Exploring Life & Business with Pelleo Badiane of C.A.C Solutions, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pelleo Badiane.

Hi Pelleo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey didn’t start as a business—it started as a mother trying to find the right fit for her child.

My son has dyslexia, and from as early as Pre-K, I found myself consistently advocating for him. I was in meetings, asking questions, pushing for support—not because people didn’t care, but because I knew my son needed something different. He didn’t need his hand held—he needed to be challenged, understood, and taught in a way that unlocked his potential.

And as a parent, you feel that deeply.

There were many nights I cried—not out of anger, but out of frustration and uncertainty. I knew my child was capable of so much more, but I couldn’t find a school option within my district that truly met his needs—at least not without a $30,000 price tag.

That reality forced me to make one of the hardest decisions of my life.

At 12 years old, I sent my son to school in Senegal, West Africa.

It was a sacrifice. It was emotional. But it was also transformational.

What I found there completely changed my perspective. My son wasn’t labeled—he was seen. He received a personalized learning experience, was challenged appropriately, and for the first time, I watched him grow in confidence and ability in a way I had always envisioned for him.

That’s when it clicked for me, the issue wasn’t our children—it was access to the right environment.

And I knew if I was experiencing this, so were thousands of other families.

What started as advocacy for my children became a mission for other people’s children.

I began helping families understand their options—all of them. Not just what’s assigned, but what’s possible. Because I believe we shouldn’t be attached to the type of school—whether it’s traditional public, charter, private, microschool, homeschool co-op, or a learning pod. What matters most is simple:

Is this school meeting the child’s needs?

From that mission, I founded C.A.C. Solutions, LLC—Consult. Advise. Create Solutions.

Today, I work on both sides of the equation—supporting families and helping schools rise to meet their needs. I partner with school leaders to build strong, parent-led communities that drive awareness, trust, and enrollment—so schools don’t just open their doors, but open them full, with families who believe in the mission.

Because the truth is—families deserve quality options without a $30,000 barrier.
And they deserve to know those options exist.

This work is deeply personal for me.

My “why” started with my own children—but it has grown into something much bigger. It’s about ensuring that no family feels stuck, unseen, or uninformed about their child’s education.

Because when you give families access, information, and a voice, you don’t just change one child’s story, you change entire communities.

And that’s the work I’m committed to every single day.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road—but every challenge has shaped me into the leader I am today.

Before launching my company, I was doing this work from the inside. I started with 50CAN (GeorgiaCAN), a national education advocacy and policy organization that works to influence legislation nationwide. I began as a parent fellow—just a mother who cared deeply and wanted to make a difference.

That role changed my life.

It gave me the opportunity to grow into the work, and eventually, I was hired as a Community Engagement Coordinator. In that role, I helped six schools successfully open their doors by building community support, organizing families, and driving enrollment from the ground up.

But along the way, I experienced one of my biggest turning points.

As I continued the work, I began to better understand the difference between policy-level advocacy and what families were actually experiencing on the ground. I found myself pushing for deeper, more authentic community engagement—where families weren’t just included, but truly centered in the process.

And in that moment, I realized my vision for this work was bigger than the role I was in.

That realization pushed me to take a leap of faith.

In 2024, I decided to start my own company, and to be honest, I had no blueprint.

I didn’t know how I was going to get my first client. I didn’t have a marketing plan. I didn’t run ads. What I did have was conviction.

I knew I only wanted to work with school leaders I believed in—leaders who not only had a vision for education but also understood that running a school is running a business, because, in reality, schools have the power to shape—or limit—a child’s future. And that responsibility requires both heart and strong leadership.

My first client came through a recommendation from the Georgia Charter Schools Association—The Meliora School.

And from there, everything grew through trust and results.

I have never advertised my business. Every client I’ve worked with has come through word of mouth.

In just a year and a half, I went from supporting six schools to helping thirteen schools open their doors, and I’ve now worked with fourteen schools across Georgia and Texas. Schools like The Meliora School are now fully enrolled for their opening year—something that takes not just strategy, but deep community connection.

But the journey hasn’t been without struggle.

There were moments of uncertainty—stepping into entrepreneurship without a guaranteed income, carrying the weight of delivering results for schools and families, and navigating spaces where I had to prove the value of work that hadn’t traditionally been recognized as essential.

There were also moments of stretching—learning how to operate as a business owner, not just a community advocate.

But through all of it, I’ve trusted one thing: my purpose.

This all started with believing in myself—and allowing my heart to lead the work.

I don’t back down when it comes to my community. I believe deeply that schools should be created with families, not just for them, and that belief has guided every step of my journey.

