---
title: Student and Family Stories | Ron Matus
description: Ron Matus is director of Research & Special Projects at Step Up For Students and a former editor of redefinED. He joined Step Up in February 2012 after 20 years in journalism, including eight years as an education reporter with the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times).
---

[![SUFS-LOGO\_circle-1](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/hs-fs/hubfs/SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png?width=150&height=150&name=SUFS-LOGO_circle-1.png "SUFS-LOGO_circle-1")](https://www.stepupforstudents.org/)

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# Student and Family Stories

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## Posts by Ron Matus:

[![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/NSCW-Horizontal-Dated-002-1024x241.png)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/little-flower-power)

## [Little Flower power](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/little-flower-power)

*Editor's note: This story is part of our series marking National School Choice Week. We also...*

[![](https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Watsons.jpg)](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/a-school-and-school-choice-brought-this-family-to-florida)

## [A school, and school choice, brought this family to Florida](https://go.stepupforstudents.org/student-and-family-stories/a-school-and-school-choice-brought-this-family-to-florida)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four years ago, Phil and Cathy Watson were distressed and desperate. Their...

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