Moms For America Florida Director Dr. Dina Ciotola

Moms for America 2.0 has launched and the Florida Director of the organization joins us to speak about combating student indoctrination and how you can join the fight.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, Joel Malcolm for WJ and O dot com and

(00:02):
the Florida News Network, and we have on the line
doctor Dina Ciatola. She is the Florida director for Moms
for America and appreciate you joining us.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (00:17):
So we reached out partially because just late last year,
I want to say it was October is when it
started hitting the news, Moms for America two point oh launched. So,
first of all, i'd love you to give us kind
of a synopsis on what Moms for America is. Many
of our listeners on WJ and O are probably aware,

(00:38):
but for those that don't. And then what is two
point zero versus the initial Moms for America, which I
understand has been around for a couple decades, which is
crazy because I first got wind of it maybe six
seven years ago.

Speaker 2 (00:52):
So two point oh the new modern era that's infusing
fresh energy and action and support for our programs. We
have new powerful resources, podcasts, school board information, homeschool tools,
and leadership training. We're also building out a national network

(01:14):
of over thirteen thousand school district ambassadors, and we have
an intergenerational program now called Grammy Grizzlies and Future moms,
for older moms, and for future moms.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
All right, You know, Florida has multiple laws we all
know about the parental rights and education and others to
keep teachers from indoctrinating students on several levels in the
K through twelve education, then in college we have the
anti dei laws of course and all that stuff. And

(01:49):
are you seeing that indoctrination attempts are still going on
in our state regardless of the laws.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
Absolutely, I believe that because there's a subjective force behind
the teacher, she can or he can absolutely convey the
value that they believe in. So I know that there

(02:18):
are laws. Jillim is run by the liberal teacher unions
and there are very uh, there are liberal teachers out
there who are pushing the less agenda.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
So what are some things for parents now of kids
in public schools K through twelve? What are some things
that parents could look for and say, their child's behaviors
to know whether teacher is trying to indoctrinate them? And
what other advice would you have for parents that are
maybe you know, we do have some parents that show
up at the school at school board meetings and we

(03:00):
never saw that like we did once COVID hit, that
was when we really started to see that. And I
don't know if those numbers are continuing, But what are
some pieces of advice you'd have.

Speaker 2 (03:11):
I think parents need to communicate regularly with their children
on what is happening in schools, to ask them questions
about what the curriculum is teaching, to show them the
curriculum there's a hidden curriculum, which means that there are
cultural things, cultural behaviors, attitudes happening that they may not

(03:40):
even be able to express. But parents really need to
be active and to be proactive in their children's lives
and ask plenty of questions and ask to see the
curriculum and the books and the texts that they're using.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
They are all opt out laws now that their children
don't have to participate in the particular curriculum if they
choose not to, and that's thanks to our Governor DeSantis
and his Parental Rights office here in Florida.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
I know that Moms for America also offers homeschooling tools
for parents. Obviously, there are some parents that it's just
not possible both parents work and whatnot. But is homeschooling
a thing that you would really recommend over going to
a regular public school.

Speaker 2 (04:37):
Well, now with the new federal tax credits and scholarships
for school choice, parents don't have to homeschool. They have
tax credits now thanks to our president's incentive now with
the Big Beautiful Bill, and also our governor's support on that,

(05:00):
there are plenty of opportunities for parents to choose the
schools of their choice. Uh. If if homeschooling is an option,
then yes, we offer plenty collaboration between parents, et cetera.

Speaker 1 (05:14):
In an article on Florida jolt dot com, you referenced
the murder of Charlie Kirk last September in Utah. Obviously,
Charlie Kirk was, you know, spent a lot of time
talking to college kids right right where they go to school,
on their campuses. Do you feel that Moms for America
is needed to carry the torch?

Speaker 2 (05:38):
Absolutely. I think Moms for America is definitely an advocate
for all the conservative values that Charlie Kirk represented, and
we need to be active on school campuses, particularly the
things I've seen in higher education, which was what Charlie

(06:02):
Kirk was really passionate about. I believe much of the
indoctrination comes from the postmodern theories that emanate from the professors,
the left professors in the college campuses.

Speaker 1 (06:19):
Yeah, let's get a little background on you. I know
you are a former college professor. Where and what was
what did you teach?

Speaker 2 (06:28):
So my background is in educational leadership and an instruction
I serve as the director of Professional Continuing Education at
University of South School and of the Masters in Education
program and education to background is in social cultural foundations

(06:55):
of education, where I understand the historical and philosophical background
of education in our nation and how the fourth cultural
state education. And so I've spent many years training teachers
and actually taught a lot of the critical theory courses.

(07:17):
So I'm very well versed in what's happening in higher
education and how it really needs to be deconstructed and
we need to eliminate I know that's the push now
with Moss for America as well as this administration, is
to eliminate this liberal woke agenda.

Speaker 1 (07:41):
If somebody wanted to join the cause of Moms for America,
and I know that you're always actively recruiting, right, how
would they do that? How would they find more information
so they.

Speaker 2 (07:52):
Can contact me directly at SLSA at America, Moms for
America dot net.

Speaker 1 (08:04):
So that's f L M f A at Momsfoamerica dot net. Correct, Yes, or.

Speaker 2 (08:10):
They can reach me by cel five six one nine
five one five eight four zero and they can contact
me directly to get involved, to start groups and to
promote the mission.

Speaker 1 (08:26):
All right, anything else you wanted to cover before we
wrap up?

Speaker 2 (08:32):
I just want to say that I'm extremely grateful for
aptnues like this that can promote the conservative values for
our our children, for our nation, and we need to
keep pushing as moms push citizens to to eradicate the

(08:57):
decay of the left that's happening in our country.

Speaker 1 (09:01):
All right, Well, appreciate you joining us again, doctor Dina Ciatola.
She's the state director here in Florida for Moms for
America now of course Mom's for America two point zero.
We appreciate it. Once again, Thank you, thank you,