In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, joined by guest host Don Cooper, explore the difference between using technology to make school more efficient… and using it to make learning more personal.

They’re joined by Dr. Garland Thomas-McDavid, CEO of Brooklyn LAB Charter School, whose leadership is grounded in lived experience, resilience, and an unwavering belief in what students can achieve. At Brooklyn LAB, technology isn’t about replacing teachers—it’s about expanding what’s possible for students.

From STEM pathways and Project Lead The Way to adaptive learning tools and real-world problem solving, this conversation highlights how intentional design—not just devices—can unlock student potential. And just as importantly, it reminds us that relationships, culture, and purpose must remain at the center.

In This Episode:

• Technology as an enabler—not a replacement—for teaching and learning
• The difference between efficiency vs. personalization in ed tech
• How Brooklyn LAB uses STEM pathways and Project Lead The Way
• Real-world, hands-on learning through engineering and biomedical programs
• Balancing screen time, focus, and student engagement
• The importance of adult courage in adopting new tools and practices
• Why relationships remain the foundation of powerful learning environments

Key Takeaway: Technology doesn’t transform schools on its own—intentional design does. When used thoughtfully, it can personalize learning, expand opportunity, and empower students without losing the human connection that matters most.

In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, joined by guest host Don Cooper, explore what happens when schools trust young people with real responsibility. They’re joined by Dan Porter, an experienced educator and leader at Kwiyagat Community Academy, alongside student Naomi Cowboy.

Rooted in partnership with the local Ute community, Kwiyagat was created to address a critical need: a school where Indigenous students are seen, supported, and connected to their culture. Through language, storytelling, and community-based learning, students are not only building academic skills—they’re developing identity, confidence, and voice.

From capstone projects tackling real community issues to students learning directly from elders, this episode highlights a powerful shift: when students are treated as contributors, not just learners, education becomes deeply meaningful.

Guests:

• Dan Porter, Leader, Kwiyagat Community Academy
• Naomi Cowboy, Student, Kwiyagat Community Academy

Hosts:

• Vashaunta Harris
• Jim Goenner
• Guest Host: Don Cooper

In This Episode:

• Rethinking adolescence: from compliance to contribution
• The founding of Kwiyagat Community Academy and its community roots
• Revitalizing Ute language and culture through education
• Student capstone projects and real-world problem solving
• The role of elders, storytelling, and identity in learning
• Measuring success beyond academics: belonging, voice, and resilience

Key Takeaway: When students are grounded in culture, trusted with responsibility, and given a voice, they don’t just prepare for the future—they help shape it.

In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, joined by guest host Don Cooper, sit down with Amy Junge (Education Evolving) and Dr. Julie Cook (Teacher Powered Schools Network) to explore a growing movement redefining the teaching profession.

Across more than 300 schools nationwide, teacher-powered models are shifting decision-making from top-down systems to collaborative teams of educators. From hiring and budgeting to curriculum and culture, teachers are not just implementing decisions—they’re making them.

Julie brings this model to life through her experience at Souderton Charter School Collaborative, where co-teaching, shared leadership, and collective responsibility create a dynamic, student-centered environment.

The result? Stronger teacher retention, deeper professional ownership, and learning experiences that better meet students’ needs.

This episode challenges a core assumption in education—and offers a powerful alternative: when teachers are trusted as professionals, schools—and students—thrive.

Guests:

• Amy Junge, Senior Director, Teacher Powered Schools (Education Evolving)

• Dr. Julie Cook, Teacher Leader, Souderton Charter School Collaborative

In This Episode:

• What “teacher-powered” schools really are

• How shared leadership changes school culture

• The shift from compliance to professional ownership

• Co-teaching, collaboration, and distributed decision-making

• Why teacher retention improves in this model

• What this means for the future of school design

Key Takeaway: When teachers have the authority to lead—not just implement—schools become more responsive, collaborative, and effective for students.

Joined by Alastair Pullen, Executive Director of Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, the conversation brings educational pluralism to life—showing how public education can reflect the unique values and needs of the communities it serves. What began as a parent-driven vision in Grant Park has grown into a thriving, community-rooted school where learning extends far beyond the classroom.

At ANCS, students engage in constructivist, experiential learning—from cultivating food on a school farm to designing real-world projects tied to their interests. The result? Students who don’t just attend school—they want to be there. As one student put it: “I get to go to school.”

Through this conversation, the Institute team highlights a powerful idea: when schools are intentionally designed around relationships, collaboration, and student identity, motivation isn’t forced—it emerges.

Episode Highlights

• Educational pluralism and why public education shouldn’t look the same everywhere

• The origin story of a parent-founded, community-driven school

• How constructivist and experiential learning shapes student engagement

• Why culture is built through relationships, morning meetings, and advisory systems

• The impact of collaborative teaching teams and high retention

• What it means when students say, “I get to go to school”

From there, we travel to Learning Community Charter School (Jersey City, NJ) with Dr. Colin Hogan, Pavit Thakkar (8th grade), and Mrs. Thakkar (parent). Hear the “before/after” moment: a bold acceleration decision—supported by a trial period, mentoring, and family partnership—designed to increase challenge without sacrificing belonging.

In the reflective synthesis, Don connects the story back to the charter idea: autonomy used not for novelty, but to build civic infrastructure—schools that create the conditions where excellence and human flourishing can thrive. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute | Sponsored by The Founders Library. 

• Featured school: Learning Community Charter School (Jersey City, NJ)—a diverse, community-rooted model approaching its 30th anniversary (2027). 
• Guests: Dr. Colin Hogan (Head of School), Pavit Thakkar (8th grade student), Mrs. Thakkar (parent partner).
• Season frame: Season 4 asks what the charter idea still makes possible—pluralism, innovation, democratic purpose, and intentional design tradeoffs.
• Reading anchor: Kolderie, Split Screen — “Above All, Try Personalized Learning to Maximize Student Motivation.” 
• Classroom story hook: Pavit’s acceleration experience (4th → 6th) reveals personalization as a careful, supported system—not a one-off decision.
• Design tradeoff explored: increasing academic challenge while protecting social belonging (trial period, peer mentor pairing, counselor supports, and ongoing feedback loops).
• Personalization structures: learning lab supports, flexible acceleration, teacher collaboration, and mechanisms that respond to students in real time—so motivation can emerge rather than be manufactured.
• Reflective synthesis: Don and Jim zoom out to the civic purpose of autonomy—structure matters, design matters, freedom matters—when schools are built around learners instead of forcing learners to conform.

What does innovation in education really mean?

In Episode 3, the conversation challenges a common assumption: innovation isn’t always about inventing something entirely new — it’s often about trying, improving, and adapting what works.

Vashaunta Harris, Jim Goenner, and guest host Don Cooper explore key ideas from this week’s readings, including the tension between uniformity and pluralism and the role of innovation happening closest to students — in classrooms, not policy.

Then, they turn to practice.

Joined by Michelle Trojan of Intrinsic Schools in Chicago, the episode highlights a school where innovation is not a program — it’s a mindset. From its Montessori-inspired design to its team-teaching “pod” model and flexible use of time, Intrinsic continuously evolves to meet student needs.

Students take ownership of their learning through structures like C Day, where they choose academic support, enrichment, and leadership opportunities based on real-time data and personal goals. The school also expands what success looks like — connecting students to careers, trades, college pathways, and real-world experiences.

Michelle’s story brings it full circle: leading a school in the same neighborhood where her own family once struggled to find the right educational fit — now creating access and opportunity for the next generation.

As Don reflects, Intrinsic embodies a core truth: innovation happens closest to the problem — and closest to students.

• Theme: Innovation as Iteration — Trying, Improving, Adapting • Readings:

• Kolderie: Innovation is Schools and Teachers Trying New Things

• Berner: Uniformity vs. Pluralism

• Guest host: Don Cooper • Featured school: Intrinsic Schools (Chicago, IL)

Key Model Elements: • Team-teaching “pod” structure (gen ed + special ed collaboration) • Montessori-inspired design adapted for secondary students • Flexible learning spaces and real-time data use • Weekly “C Day” for student choice, support, and enrichment

Student Experience: • Ownership of learning through goal-setting and choice • Exposure to careers, trades, and postsecondary pathways • Networking nights, career shadowing, and partnerships • $1.5M annual scholarship support + alumni coaching

Big Ideas: • Innovation is continuous improvement, not one-time change • Pluralism allows schools to reflect different student needs and communities • Structure — not just choice — shapes what’s possible in education • Schools should prepare students to be confident, capable contributors to society

#BoldByChoice

In Episode 2, we move from theory to practice — exploring how the democratic purpose of education comes to life inside real schools.

Vashaunta Harris, Jim Goenner, and guest host Don Cooper are joined by Belicia Reaves of Two Rivers Public Charter School, a community-rooted school designed around inquiry, diversity, and shared responsibility.

From preschoolers designing and building a bench for their school garden to middle school students leading service projects across their city, this conversation highlights how students learn democracy by practicing it — through real problems, real decisions, and real relationships.

Belicia shares how Two Rivers was founded to meet a deeper civic need: developing not just academic skills, but compassionate, responsible citizens. Through project-based learning, student-led conferences, and a strong culture of “crew, not passengers,” the school intentionally builds both individual agency and collective responsibility.

Together, the hosts reflect on a central tension in public education: how to balance family choice with shared norms, and how schools can serve as true civic infrastructure — preparing students not just for careers, but for participation in community and democracy.

As Belicia reminds us, when schools are designed with purpose, students don’t just learn about the world — they learn how to shape it.

• Theme: The Democratic Purposes of Public Education • Reading: Rediscovering the Democratic Purposes of Education (Moe, Ch. 6) • Guest host: Don Cooper • Featured school: Two Rivers PCS (Washington, D.C.)

Host Framing Questions: • What is most misunderstood about democracy’s role in education today? • Are schools designed as democratic institutions—or delivery systems? • What did chartering originally make possible around voice, pluralism, and participation? • What tensions do schools avoid: choice vs. coherence, diversity vs. consistency? • What would change if we truly designed schools for democratic purpose?

In Practice at Two Rivers: • Inquiry-based, project-based learning • Diverse, community-rooted design • “Crew, not passengers” culture • Students solving real problems (garden bench project) • Middle school service learning grounded in civic engagement • Student-led conferences and standards-based grading

Big Ideas: • Democracy is learned through participation, not abstraction • Schools can serve as civic infrastructure • Balancing family choice with shared community values • Preparing students to be active participants in society

#BoldByChoice

Season 4 of Bold by Choice begins with a new lens. Rather than focusing only on individual schools, this season explores the ideas behind the charter movement — the thinking that makes new and different kinds of public schools possible.

The charter idea was never meant to create a separate sector of education. It was intended to introduce pluralism, innovation, and new possibilities within public education, allowing educators and communities to design schools around how students actually learn.

In this opening episode, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner are joined by guest host Don Cooper to frame the season’s central question: What does the charter idea make possible today? Drawing on foundational readings including Reinventing America’s Schools and other core texts shaping the season, the hosts explore how chartering emerged as a movement to rethink the structure and purpose of public education.

To bring those ideas to life, the conversation turns to High Tech High in San Diego, one of the country’s most influential project-based public charter schools.

Director Brett Peterson reflects on the founding purpose of High Tech High — responding to concerns that students were graduating without the skills, confidence, and real-world experience needed for the modern world. High Tech High responded with bold design choices: integrated courses, project-based learning, exhibitions of student work, and strong relationships between teachers and students.

Junior Isabella Coralez shares the student perspective, describing how internships, projects, and integrated coursework connect learning to the real world and help students see themselves as creators, problem-solvers, and contributors.

Together, the hosts and guests explore the tradeoffs behind intentional school design — including High Tech High’s choice to prioritize project-based learning and authentic demonstrations of learning rather than traditional structures like AP course tracks.

The episode closes with a reflective conversation about what High Tech High reveals about the charter idea itself: that the true promise of chartering lies in creating space for educators to design schools differently while remaining accountable to students, families, and communities.

Season 4 invites listeners to think deeply about the future of public education — not by searching for a single model to replicate, but by exploring the ideas that make meaningful innovation possible.

• Season Theme: The Charter Idea Today — What’s Possible • Chartering as a movement for educational pluralism, not simply a sector of schools • Core reading: Reinventing America’s Schools by David Osborne • Guest host: Don Cooper • Featured school: High Tech High — San Diego, California • Key design elements:

• Project-based learning

• Integrated coursework

• Small schools and teaching teams

• No academic tracking

• Student exhibitions and real-world projects • Student voice: learning connected to community, internships, and authentic problem-solving • Tradeoffs in school design and why intentional choices matter • Season 4 explores pluralism, innovation, student agency, and the evolving charter idea

#BoldByChoice

In this episode of Bold by Choice, we travel to St. Louis to spotlight City Garden Montessori School — a public charter school built on the belief that Montessori education should be accessible to every child.

CEO Christie Huck shares the story of how City Garden began — not as an education reform initiative, but as a group of parents asking a powerful question: What kind of school do our children and our city truly deserve? What began with living-room conversations and a tiny preschool eventually grew into a public charter school serving more than 600 students across early childhood, elementary, and adolescent programs.

Grounded in the Montessori philosophy, City Garden creates prepared environments where students build independence, responsibility, and a deep love of learning. In classrooms filled with hands-on materials, collaboration, and student ownership, children learn not just academics — but how to care for their community and for one another.

City Garden reminds us that when schools trust children’s curiosity and design learning environments around their humanity, extraordinary things can happen.

Stay Bold by Choice.

• Season 3 Partner: Diverse Charter Schools Coalition • City Garden Montessori School — St. Louis, Missouri • Montessori philosophy: autonomy, independence, and individualized learning • Prepared environments designed for beauty, order, and student ownership • Public charter model expanding Montessori access to diverse families • Grew from 53 students in 2008 to more than 600 students today • Teachers undergo rigorous Montessori certification and training • Students stay in multi-year classroom communities, strengthening relationships • Student lesson of the year: children show profound compassion and care for one another in times of hardship

#SchoolBrag

In this episode of Bold by Choice, we head to Altadena, California, to spotlight Odyssey Charter Schools — a community built around active learning, strong relationships, and a workshop model designed for how students actually learn.

This season, in partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition, we’re highlighting intentionally designed public schools across the country. Odyssey lives deeply into that promise — centering student voice, social-emotional well-being, and academic rigor in equal measure.

Operational leader Rachelle Martinez shares how behind-the-scenes leadership shapes students’ daily experience — from navigating renewal years ago to leading through COVID and the devastating Eaton fire. Through it all, Odyssey remained focused on what mattered most: creating safe, responsive spaces where students feel known and supported.

We explore the school’s workshop model, restorative practices like the Peace Path, and beloved traditions like Stone Soup Day — all grounded in community, collaboration, and resilience.

Odyssey reminds us that great schools aren’t accidental. They are built — and rebuilt — on purpose.

Stay Bold by Choice.

• Season 3 Partner: Diverse Charter Schools Coalition • Odyssey was founded in 1999 to challenge one-size-fits-all instruction • Workshop model: mini-lessons + collaborative learning + “organized chaos” • Responsive Classroom & restorative practices embedded from TK • Peace Path conflict resolution system across campus • Stone Soup Day community tradition rooted in collective responsibility • Led through COVID and the Eaton fire with a focus on safety and belonging • Operational leadership as a driver of student experience • Student lesson of the year: resilience, flexibility, and hope

#SchoolBrag

In this episode of the Bold by Choice Podcast, we travel to Brooklyn to spotlight Prospect Schools — one of New York City’s first intentionally integrated charter school networks, grounded in the International Baccalaureate framework and designed around inquiry, identity, and belonging.

This season, in partnership with the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition, we’re highlighting schools that are intentionally diverse by design — and Prospect lives that commitment every day.

CEO Tresha Ward shares how her journey as the daughter of West Indian immigrants and a first-generation college student shaped her leadership and her commitment to ensuring students are not just college-ready, but life-ready. From shadowing students each year to building systems where every child is known by at least one adult, Tresha unpacks how intentional diversity and inquiry-driven learning prepare students to thrive in complex, global spaces.

Prospect reminds us that excellence and belonging aren’t opposites — they’re partners.

Stay Bold by Choice.

• Season 3 Partner: Diverse Charter Schools Coalition • Prospect Schools is one of NYC’s first intentionally integrated charter networks • Grounded in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework • Students engage in interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning • CEO shadows students annually to lead through a student lens • Strong adult culture with 80%+ staff retention • Expanding focus on life-ready skills: digital literacy, financial literacy, college persistence & career preparation • Alumni partnerships supporting students beyond high school graduation

#SchoolBrag

What happens when language, culture, and belonging are treated as strengths — not barriers?

In this powerful episode of Bold by Choice, host Vashaunta Harris travels to Los Angeles to sit down with Gayle Nadler, co-founder and executive director of Multicultural Learning Center (MLC), a TK–8 public charter school that has been living out the promise of bilingual, inclusive education for more than 20 years.

Gayle shares the deeply personal story that shaped MLC’s design — from her fourth-grade experience being bused across Los Angeles into a bilingual classroom where she longed to belong, to the living-room conversations with her mother that led them to open a dual-language charter school during California’s ban on bilingual education (Proposition 227). Just days after opening, the school faced the national trauma of 9/11 — a moment that cemented MLC’s mission to prepare students to navigate a complex, interconnected world with empathy, confidence, and voice.

Listeners will hear how MLC’s two-way bilingual immersion model treats every student as a language learner, why cultural identity is central to academic success, and how classrooms are intentionally designed for joy, movement, collaboration, and inclusion. Gayle also reflects on alumni stories that reveal the long-term impact of the school — graduates who advocate across cultures, challenge injustice, and carry confidence into college, careers, and community life.

The conversation closes with reflections on leadership, balance, listening to students, and what it truly means to be bold in education.

Episode Highlights:

• A fourth-grade experience that inspired a lifelong commitment to belonging

• Founding a bilingual charter school during California’s ban on bilingual education

• Designing classrooms where language, culture, and identity are assets

• Alumni stories that reveal the long-term impact of dual-language learning

• A scholarship fund rooted in legacy, community, and giving back

• Leadership lessons on balance, accountability, and leading with heart

If you believe schools should reflect the world students live in — and help them thrive within it — this episode is for you.

Share this episode with someone who believes in bilingual education, inclusive design, and public schools built on love and purpose. And don’t forget to share your own #SchoolBrag story with us.

Until next time — stay Bold by Choice.

What does it look like when a public school is designed around a single, powerful question: What would it take for every student to be known, loved, and inspired academically?

In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner head to Baltimore to spotlight City Neighbors—a family of public charter schools that has spent nearly two decades proving what’s possible when creativity, authentic relationships, and student agency sit at the center of learning.

City Neighbors began not in a boardroom, but in a living room—where 17 families gathered around a quilt-covered table, dreaming up the best school they could imagine for their children. From that vision grew one of Maryland’s earliest charter schools, now expanded into three campuses serving nearly 900 students across two K–8 schools and a high school. The through-line has never changed: small communities, deep relationships, and learning that matters.

Mike Chalupa, Executive Director and founding leader, shares how his own middle-school experience—watching the clock tick toward dismissal—shaped his commitment to building schools where students don’t want learning to end. LaShawn Bowser, school leader at City Neighbors Hamilton, reflects on her journey from youth counseling to education and the moment she realized that how students experience their school day shapes everything else in their lives.

Together, they unpack what makes City Neighbors distinct:

• Public project-based learning grounded in real questions and real work

• Reggio Emilia–inspired design, treating students as capable, creative, and worthy of deep respect

• Arts integration as a core academic strategy

• Intentional physical spaces that signal calm, dignity, and collaboration

• Teacher autonomy and professionalism, where educators design learning with students, not just for them

Listeners hear powerful stories—from a student who learned she no longer had to change herself to fit school, to graduates who name the adults who loved them when it wasn’t easy, to projects that helped students see themselves as problem-solvers and creators in the world.

The conversation also pulls back the curtain on leadership: the hard days, the failures that become learning moments, and the long-game mindset required to do human-centered work well. As Mike and LaShawn remind us, this is journey work—and transformation doesn’t happen on a timetable.

This episode is a reminder that:

• Joy, beauty, and belonging are academic strategies

• Failure is an event, not an identity

• Great schools are built by communities brave enough to ask different questions

If you believe public schools can be places where students are fully themselves—brilliant, curious, messy, creative, and whole—this is a #SchoolBrag you won’t want to miss.

Listen in and be inspired by City Neighbors—where students are truly known, deeply loved, and academically inspired.

What if schools were designed around real children—their strengths, their differences, their pace, and their potential?

In this episode of Bold by Choice, we travel to Georgia to spotlight Tapestry Public Charter School, a middle and high school where neurodiversity isn’t just accepted—it’s celebrated. Founded by parents seeking something better for their children, Tapestry was built as a fully inclusive learning environment where neurotypical and neurodivergent students learn side by side, supported by co-teachers, small class sizes, individualized learning plans, and a deep culture of belonging.

Hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Dr. Matthew Tyson, Tapestry’s CEO, whose journey—from special education teacher to charter leader—has been shaped by a lifelong belief that a child’s zip code or learning style should never define their future. Growing up in a neurodiverse family and moving frequently across states, Dr. Tyson saw firsthand how uneven educational systems can be—and why schools must evolve.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Tyson shares powerful stories that bring Tapestry’s model to life, including:

• A former student once written off academically who went on to master college-level math

• Why “every classroom is a special education classroom—in the best way possible”

• How co-teaching, double planning periods, and student ownership fuel teacher retention and joy

• What it took to advocate at the Georgia State Capitol—and win bipartisan support—to expand charter access after years of district denials

• Why inclusion isn’t a program, but a belief system that shapes every decision

With a 100% graduation rate, a long waiting list, and a second campus opening in Clayton County, Tapestry shows what’s possible when schools center dignity, flexibility, and high expectations for every learner.

As Dr. Tyson reminds us, “It’s never the kids—it’s on us.” And when educators design with love, courage, and persistence, students don’t just succeed—they belong.

This is a true #SchoolBrag episode—one that challenges assumptions, honors student voice, and reimagines what inclusive public education can be.

Listen in and share with anyone who believes schools should work for all kids—not just some.

• Tapestry Public Charter School: https://www.tapestrycharter.org

• Diverse Charter Schools Coalition: Schools like Tapestry are proud members of DCSC

Our guest is Halis Kablan, Secondary Principal at Beehive Science and Technology Academy—a school that began nearly 20 years ago with just 150 students in the basement of an office building and has grown into a thriving K–12 STEM community serving nearly 880 students.

Beehive was founded on a bold belief: science and technology education is for everyone—especially immigrant, multilingual, and underrepresented students. Today, the school serves families from 48 countries, speaking 60+ languages, making it one of the most diverse school communities in Utah.

In this conversation, Halis shares his personal journey—from studying biology in Turkey and discovering teaching by chance, to dedicating 18 years to Beehive’s mission of equity through STEM. He reflects on what keeps educators committed for decades, why students want to come to school, and how hands-on learning unlocks joy, confidence, and passion.

You’ll hear powerful stories from inside Beehive’s classrooms, including:

• Students designing, testing, and launching hot air balloons and rockets

• Robotics teams competing at state, national, and international levels

• Alumni returning to mentor current students

• Teachers integrating STEM across every subject—from kindergarten through high school

• A culture where being “into STEM,” robotics, or D&D is celebrated, not sidelined

Beehive’s results speak for themselves: the school has been named a U.S. News & World Report Best High School multiple years in a row and ranked #1 in Utah for five consecutive years—all while staying rooted in community, collaboration, and love for students.

As Halis reminds us, the real measure of success isn’t just rankings—it’s when students come home excited to talk about their day, when shy learners find their voice, and when passion turns into purpose.

If you believe excellence doesn’t require perfect conditions—only clarity of mission—this episode is for you.

Share this conversation with an educator, leader, or parent who believes in STEM for all, culturally responsive education, and schools built on belonging.

And don’t forget to share your own #SchoolBrag story—we want to hear how your school is building possibility for students.

Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay in the community.

What happens when a school refuses to choose between academic rigor and student well-being?

In this episode of Bold by Choice, we travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to spotlight Valor Collegiate Academies—a nationally recognized, high-performing charter network designed around one bold belief: students thrive when their minds, bodies, and spirits are developed together.

Steven Palmer, a Teach For America alum and longtime Valor leader, shares how Valor was intentionally designed to address three urgent challenges facing students today:

• the academic opportunity gap,

• the student mental-health crisis, and

• growing polarization in our communities.

Rather than treating these as competing priorities, Valor built a student-centered, whole-child model that integrates rigorous academics with deep social-emotional learning, strong relationships, and student voice .

• How Valor empowers students through student-led “Changemakers” coalitions that elevate student voice and agency

• Why, daily feedback loops, coaching for every adult, and real-time support outperform waiting for year-end test scores

• How the Compass Model (mind, body, spirit) shows up in classrooms, circles, and culture every single day

• A powerful student story that illustrates what happens when educators refuse to blame children and instead ask, “What do they need right now?”

• Why families rate Valor so highly—and what a 9.08/10 family recommendation score says about trust, belonging, and joy

Steven also reflects on one of the simplest—and hardest—truths in education, passed down from a veteran teacher early in his career:

“Love the kids. You’ll figure the rest out.”

This conversation reminds us that great schools are not built on compliance or shortcuts. They’re built through intentional design, relentless care, and teams that refuse to give up on students—even when the work is hard.

As Steven puts it, when schools are at their best, they become places where students can say:

“I think I’m starting to love this school again.”

That’s not accidental. That’s leadership. That’s design. That’s Bold by Choice.

If this episode inspired you, share it with an educator or family member who believes schools can be places of joy, rigor, and belonging. And tell us your own #SchoolBrag—we want to hear about schools doing right by kids.

What happens when students aren’t just served by a school, but help design it?

In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Dr. Sundai Riggins, Head of School at Inspired Teaching Demonstration School in Washington, D.C., for a powerful conversation about student voice, belonging, joy, and whole-child design.

Dr. Riggins shares her journey as a career educator and the beliefs that shape Inspired Teaching’s model—where students are treated as co-designers, learning is inquiry-based, and joy is viewed as an act of resistance. From student-led theatrical productions and intersession experiences to small learning environments, two adults per classroom, and open feedback loops, this episode brings listeners inside a school community intentionally built with students, not just for them.

You’ll hear:

• How Inspired Teaching empowers students with agency, responsibility, and confidence, including backstage student leadership in school productions

• Why children’s individuality and energy are assets, not obstacles

• How academics and whole-child learning are balanced through inquiry, feedback, and flexible design

• Why mentorship, open practice, and community engagement are central to the school’s mission

• How love, relationships, and belonging serve as the school’s true “secret sauce.”

Dr. Riggins reminds us that students won’t be students forever—they’re future citizens. Schools, at their best, prepare young people not just to succeed academically, but to know their voices matter, to advocate for themselves, and to carry confidence beyond school walls

S3 E3

This is a conversation about designing schools that honor humanity, cultivate joy, and expand what’s possible when we trust students with real responsibility.

If this episode inspired you, share it with an educator or parent who believes schools should be built around curiosity, community, and care—and tell us your own #SchoolBrag story.

Stay bold. Stay mission-driven. Stay in the community.

Season 3 of Bold by Choice is all about schools worth bragging about—and this episode delivers.

We head to Rhode Island to spotlight Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP), a charter school network intentionally designed to bring together students from four neighboring but historically unequal communities. Across six campuses, BVP blends rigorous academics, joyful school culture, and a deeply rooted college-going mindset that begins early and lasts well beyond graduation.

