Raised in San Jose, California during a time of great cultural and economic change, Trish’s life changed at the age of 13 when her family moved 20 miles west to the newly branded Silicon Valley. Having a front row seat to the inequities of educational opportunities that exist between neighboring zip codes set Trish on a pathway into a career of education. After earning a master’s degree and a certificate of educational therapy, Trish opened a private practice offering high quality special education services directly to families. Recognizing a dearth of affordable, diverse, and exceptional educational choices for Montana students and their parents amidst obvious demand lured Trish into advocating for an open educational marketplace throughout this expansive state.