Leslie and Scott Milder are the founders of Friends of Texas Public Schools, a nonprofit organization committed to educating Texans about the strengths and achievements of Texas public schools.
The Milders founded Friends in 2004 in response to the incessant, often mean-spirited criticism leveled against our public schools. While they don’t argue that there will always be room for improvement, they believe that improvement will happen faster and at even higher levels when we lift up educators and students through words of encouragement rather than criticism.
“Hope is an emotional force that points the imagination toward positive things. It energizes and mobilizes us, serving as a catalyst for action. Because it links directly to our confidence level, hope inspires us to aim higher, put forth more effort, and have more staying power.”