*On Wednesday morning, May 20, at 10 a.m., the Senate HELP Committee heard powerful testimony from Baton Rouge mother of seven, Moranda Jackson, whose emotional story highlighted the life-changing impact of GEO Foundation charter schools.
Just one night earlier, Jackson proudly walked across the graduation stage to receive her associate degree. Less than 24 hours later, she boarded a plane to Washington, D.C., alongside her two daughters and GEO Foundation Founder Kevin Teasley, to testify before Congress about how GEO Academies transformed her family’s future.
Jackson’s journey began when her daughters, Quinniece and Qiuntasia, were enrolled in a GEO Foundation-backed high school that allowed them to begin taking college classes free of charge while still in junior high and high school.
Inspired by watching her daughters excel academically, Jackson decided to pursue higher education herself.
The results were extraordinary. Both daughters graduated as valedictorians of their GEO Academy classes, while Jackson earned her own associate degree, proving that education can uplift entire families and generations when opportunity is made accessible.
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During the Congressional hearing, Jackson passionately described how GEO schools “met” her children where they were academically and personally, helping them discover confidence, direction, and success.
She also explained why she chose charter schools over traditional public schools, emphasizing the personalized support and accelerated learning opportunities GEO provides.
The testimony showcased the GEO Foundation’s innovative educational model, which is reshaping outcomes for students in underserved communities across Louisiana and Indiana, with expansion plans already underway in Ohio and Arkansas.
Founded by Kevin and Dana Teasley, GEO Academies focus on accelerated learning and removing barriers to educational success.
Addressing the attendees of their Academic Excellence honors event, founder Kevin Teasley emphatically declared, “What they have done is not normal; these students are exceptional. This is not a traditional high school, and I want to celebrate these kids. They are unbelievable!”
Students from grades 9 through 12 can earn college credits, associate degrees and career certifications completely free of charge while still enrolled in a GEO Foundation operated high school. Students also have opportunities to pursue certifications in HVAC, plumbing, electrical training, welding, culinary arts and veterinary services.
In an increasingly AI-driven and skills-based economy, GEO leaders emphasize that trade certifications are just as valuable as college degrees, preparing students for immediate workforce opportunities and long-term success.
The Class of 2026 has already delivered remarkable achievements across GEO campuses.
At GEO Next Generation High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 106 seniors graduated this month, including 27 students who earned associate degrees before receiving their high school diplomas. More than 64 percent of the graduates earned either college degrees, college credits or professional certifications. Collectively, students secured more than $19 million in scholarships, including multiple awards ranging from $200,000 to nearly $1 million, while two students earned an astounding $1.8 million in scholarship offers.
The Baton Rouge school also celebrated its 10-year anniversary just before the date of their commencement ceremonies held at Southern University and A&M College’s F.G. Clark Activity Center.
Meanwhile, at GEO 21st Century Academy in Gary, Indiana, more than 80 percent of graduating seniors earned credentials beyond a high school diploma, including 32 associate degrees and more than 150 career certifications from a graduating class of 220 students. The pioneering GEO school also celebrated its 20-year anniversary this month.
At GEO Next Generation Academy in Indianapolis, the school’s valedictorian and salutatorian were both Latina students.
Valedictorian Anna Escalante Schaffer encouraged students to remain committed to their educational goals and to secure future careers.
Salutatorian Fernanda Sandoval Castro delivered an emotional speech in both English and Spanish, speaking candidly about overcoming fear and uncertainty amid immigration concerns across her city and around the country, while remaining focused on academic excellence.
History was also made at the school which is celebrating 5 years in operation and the small but mighty graduating class set the stage for many more years of excellence in Indianapolis.
GEO Academies currently serve more than 4,000 students across four schools in three cities. The organization recently secured more than $8.2 million in grant monies to support expansion into additional states, including Ohio and Arkansas.
Through free college opportunities, career training, counseling, transportation, meals, tutoring and personalized support systems, GEO Academies continue to prove that students from underserved communities can achieve extraordinary outcomes when every barrier to success is removed and when expectations are raised.
The Congressional hearing highlights included Senator Cassidy of Louisiana introducing and congratulating Ms. Jackson on her graduation, which emphasized the GEO Foundation’s commitment to transforming generations through education, and acknowledgement of Kevin Teasley, the Founder of the GEO Foundation, being present.
As Moranda Jackson’s testimony before Congress demonstrated, “GEO Academies are not simply educating students; they are transforming entire families, communities and futures
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