By Dr. John Dixon, Executive Director, Mississippi Charter Schools Association

When people ask why I chose a career in education, I think of my mom and the sacrifices she made to ensure I received an excellent education.

I grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, and attended public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. For most of that time, I didn’t attend my zoned neighborhood school. Instead, my mom navigated the school district system to send me to a public school across town that she believed would better meet my learning needs.

But when our family was preparing to welcome my baby brother while I was still in elementary school, transportation became a challenge. With no other options, my mom had to transfer me back to my zoned neighborhood school.

That’s when my teacher stepped in.

When she learned I was leaving, she offered to help. For the rest of second grade and all of third, she drove me home after school—after picking up her own children. She did this because she believed I deserved to be in a public school that both challenged me and supported me.

That experience showed me what’s possible when adults come together to put children first. But it also revealed a deeper truth: access to a great public education shouldn’t depend on acts of extraordinary kindness—or on where a child happens to live. Every child in Mississippi deserves access to high-quality education, regardless of their zip code, income, or circumstance.

Today, as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Charter Schools Association, I’m committed to expanding high-quality public school options across our state. Charter schools are part of Mississippi’s public education system, created to give families more opportunities to build stronger futures.

Over the next few months, I’ll be visiting charter schools across Mississippi—to listen, to learn, and to celebrate the incredible work happening in our public charter schools every day. I look forward to hearing your stories, amplifying your impact, and working together to ensure that every Mississippi student has the freedom to attend a high-quality public school that works for them—because our students deserve nothing less.