Empowering Families With Parent-Directed Grants

Michael Barba is the Policy Director of K-12 Education at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. His work is focused upon education because it provides our children with economic, civic, and moral benefits: a good education offers students a path to prosperous work, teaches students why and how they must care for their neighbor, and gives students practice in the virtues that allow them to attain lifelong freedom and happiness.

Previously, Michael served as a specialist on the System of Great Schools (SGS) team at the Texas Education Agency where he helped visionary school district leaders understand and deliver the schools that their families want, need, and deserve.

Anthony Jones is a policy scholar at the Foundation. In this role, he conducts research on public policy issues; assists the Foundation in academic publication; educates lawmakers and members of the public on Foundation research; and provides formal testimony to local, state, and federal entities. Prior to this position, Jones completed internships at both the Heritage Foundation and the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

Born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia, Jones graduated from Wyoming Catholic College with a B.A. in liberal arts. He has a passion for pro-life activism, theology, and mountain biking.