Sarah Anderson shares how BVP’s integrated model, co-teaching approach, strong family partnerships, and intentional design help expand the circle of success for more students—academically, socially, and culturally.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Going beyond college prep to prepare students for life

• Designing integrated public schools with purpose

• Creating belonging alongside academic rigor

• Supporting teachers through collaboration and coaching

• Leading with pragmatism, optimism, and heart

Listen in, share with a colleague, and join us this season as we celebrate bold schools, bold leadership, and bold choices.

In this premiere episode, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Sonia Park and Ashley Heard, Executive Director and Deputy Director of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition (DCSC). Together, they explore how DCSC is leading a movement to design public schools that reflect the richness and diversity of their communities.

From its 281 member schools in 26 states and D.C. — serving over 120,000 students — to its 22 Communities of Practice and leadership programs (the Fellows and Explorers), DCSC is redefining what it means to be diverse by design.

Sonia and Ashley share how their backgrounds — from Philadelphia classrooms to Teach For America — shaped their calling to lead this coalition. Their “why” stories reveal how courage and clarity fuel bold leadership in education.

Jim’s Reflection: “When you know your calling, it gives you courage — and courage is contagious.”

DCSC is a member-driven network focused on peer learning, equity, and sustainability. Sonia and Ashley explain how they use data, research, and storytelling to strengthen schools and grow leaders who build belonging through design.

Key stats:

• 281 member schools across 26 states + D.C.

• 120,000 students served nationwide

• 22 Communities of Practice for shared problem-solving

• 19 new schools launched through the Fellows Program

• Annual Convening “Better Together” — an energizing national gathering of educators

DCSC’s member schools span diverse models — from IB to project-based learning — united by shared commitments to excellence, culture, and love. Sonia and Ashley introduce DCSC’s High-Quality, Inclusive, Diverse (HQID) framework, developed with members to define what “excellent and equitable” really looks like.

The coalition is more than an organization — it’s a movement of practitioners. Sonia and Ashley share how listeners can get involved, from joining Communities of Practice to attending DCSC’s next Annual Convening in Washington, D.C.

Bold Question: “What’s the boldest choice you’ve made as a school leader to keep your promise to students — and what did it teach you?”

“Chartering at its best is about community, vision, and equity. Sonia and Ashley remind us that being bold together means designing schools that don’t just reflect our world — they help build a better one.” — Vashaunta Harris

As Season Three begins, Bold by Choice will continue to spotlight diverse-by-design schools across the nation — schools that prove what’s possible when leaders choose courage, community, and creativity.

Until next time — stay bold, stay mission-driven, and stay in community.

From the earliest days of Massachusetts’ charter experiment, Linda Brown saw what was missing: a system to ensure that new schools were not just open, but excellent. She founded BES to meet that need—developing rigorous fellowships, training future leaders, and creating schools built on discipline, love, and results.

“Excellence is not accidental—it’s engineered through vision, discipline, and belief in what’s possible.” — Linda Brown

Brown’s philosophy pushed beyond authorization or enrollment numbers; she believed success was only real when students achieved world-class academic outcomes. Through her leadership, BES has launched and supported more than 50 schools nationwide, and her imprint can still be felt in classrooms where high expectations meet deep care.

“Poverty is not a limit on potential. The limits we accept are the ones we place on ourselves.” — Linda Brown, Founders Library Interview

Linda Brown didn’t wait for permission. When she saw no clear pathway for ensuring excellence in new charter schools, she built one—from scratch.

“If it doesn’t exist, build it. That’s what founders do.” — Linda Brown

Brown rejected the idea that innovation alone was enough. For her, rigor, accountability, and consistency were non-negotiables. She championed longer school days, family engagement, and relentless follow-through.

She challenged deficit thinking head-on. Her mission: to prove that literacy, access, and opportunity were the real game-changers, not circumstance.

BES’s Fellowship model was demanding by design—long hours, constant feedback, and the requirement to move to where the need was greatest. Those who finished the program emerged ready to found and sustain great schools.

For Linda, the win wasn’t authorization or funding—it was when third-grade reading and math scores outpaced district averages. Student results were the measure of excellence.

Don Cooper:

“Linda Brown’s story reminds us that excellence doesn’t emerge by accident—it’s engineered through vision, discipline, and belief in what’s possible.”

Vashaunta Harris:

“Her legacy lives on in every BES-trained leader and every classroom where high expectations meet deep care. To be bold by choice is to build systems that last.”

• Interview: Interview of Linda Brown

• Collection: The Linda Brown Collection

• Organization: Building Excellent Schools (BES)

• Founders Library – Main Archive: charterlibrary.org

Call to Action: If Linda Brown’s story inspired you, share this episode with a fellow educator or leader who believes in the power of excellence. Visit Building Excellent Schools or explore her oral history in the National Charter Schools Founders Library to learn more.

Closing Line: “Until next time, stay bold, stay mission-driven, and stay in community.”

Beginning in San Carlos, California — home of the state’s first charter — Shalvey describes how an unexpected lunch with Reed Hastings, then a tech entrepreneur and future Netflix CEO, turned into a decades-long partnership that changed public education. Together, they formed Californians for Public School Excellence, wrote new charter legislation, and set the stage for scalable, high-quality innovation in public schools.

From that collaboration came a quiet but revolutionary innovation: allowing a single nonprofit board to oversee multiple schools — an idea that would forever reshape how charters could operate and grow.

“An infinite number of charters all needing a board… was both inefficient and probably could create more problems with governance.” — Don Shalvey, Founders Library Interview

Don Shalvey’s policy insight — enabling multiple schools under one governing board — made Aspire Public Schools possible. That framework became the foundation for charter management organizations (CMOs) across the country.

