Prelude Prep Public School is a new charter school coming to the Southside of San Antonio that will give students a foundation to succeed in school, live purposeful lives, and become leaders in their communities. Lauren Lewis, Founder and Superintendent, and Laura Rangel, Head of School, join us to share their vision for Prelude Prep and offer a preview of what students can expect this fall. Prelude Prep is currently accepting applications for the 2021–2022 school year.

The School of Excellence in Education, one of San Antonio’s oldest charter school networks, believes that every child deserves an outstanding education. The schools are joyful, energizing, and rigorous. Myeisha Haywood, Interim Superintendent, and Tamela Harris, Director of Academic Leadership, join us to share about the mission and culture of the School of Excellence in Education and offer tips for families to enroll their children.

Premier High Schools offer students an individualized platform for reaching their goal of earning a high school diploma and overcoming any setbacks they have experienced in the past. Manuela Q. "Mimi" Allen, Campus Director of Premier High School — San Antonio (Ingram), joins us to share how the program works and what skills they teach their students to be successful in academics and in life.

Families want their children to enjoy school, activities, and family life, but stay safe while COVID-19 is still present in our community. Tamyra Rogers, M.D., of Dr. Rogers Centers offers tips for keeping your kids healthy—including advice about nutrition, staying hydrated, good sleep, and other strategies for building a strong immune system.

When you go to a library or bookstore with your kids, and they pick out some graphic novels, do you feel like you should tell them to put them back and get some "real books?" Nicole Cubillas and Kristin Yourdon, Children's Librarians at the San Antonio Public Library, offer reasons why we should encourage kids to read graphic novels—especially if they are struggling or reluctant readers. Graphic novels can build visual literacy and critical thinking skills. They also help get kids excited about reading—even if they have learning differences such as dyslexia, explains Jasmin Dean, Executive Director of Celebrate Dyslexia. Join us for a discussion about the benefits of graphic novels for promoting literacy, as well as recommendations of great graphic novels for different ages of children.

In San Antonio ISD, families with young children have choices of innovative education models. At YWLA Primary—part of the Young Women's Leadership Academy network—girls experience a STEAM curriculum and learn confidence and leadership in a single-gender environment. At Irving Dual Language Academy, students participate in a bilingual environment, where English language learners and native English speakers can learn from each other and support each other as language and cultural resources. Andre'a Pitts, Principal of Young Women's Leadership Academy Primary, and Veronica Garza, Assistant Principal at Irving Dual Language Academy, join us to share the benefits of these learning models and how they serve the needs of young students in San Antonio ISD. These programs, along with other SAISD choice schools, are currently holding their second enrollment window through April 16, 2021.

On San Antonio's East Side, San Antonio ISD is offering innovative programs to meet the needs of the community. At Young Men's Leadership Academy, students can experience brother and camaraderie in a single-sex environment for boys in grades 4-12, while gaining valuable lessons in leadership and character. At Sam Houston High School, students enrolled in the Cyber P-TECH USA program learn about cybersecurity careers through job shadowing and internships, while earning a high school diploma, industry certifications and an associate's degree. Derrick Brown, Principal at Young Men's Leadership Academy, and Kaye Robinson, Coordinator at Cyber P-TECH USA at Sam Houston High School, join us to share the benefits of these programs and how they respond to the needs of the East Side community. These programs, along with other SAISD choice schools, are currently holding their second enrollment window through April 16, 2021.

High schools in the CAST Schools network, in partnership with local industries, offer students opportunities to learn about careers they are passionate about by taking courses, earning certifications and advanced credits, and meeting with mentors. Melissa Alcala, Principal of CAST Tech, joins us to share about their business, technology, and user experience pathways, and Eddie Rodriguez, Principal of CAST Med, discusses his school's biomedical research, medical professions, and public health pathways. These schools, along with other SAISD choice schools, are currently holding their second enrollment window through April 16, 2021.

As parents, we are our children's most effective education advocates, but during the pandemic, we are having trouble accessing the information we need to help our children succeed. Learning Heroes recently launched Paths to Success, a research-based, bilingual resource aimed at helping parents of middle and high school students in San Antonio prepare their child for success in high school and beyond, whether that path leads to a four-year college, technical program, or a job. Howard Winchester, Communications Manager at Learning Heroes, joins us to share more about the Paths to Success resources, and Khalid Zakaria, Academic Counselor at Frank L. Madla Early College High School, shares his experiences guiding teens towards their goals in spite of unexpected obstacles.

Now thatGreat Hearts Online is up and running, what is the experience like for students from kindergarten up to sixth grade? What is in store for the 2021-22 school year, when students up to eighth grade will be welcome? Kurtis Indorf, Executive Director of Great Hearts Online, Emilie Sullivan, 5th grade English Language Arts Teacher and Dean (grades 4-6), and Bridget Saltmarsh, Kindergarten Teacher, join us to share how Great Hearts Online offers classical education in a free, public, full-time online school, and how families can apply for enrollment.