Students Share Spotlight with Governor Kehoe and Treasurer Malek at Capitol Rotunda Rally

Wednesday, January 28th, the Missouri State Capitol became a vibrant celebration of educational opportunity as students, families, and educators gathered for “Freedom to Thrive,” a rally marking National School Choice Week (NSCW) that featured amazing student performances and a keynote by Governor Mike Kehoe. The event brought together ten schools and many supporters from across Missouri, representing private and public education options.

The rally in the rotunda opened with remarks from CEAM Associate Executive Director, Peter Franzen, who urged the audience to continue to share their stories of impact with state leaders. 

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek seized the opportunity to recognize the vital work of Missouri’s Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs). As the state official overseeing the MOScholars program, Treasurer Malek honored the EAOs with plaques, celebrating their essential role in MOScholars. EAOs  determine student eligibility, distribute scholarships, and provide family support making them the face of the program to families. Treasurer Malek highlighted the growth of MOScholars saying over 5,000 students applied for the $7,145 scholarship for the 2026 school year.

Senator Rick Brattin, R-District 31, chair of the education committee and a small business owner, had his own experience with school choice when the pandemic highlighted the shortcomings of his kids’ school and he opted to enroll them elsewhere.  Senator Brattin is chair of the Senate Education Committee, which hears nearly all of the Senate’s K-12 education bills.

Governor Mike Kehoe delivered his keynote celebrating Missouri’s progress in expanding educational options and referred to his recent state of the state address in which he laid out his K-12 priorities: 

• continued budget support for the MOScholars’ Empowerment Scholarship Accounts,
• clear school performance accountability in A-F School Report Cards, and 
• bringing a major traditional public school option to Missouri families through open enrollment.

Governor Kehoe also reiterated his intent for Missouri to opt into the Federal tax credit program recently created by HR1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will allow Missourians to donate up to $1,700/year to participating K-12 scholarship organizations to scholar lower-income Missouri students whose families choose a non-public school. 

The last two speakers were Representative Josh Hurlbert, R-District 08, and Representative Marlene Terry, D-District 66. Rep. Hurlbert, whose “day job” is serving as the scholarship coordinator for the Herzog Tomorrow Foundation, one of the seven Missouri EAOs, has a front row seat to the scholarship program’s impact on students and families. Rep. Terry used her time to celebrate the work of Dr. Shanella Huntley, founder of Brilliant Minds Private School located in Terry’s District.

After Rep. Terry’s introduction of Dr. Huntley, the Brilliant Minds students took to the stage and performed a high-energy dance/cheer routine featuring Dr. Huntley from the podium! Students from ten schools performed including two orchestras from Summit Christian Academy and St. Joseph Christian School. Northside Community School, a charter public school, performed a large group dance while a cheer squad from Bethel Academy performed in uniform. Show Me Christian School students sang, as did students from Northern Hills Christian Academy with a patriotic hymn medley followed by the St. Joseph Christian School’s orchestra performing a sing-along of America the Beautiful. Students from Outreach Christian Education recited The American’s Creed to close out the performances and were followed by the school’s leader Dr. Jessica Bullard who closed out the rally urging school leaders and parents to continue their advocacy for school choice opportunities. 

CEAM – Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri has helped lead Missouri’s flagship school choice week event each year with support from the National School Choice Awareness Foundation since the first NSCW in 2012. The “Freedom to Thrive” rally was more than just an event, it was a milestone moment reflecting how far Missouri has come in broadening access and opening doors through school choice for families across the state. The gathering demonstrated that when families have options, students flourish in environments that match their unique needs, interests, and learning styles.