“I think anybody who ever does school work has to be open to uncertainty as well as the sort of art of possibility.” — Don Shalvey

Shalvey didn’t work alone. He brought together teachers, policymakers, and innovators like Reed Hastings to turn policy into practice. It’s a model of bipartisan, collaborative reform still relevant today.

“It wasn’t just about law — it was about leadership, relationships, and being willing to try something new.” — Don Shalvey

Throughout his career, Shalvey saw himself as a learner first — curious, adaptable, and generous in sharing what worked. That humility created the conditions for scale without losing soul.

“She asked us for only one thing in return ever. And she’s like – just share everything openly with everybody.” — Don Shalvey, referencing the ‘share everything’ ethos that also shaped KIPP and Aspire.

The Aspire story is not just about a network — it’s about momentum. Shalvey’s work at Aspire, and later at the Gates Foundation, reminds us that sustainable reform starts with shared purpose, not just structure.

Vashaunta Harris:

“Don Shalvey didn’t just build schools; he built a bridge between sectors. His ability to see innovation not as a threat, but as an invitation, is something every leader can learn from.”

Don Cooper:

“That one clause — one board, multiple schools — may seem small, but it transformed the entire field. Don’s story is proof that policy design and human vision have to work hand in hand.”

• Interview: A School Founder’s History: Don Shalvey, Aspire Public Schools

• California Context: California’s Charter Schools Story

• 1992 Enabling Law: Senate Bill 1448, Chapter 781 (1992)

• Policy Background: Hart, Gary K. & Burr, Sue. “The Story of California’s Charter School Legislation.” Phi Delta Kappan (1996). Access required

• Founders Library – Full Archive: charterlibrary.org

David Levin, co-founder of KIPP, shares how one extraordinary educator, Harriet Ball, changed the course of his life — and in doing so, changed the course of public education. From his early struggles as a first-year teacher in Houston to his partnership with Mike Feinberg, Levin recalls the lessons Harriet taught him: “It’s never the kids,” “Meet them where they are,” and “Teach with love.”

What began as mentorship became a movement. Harriet’s famous classroom chant —

“You gotta read, baby, read. The more you read, the more you know. Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.” — inspired not only the name of KIPP, but a national philosophy of empowerment through learning.

Levin’s reflections remind us that at the heart of every bold reform is a human connection — one teacher passing the baton to another.

When a struggling teacher met a master educator, magic happened. Harriet Ball didn’t just teach lessons — she modeled joy, rigor, and unconditional love. Her mentorship turned frustration into inspiration and helped launch one of America’s most recognized charter school networks.

“She taught in 45 minutes what I had failed to teach all year long.” — David Levin

Levin credits Harriet with teaching him three enduring truths:

• It’s never the kids — success begins with the teacher’s mindset.

• Meet students where they are — academically and emotionally.

• Teach with love — even when students don’t make it easy.

These principles became the moral framework of KIPP, and countless schools were influenced by its model.

Harriet’s chant — “Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.” — became KIPP’s name and mantra. It also symbolized the larger idea behind chartering: that knowledge liberates, and educators have the power to reimagine how students learn.

Harriet’s only request was simple: “Share what I’ve taught you.” Levin and Feinberg carried that ethos forward, creating an open-door policy where any educator could visit KIPP schools, observe, and learn. That spirit of collaboration extended to partnerships with Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, and the creation of Relay Graduate School of Education — a modern relay of teaching excellence.

From Harriet’s fourth-grade classroom to KIPP’s national network and beyond, this story is about legacy — educators passing wisdom, courage, and compassion from one generation to the next.

“It’s never the kids. It’s on us.” — David Levin

Vashaunta Harris:

“This story resonates with me deeply as a former TFAer. Dave’s realization that ‘it’s not the kids — it’s me’ is one of the most powerful shifts any teacher can make. That mindset is where leadership begins.”

Don Cooper:

“Harriet Ball’s mentorship didn’t just shape KIPP — it reshaped the movement. Her lessons on joy, rigor, and love became the DNA of great teaching everywhere.”

Together, the hosts reflect on how mentorship, humility, and shared purpose continue to define the best of the charter movement — and how Harriet Ball’s legacy remains a guiding light.

Explore the stories and archives mentioned in this episode:

• A School Founder’s History: Dave Levin

• Interview of Richard Whitmire – The Founders

• The Founders – eBook PDF

• The Linda Brown Collection

• Pioneers and Practitioners: Freedom Preparatory Academy

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow educator who believes that knowledge is power — and that power is freedom. Subscribe to keep learning from the founders and the teachers who keep the torch lit.

Commissioned by The 74 Million and drawn from the archives of the National Charter Schools Founders Library, The Founders traces the rise of networks like KIPP, Uncommon, and Achievement First. Whitmire reveals that their shared success came from an open-source culture rooted in generosity — a legacy that began in Harriet Ball’s Houston classroom.

“The founders didn’t guard their playbooks—they swapped them.” — Richard Whitmire, Inside The Founders (Charter Library Interview)

Whitmire’s project began after a casual conversation with Don Shalvey, who encouraged him to look past test scores and policies. What started as a journalistic curiosity became a national chronicle of the people and relationships driving educational transformation.

“Don Shalvey said, ‘If you really want to know what happened, talk to the people who built it.’ That changed everything.” — Richard Whitmire

Whitmire found that the most effective charter networks didn’t compete — they shared everything: lesson plans, data, mistakes, and breakthroughs. Instead of guarding intellectual property, they lifted one another up.

“They were rivals for teachers and funding, but they shared their secrets anyway. It was collaboration that made them successful.” — Richard Whitmire, The Founders Interview Transcript

The culture of sharing began with legendary teacher Harriet Ball, whose mentorship of Dave Levin and Mike Feinberg inspired KIPP’s creation. Her only request: “Share what I’ve taught you.” That mindset became the DNA of the entire charter sector — generosity as a design principle.