So no, it hasn’t been smooth—but it’s been purposeful, and I’m just getting started.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about C.A.C Solutions, LLC?
C.A.C. Solutions, LLC stands for Consult. Advise. Create Solutions.—and that’s exactly what we do.

We specialize in helping schools not only open their doors—but open them with strong community support and full enrollment. What sets us apart is that we don’t believe in building schools for communities—we believe in building schools with them.

In fact, one of our core beliefs is simple: We Don’t Market Schools. We Build Movements.

From the very beginning, when a school is just an idea, we coach school leaders through the petition phase and help them build what we call a Community Task Force (CTF)—a group of dedicated parent volunteers and community members who play an active role in shaping the school.

And this is where our model is different.

We don’t believe in “selling” schools to families. A school should earn the trust of its community by meeting real needs. Our Community Task Forces are built on that belief. These parents and community members volunteer their time to advocate for the school, co-design elements of the school model, and help bring awareness in an authentic way.

They table at events, canvass neighborhoods, post on social media, phone bank, and even speak in front of authorizers who ultimately decide whether a school opens or not. I train and support them every step of the way—making sure they feel confident, informed, and motivated throughout the entire process.

We also support existing schools in building or strengthening their own Community Task Forces, because I firmly believe:
a school is only as strong as the community that supports it.

Alongside C.A.C. Solutions, I’ve built a growing media arm—“It’s Your Girl PLO”—which will soon become its own company. Through this platform, we create reels, flyers, scripts, and storytelling content that highlights the real story behind schools. Our goal is to showcase schools in an authentic way so families can see themselves in those spaces.

Storytelling is powerful—and it’s one of the most effective ways to build trust and connection.

I’ve had the opportunity to step inside over 30 schools across Georgia, capturing what makes each one unique. That experience has also strengthened another part of my work—The Right School 4U Inc, which is currently in the process of becoming a nonprofit.

Through The Right School 4U Inc, we help families find the best school option for their child—at no cost. Whether it’s a traditional public school, charter, private school, microschool, homeschool co-op, or learning pod, we focus on one thing:

What does this child need to thrive?

Because the structure of the school matters less than whether it meets the child’s needs.

Our long-term goal is to become a Scholarship Granting Organization, so we can provide financial support and expand access for even more families.

What I’m most proud of is that everything we’ve built is rooted in truth, trust, and community.

I don’t charge families for guidance, and I don’t promote schools that I don’t believe in. My recommendations come from real experiences, real visits, and real relationships.

At the end of the day, this isn’t just about schools—it’s about people.

It’s about making sure families feel informed, empowered, and supported in one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make for their child.

And it’s about making sure schools are built in a way that truly reflects and serves the communities they’re in.

That’s what we stand for.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are several ways people can connect with and support the work we’re doing, depending on where they are in their journey.

For school leaders, we partner with those who are ready to build or grow schools with the community at the center. Whether you’re in the idea phase or already operating, C.A.C. Solutions, LLC helps you build a strong foundation through our Community Task Force model—ensuring you don’t just open your doors, but open them with trust, support, and full enrollment.

For families, we offer guidance at no cost through The Right School 4U Inc to help you navigate your school options and find the best fit for your child. Every child is different, and we’re here to make sure families feel informed, supported, and confident in their decisions.

For those who want to collaborate, especially in media and storytelling, It’s Your Girl PLO is expanding. We’re looking to connect with creatives—videographers, editors, and storytellers—who are passionate about capturing authentic school stories and helping us bring this vision to life.

As we grow, we’re preparing to launch The Right School 4U Inc as a nonprofit. We are open to connecting with individuals who have experience in nonprofit leadership, governance, and fundraising to help us build a strong foundation and expand our impact as a future Scholarship-Granting Organization.

We are also expanding beyond Georgia into other states—and eventually globally—so we welcome partnerships with school leaders, organizations, and community advocates who believe in building schools with families, not just for them.

The best way to connect, learn more, or work with us is by visiting: www.cacschoolsolutions.com

You can also follow along on social media for school highlights, resources, and real-time insights into the work we’re doing:

Instagram: @plo_education

Facebook: It’s Your Girl PLO

LinkedIn: Pelleo Badiane (C.A.C. Solutions, LLC)

And for those who want to support—share the work. Tell families about their options. Advocate for schools that are truly serving their communities.

Because this is bigger than one organization—it’s a movement.

We don’t market schools. We build movements.

And there’s room for you in this one.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cacschoolsolutions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plo_education/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ploeducation
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pelleo-badiane/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsYourGirlPLO