Fighting For America
One mother’s personal history, combined with concern for her children’s education has transformed into a mission of advocacy, underscoring the ongoing national conversation about curriculum, parental involvement, and the future of education in America.
Today’s guest is Denise Bell, Moms for Liberty Chapter Chair from Harris County, Texas, and a valued member of our Member Support Team. Denise shares her personal story, shaped by her family’s experience living under the Iron Curtain in Slovakia. Her grandmother immigrated to the United States at just two years old, bringing with her a legacy of resilience, hard work, and gratitude for freedom.
Denise reflects on stories of relatives who remained behind and how they lived with severe scarcity and relied on visiting relatives to bring basic necessities like toiletries in suitcases and how witnessing that profoundly shaped her perspective on socialism, communism, and collectivism.
A devoted wife of 23 years and mother of four, Denise has lived in Houston for nearly three decades. After beginning her career in international sales with IBM and later retiring from the corporate world in 2006, she dedicated her time to community service, church involvement, and volunteer work. Her path into education advocacy began in 2020 when her 10-year-old son was assigned Dragon Wings, a book she believed included themes inappropriate for his age.
As she dug deeper, she discovered a broader pattern in assigned reading materials that emphasized “oppressor vs. oppressed” narratives, prompting her to study school policies, curriculum standards, and the book review process. Denise’s eyes were opened to the complexities parents face when challenging instructional materials and curriculum decisions. She describes the uphill battle many parents experience when engaging with school systems, likening it to “David versus Goliath,” and shares how reviewing her daughter’s AP U.S. History curriculum further fueled her advocacy after she found what she viewed as politically biased and inaccurate portrayals of economic systems.
She takes us through her journey and growing involvement in education advocacy, including raising awareness about curriculum transparency, parental rights, and broader educational frameworks. She also recounts viral advocacy moments in her local district and the intense public scrutiny that followed.
Denise emphasizes the importance of teaching accurate history, preserving family values, and ensuring parents remain engaged in their children’s education.