by Anna Lodder | Jun 16, 2026 | integration
What if school choice isn’t really a choice between being a “good parent” and being a “martyr”? IS parent Anna revisits her family’s high school decision and makes the case for a third way: self-interest rooted in the understanding that our well-being is bound up together. Not martyrdom, not optimization — alignment. A practical, personal look at what it actually means to choose integrated public schools, season after season, decision after decision.
by Anna Lodder | Apr 27, 2026 | integration
A recent piece on NPR about school choice in Iowa asked a question I think about all the time: when school choice is booming, who actually wins? (Spoiler alert: NOBODY)…
by Anna Lodder | Mar 5, 2026 | integration
What happens when we actually name the dynamics already shaping a room? Things like Race, Class, Access, Power. Who feels comfortable speaking? Who doesn’t? At our recent Integrated Schools gathering we experimented with a simple practice: naming dynamics before starting the work. Not to shame anyone. Not to force vulnerability. Just to acknowledge reality. Because pretending dynamics don’t exist doesn’t make them disappear. It just makes them harder to navigate.
by Anna Lodder | Jan 14, 2026 | integration
Public schools are not inherently democratic or equitable simply by existing. Integration is not about perfection or martyrdom; it’s an ongoing practice of participation, accountability, and shared responsibility. Public schools can help sustain democracy—but only when people actively choose to invest, engage, and fight for them together.
by Anna Lodder | Dec 22, 2025 | integration
Integration Is a Practice: Reflections From Our In-Person Gathering
