With Colleen CookWhy is school choice important to you?It wasn’t until I needed to make a choice different than the traditional choices that I really gave school choice much thought. It was when I found myself needing different opportunities for my child that I realized how important it is for parents and students to know what choices they have and how important it was that we have options to choose from.Why did you become involved with PSO?When I was introduced to PSO and its message, I knew instantly that I wanted to be a part of the organization. I became involved with PSO because I believe that parents need to have options for the education of their children and I know how important it is for parents to have a voice.Why should parents become advocates for their children’s education?I believe that when we become parents, we become advocates for our children. We know our children best, we know that when we work together with those who we charge with their care, whether it is medical, dental, nutritional, etc., we seek only the best, education should be no different.What is your favorite advocacy story?I have to pick a favorite? I have heard so many wonderful stories from so many families, not just in Oklahoma, but from families all over the country, even some overseas! Every story quickly becomes my favorite, I can’t help it, I love to hear what brings families to make the choices they do and the successes of their children.How has access to school choice impacted your family?The access to school choice has had such a positive impact on our family. I am so grateful that Oklahoma had the virtual school choices accessible to my family during a time when I really did not know what we were going to do. It was like a beacon of hope and one less thing I needed to concern myself with. The access to the virtual school and the support and encouragement they offered as we acclimated allowed us to focus on the immediate needs of our family.What is your greatest accomplishment?This is probably the toughest question to answer. There are many answers I could give, my time in the Navy, my family, my marriage, my business, and so forth, but my greatest accomplishment may just be that today was better than yesterday and thankfully, each day continues to be better than the last. My life has been pretty good, but there have been bad days and struggles along the way, I have yet to give in or give up.Tell us about your family.My husband Bill and I met in the Navy and were married in 1992. We have two children still at home with us, Spencer, 16, and Catherine, 11, and two children off on their own Andrew, 18 at ECU in Ada, OK, and Bill’s daughter, Heather, 28, in Memphis, TN. We have been blessed with the opportunity to move around a bit, but currently call Oklahoma home. We have one stinky dog, Toby, and the family hamster, Paco.If you were a condiment, what would it be and why?If I were a condiment I guess I would be salt. As per my 11-year-old daughter, I am often salty…whatever that means, lol!Winter, spring, summer, or fall?I love spring and fall, but prefer the season San Diego!Aisle or window seat?AisleIf we went into your Top 25 Most Played List, what would the top 3 be?No More Tears by Ozzy OzbourneSilent Lucidity by QueensrycheGlitter In The Air by PinkBut honestly, I am the worst when it comes to picking music so “shuffle” would best describe what you would see…a little country, a little rock, some pop, Christian, even some rap…Bonus: what is your favorite board game?It’s probably a tie between Cashflow and Scrabble