her parents say enough? Meet Haley Taylor Schlitz, who left traditional school, graduated high school at 13, earned her law degree by 19, and now practices law—all after being denied access to gifted programs because of systemic bias.

In this episode, host Jay Artis-Wright talks with Haley about:

• Why her family chose homeschooling after racial barriers in public school
• How she accelerated her education and stayed socially grounded
• The book she co-authored with her mom: The Homeschool Alternative
• Advice for parents of gifted Black and Brown kids being overlooked

This conversation is a must-hear for every family asking: Is there a better way?

📚 Brought to you by Freedom to Choose Schools, this episode uplifts student-centered school choice, self-determination, and the power of customized learning.

What does it mean to lead with clarity, care, and courage while raising sons, stewarding land, and unschooling Black children in a world that often misunderstands all three?

In this powerful kickoff to Season 2, host Jay Artis-Wright sits down with Dr. Tracey Samone Dumas Clark—educator, consultant, and proud unschooling mom to explore what it looks like to unlearn harmful systems, reconnect with self and nature, and reimagine education for liberation.

From martial arts to micro schools, motherhood to movement-building, Dr. Tracey Samone breaks down how she lives in both practice and philosophy, building a life rooted in Black joy, stewardship, and radical self-determination.

🎧 Tap in for:

What it really means to be an “unschooler”

Why our children need more than standard schools

How Dr. Tracey Samone’s dissertation reframes parent power in education