We’re sitting down with Marty Calderon, Founder of God Touch MKE. God Touch MKE is a six month to one year residential program for men coming off the streets or out of the prison system. They are shown acceptance and love, and given hope through Godly teaching, mentoring, and hands-on practical opportunities such as employment and life skills.
Host: Kevin Nicholson, President and CEO of No Better Friend Corp.
Join Kevin Nicholson, volunteer President and CEO of No Better Friend Corp. on Season 2 of The Right Idea Podcast. In Episode 1 of Season 2 we’re sitting down with former Madison Police Chief Michael Koval to discuss a path forward, as our nation and state are plagued by protests and violence after the death of George Floyd and the shooting of a man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Host: Kevin Nicholson, President and CEO of No Better Friend Corp.
Welcome to Season 1 of The Right Idea Podcast, where we focus on the life-changing impact of school choice in Wisconsin for students and their families. Children don’t have time for politicians to fix broken schools, and that’s the beauty of school choice: a program that enables success for thousands of Wisconsin students each year.
Join No Better Friend Corp. on our Right Idea Podcast as we take a deep dive into the school choice movement, it’s history, it’s politics, it’s enemies, and it’s incredibly positive impact on Wisconsin’s kids. We’ll talk with parents, students, educators and advocates across the state and country. And we’ll reveal the uplifting stories behind the school choice movement, the hope it fosters, and the policy solutions that will put even more kids on the path to success.
Despite widespread support for school choice among families of all political stripes in Wisconsin, Democrat legislators have launched a variety of attacks on the program. This episode debunks some of the criticisms often lobbed at choice schools.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
The educators at GRACE Catholic Schools in Green Bay see the option of school choice as a justice issue, since families who have financial hardship also deserve to provide their children with a high-quality education that suits their children’s needs. Families looking for a strong community can find it at GRACE, a network of nine schools in the Green Bay area that provides a home for every child’s educational needs.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
With a network of five grade schools and a middle/high school that has a 100% graduation rate, Siena Catholic Schools is building a solid foundation for students to grow and reach their full potential as a whole person – on a personal, spiritual and communal level. The students, parents, educators, parishes and local businesses work together to show students where their education can lead them as they work together to build a flourishing community.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
With a focus on supporting the unique learning challenges faced by students with special needs, many attending Lutheran Special School & Education Services are recipients of the Special Needs Scholarship – an important part of school choice in Wisconsin that provides parents and students much-needed support in getting the best education possible. The school community works together to ensure students are maximizing their God-given spiritual, academic, emotional and social potential – and to have some fun along the way too.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
With the structure provided to students through a “No Excuses” policy, St. Marcus School is helping students to be the best they can – and rewarding them with the addition of a color-coded tie to their uniform that signals their level of achievement for all to see and cheer. Teachers are a key component to the success of the school, going out of their way to foster strong relationships with both students and parents.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
The educators at Milwaukee Lutheran High School have responded to a need to help students figure out what to do after high school graduation by teaching them practical life skills through the Red Knight Institute – a group of five in-house academies within the school that help students prepare for the future, including an Arts Academy, Career Academy, Free Enterprise Academy, Honors Academy, and Urban Education Academy.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
Showing love to their students and meeting them where they’re at, sets Lighthouse Christian School apart from other schools. But despite often-difficult circumstances, students are also achieving great results, with the school receiving a rating of “Significantly Exceeds Expectations,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
Student “trailblazers” at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School are working in businesses in the community as part of the school’s Corporate Work Study Program. And the results are worth it, with 100% of their graduates receiving acceptance from colleges.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
School choice began with bipartisan support in Wisconsin, with the ideas that parents should have options when it comes to educating their children. Today, “school choice” can mean anything from open enrollment, to using a voucher or special needs scholarship, to attending a public charter school.
Podcast Host: Kevin Nicholson, Founder and President of No Better Friend Corp.
