THE FILM
In the early 1990s, Annette “Polly” Williams — a fierce Black mother and liberal lawmaker — forms an unlikely alliance with conservative leaders to ignite the school choice movement in America. But as the movement grows beyond her control, Polly watches her vision transformed into something she never intended.
Not My Choice chronicles her remarkable rise, political fall, and the evolution of one of the most consequential and controversial education movements in modern American history.
GENRE
Historical, Non-Fiction
RUNTIME
60 Minutes
AUDIENCE
Parents, Educators, Lawmakers, Policy Advocates
DISTRIBUTION
Film Festivals, PBS / Public Media, Educational Release, Community Screenings
Watch the Trailer
Every movement has an origin story.
Before it was a movement, it was one mother's fight for children from low-income backgrounds.
Annette “Polly” Williams was a mother, community organizer, legislator, and truth-teller who refused to be silenced or boxed in.
She spent her career challenging political and educational institutions when they failed the communities she served.
But when her ideas were co-opted, she found herself on the outside of the movement she helped create.
Her story matters now.
School choice remains one of the most contentious & polarizing issues in American education. The movement Polly helped launch has expanded far beyond a private school voucher program for the neediest families to include charter schools, magnet schools, education savings accounts, and other educational alternatives across the country.
Still, millions of students remain underserved.
What lessons can Polly's story teach today's educators, policymakers, advocates and families working to fix a flawed system? And what can it teach us about our collective responsibility to ensure that every child has access to the high-quality education they need and deserve?
Behind the Scenes
Meet the Team
Sister Filmmakers
DIRECTOR
Janelle Harris
Filmmaker and producer with 20+ years of television experience across America’s leading networks, including A&E, Discovery, National Geographic, Bravo, and TV-One.
From PA to Line Producer, Janelle has developed deep expertise in storytelling and production across genres. In 2021, she founded Harris Two Productions to tell authentic stories that celebrate diversity and uplift our communities.
PRODUCER/WRITER
Robin V. Harris, Ph.D.
Writer, editor, and communications leader with 20+ years of experience in education equity, policy, and advocacy.
A former newspaper editor and passionate storyteller, Robin writes to shine a light on the untold stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Stay Connected
America knows the movement.
It's time America knew her story.
Join us in bringing this untold story to audiences across America.