Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin is a product of the Texas Public Policy Foundation that hosts real conversations with real parents from across Texas where they share their experiences, struggles, and victories within the Texas education system. From concerning content in public schools to classroom behavior and wins in homeschooling, Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin covers all aspects of Texas education through the parents eyes—and asks how we can ensure transparency, quality, respect, and choice for all Texas parents, students, and taxpayers.
Billion Dollar Bonds with Prof. Philip Harold & James Quintero | Parent Empowerment w/ Mandy Drogin
Irving ISD is asking voters to approve a nearly $1 billion bond package even as student enrollment declines and taxpayers continue to shoulder billions in school district debt.
On this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin is joined by Philip Harold, professor at the University of Dallas, and TPPF's James Quintero to examine Irving ISD’s proposed $952 million bond, the true cost of school debt once interest is included, and the role architecture, construction, and consulting firms play in promoting massive bond packages.
The conversation explores concerns about transparency surrounding the proposal, declining enrollment in Irving ISD, student academic performance, administrative spending, superintendent compensation, and plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on new facilities including a proposed $300 million high school.
They also discuss how school bonds can affect Texas property taxes, why taxpayers should know the full principal-and-interest cost before voting, and whether districts should prioritize maintaining existing facilities rather than taking on additional long-term debt.
With Texans demanding property tax relief, this episode asks a critical question: Are massive school bonds serving students and taxpayers or the industries that profit from building them?
Learn more about taxpayer accountability, property taxes, education reform, and government transparency at TexasPolicy.com.
18 Sept 2026
Education Freedom Accounts in Action | Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin
On this episode of Parent Empowerment, host Mandy Drogin sits down with a Texas mother and two students from City School in Austin to discuss how school choice and Education Freedom Accounts are helping families access an education that meets their unique needs.
The students share their experiences with dyslexia, smaller class sizes, hands-on learning, individualized attention, and specialized reading support. Renee Evans, a mother of 3, explains how City School’s faith-based environment and dyslexia resources have helped her children grow academically and gain confidence in the classroom.
They also discuss the financial impact of receiving Texas Education Freedom Accounts. With three children who have dyslexia, their education can involve additional expenses such as specialized reading instruction, tutoring, and learning tools. The accounts help cover tuition while freeing up resources for the additional academic support her children need.
Later, the students describe how supportive teachers, smaller classrooms, and a close-knit school community have helped them overcome challenges and become more confident learners.
Finally, the conversation turns to expanding access to Education Freedom Accounts and giving more Texas parents the ability to choose an educational environment that fits their children’s academic, personal, and religious needs.
Watch the full conversation to hear directly from a Texas family about school choice, Education Freedom Accounts, dyslexia education, private schools, faith-based education, and parental involvement in education.
11 Sept 2026
Restoring Academic Integrity in Texas' Higher Education
How can Texas restore academic integrity into our public higher education?
In this episode of Parent Empowerment, Mandy Drogin sits down with Dr. Tom Lindsay, a longtime higher education expert and former dean, provost, and college president. Their conversation explores how Texas can restore academic integrity, strengthen core curriculum, and ensure taxpayer-funded universities prepare students for civic and professional life.
Who has been a guest on Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
John Petree
Kara Belew
Erin Fonner
Mary Lynn Pruneda
Jorge Borrego
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
72,754,844
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
32
Contact Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin
Who hosts Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin?
Mandy Drogin host the show. Published by Texas Public Policy Foundation.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes daily, based on its RSS feed.
Does Parent Empowerment with Mandy Drogin take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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