Dear Jack:

Kara walked into her new classroom to the sound of happy little voices and the smell of new crayons. She was excited…but also a bit scared. She knew she was a bit behind starting second grade; some kids had made fun of her last year when she struggled to read.

She was always in the lowest reading group. In a sea of 34 students, Kara didn’t have much of a chance to get the attention she needed. Time didn’t work in her favor either; she fell further and further behind—not even wanting to try on her homework in middle school—embarrassed that she still couldn’t read very well.

By the time she hit high school, her frustrations combined with the lure of adulthood eventually won out, and she dropped out, only to become another stat in the “working poor” of America.

This is the cost of a poor education system, according to Don Nielsen author of Every School: One Citizen’s Guide to Transforming Education:

Today, because of the failure of our education system, we now have almost three generations of adults who are poorly educated or undereducated for the demands of the world in which they live. These people are often high school dropouts, often are people of color, and often live in poverty. Not only are these adults not prepared for the world of work; they are not equipped to be the kinds of parents who properly prepare their children for school. We can’t blame them, but we can prevent their children from experiencing the same fate.

While the situation seems bleak, it is not without hope. If concerned people like you will join the efforts of thought leaders like Don Nielsen, you can change hearts and minds, and educational success will result.

We believe that the transformation of our schools begins at the state level and requires changes to state laws and codes. This will enable innovative educators to create the schools our children really need—not continue the failing schools we currently have. Therefore, we’ve focused our efforts on meeting with governors in two states—Idaho and Mississippi—who we’re hoping will become the flagship states to transform their K-12 education system.

But we need you to partner with us to continue this much-needed education reform. Here’s how your gift will impact our program:

• $25 puts Every School in the hands of one Governor
• $100 promotes the book on social media
• $500 sends Don Nielsen to meet with educational leaders
• $2,000 enables our team to educate legislators on innovative ways to approach education

Continuing to be a bold voice for system change, to champion well trained innovative education leaders, and to proclaim new ideas that creates the demand for change from the bottom up—not the top down—requires financial resources.  Consider coming alongside us today in this important endeavor.

Every dollar will help. 

Propelling cultural change,


Steve Buri

P.S. If you’d like to find out more about Don’s ideas on transforming education, donate $125 or more and we will send you a copy of his updated book Every School (fair market value $16). Be sure to donate online by 5pm (PST) on 12/31/2019 to insure your donation is credited toward 2019.