In this courageous conversation on Raising Them Right, host Monica Yatooma is joined by Paul Kolin, a public servant, KPMG US executive, and longtime Bloomfield Hills School Board member, to challenge the myths, missteps, and missed opportunities in today’s education system.

From his early days growing up in Coney Island to teaching in some of New York’s most underserved classrooms, Paul has seen firsthand what it takes to lead with integrity — and what happens when we don't. Drawing on his experience in both public service and the private sector, Paul shares why real educational reform demands more than money. It demands accountability, courage, and community commitment.

He doesn’t shy away from hard truths including why many affluent districts succeed while others fall behind, and how performative leadership on school boards harms the very kids those boards are meant to serve.

This isn’t just a critique of the system. It’s a call to action for anyone who believes our children deserve better.

• Why high per‑pupil spending doesn’t always lead to high performance
• The difference between serving the community and serving a title
• How strong school boards can transform outcomes — and how weak ones erode trust
• What affluent districts get right that others can adopt
• Why true equity starts with expectations, not excuses
• How Paul’s Teach for America experience shaped his lifelong education mission
• The urgent need for tough policy decisions like consolidation in Michigan school districts

“It’s not just about spending more — it’s about expecting more.” — Paul Kolin

“We say we want accountability in schools. But we punish people who try to deliver it.” — Monica Yatooma

• Bloomfield Hills School Board
• Teach for America
• Michigan Department of Education data
• KPMG public sector consulting insights

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Get involve at greatEA.org for updates, resources, and ways to be part.