Through these networks’ collaborative models, Whitmire witnessed schools where low-income students of color achieved at levels matching their affluent peers — what he called “one of the most hopeful, under-told stories in American education.”

Supported by an Emerson Collective Fellowship, Whitmire used the Founders Library archives to document a movement still unfolding. His conclusion? The future of education depends on leaders who share what works.

“Movements endure when people choose to collaborate instead of compete.” — Don Cooper “When we share what works, every child wins.” — Vashaunta Harris

In this episode, Whitmire reminds us that the real innovation behind chartering wasn’t just autonomy or accountability — it was community. The spirit of sharing, mentorship, and learning together remains one of public education’s most transformative forces.

Listen now, and explore The Founders Collection at the Charter Library.

Explore these featured resources from the episode:

• Interview of Richard Whitmire (Founders Library Collection)

• The Founders – eBook PDF

• A School Founder’s History: Dave Levin

• The Linda Brown Collection

• Pioneers and Practitioners: Freedom Preparatory Academy

This conversation isn’t just about history — it’s about the future. Together, the hosts look back on the movement’s biggest themes and ask how we can continue to honor the original charter promise: freedom, accountability, innovation, and equity.

They explore what’s next for chartering as a living, evolving idea — one that still challenges leaders to think differently about policy, people, and possibilities for kids.

What have the last 30 years of chartering taught us about policy, people, and kids? How do those lessons prepare us for the next generation of change?

Chartering was designed to make space for innovation. What have we learned from the compromises of the past — and how can we refine our frameworks for what’s next?

From pioneers to policymakers, chartering has always been fueled by people. What leadership traits stand out across decades of change?

Behind every law and policy are students whose lives have been transformed. How do we keep them — not politics — at the center of the story?

Echoing Ted Kolderie’s insight — “the solutions come from those closest to the action” — the conversation reaffirms that the next era of chartering will depend on listening to teachers, families, and communities.

Vashaunta Harris: “Chartering is not just about laws or policies — it’s about people seeing possibilities, taking risks, and creating something new for kids. Studying the past isn’t optional; it’s essential if we want to create a better future.”

Final Message: Season Two may end here, but the journey continues. Season Three will spotlight today’s charter innovators — the schools, boards, and leaders boldly living out the promise in real time.

Explore the people, papers, and policies that shaped 30 years of chartering through the Founders Library:

• Interview of Ember Reichgott Junge

• Zero Chance of Passage: The Pioneering Charter School Story

• The Founders: Inside the Revolution to Invent (and Reinvent) America’s Best Charter Schools

In this episode of Bold by Choice, co-hosts Vashaunta Harris, Jim Goenner, Ember Reichgott Junge and Don Cooper spotlight the first generation of charter founders who didn’t just respond to the system — they reimagined it.

These leaders turned ideas into schools, blueprints into movements, and challenges into opportunities. Their approaches were diverse — entrepreneurial, justice-driven, classroom-centered — but all were bold by choice.

• Dave Levin – Co-founder of KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program), who turned one Houston classroom into a national model for academic rigor and character education.

• J.C. Huizenga – Founder of National Heritage Academies, who brought a business-minded approach to scaling quality and sustainability across public schools.

• Don Shalvey – Founder of Aspire Public Schools, one of the first CMOs, who partnered with entrepreneurs like Reed Hastings to pioneer scalable innovation.

• Linda Brown – Founder of Building Excellent Schools, who built leaders, not just schools—training hundreds of founders through her rigorous fellowship model.

• Roblin Webb – Founder of Freedom Prep in Memphis, who grounded her work in justice, equity, and the unwavering belief that Black students deserve excellence.

• Vision Meets Execution: The founders proved that laws don’t change lives — people do.

• Scale Requires Design: From CMOs to fellowships, structure became a tool for sustainability.

• Equity Is Innovation: Justice-centered schools redefined what it means to serve every child.

• Courage Is Contagious: Each founder’s risk paved the way for thousands of others.

As Jim and Vashaunta reflect, the first wave of charter founders reminds us that real innovation isn’t uniform — it’s courageous. The question for today’s leaders: Are we still as bold as they were?

Explore the stories and interviews mentioned in this episode through the Founders Library and the resources below:

• The Founders: Inside the Revolution to Invent (and Reinvent) America’s Best Charter Schools — by Richard Whitmire

• A School Founder’s History: Dave Levin

• Interview of J.C. Huizenga

• A School Founder’s History: Don Shalvey, Aspire Public Schools

• The Linda Brown Collection

• Pioneers and Practitioners: Freedom Preparatory Academy

• In Washington, D.C., Tom Nida and Jo Baker recall how two boards were formed to oversee charter schools—without a playbook, precedent, or even the word authorizer in common use.

• In Minnesota, Pat Sandro raises questions about district-based authorizing and whether districts were ever the right entities to serve as neutral stewards.

Together, these stories highlight the leadership, trial-and-error, and bold problem-solving it took to move chartering from policy on paper to practice in schools.

• Lead without a playbook – Early authorizers had no blueprint; they had to define the role as they went.

• Balance support and accountability – Even today, authorizers wrestle with being both partner and regulator.

• Question the structure – Minnesota’s district-based model raised conflicts of interest that still spark debate.

• Reimagine, don’t just repeat – Authorizing is not just compliance—it’s custodianship of the charter promise.

Explore the full oral histories and research in the Founders Library

• Interview of Josephine (Jo) Baker and Tom Nida

• Interview of Pat Sandro

• Interview of Robert (Bob) Mills, Ph.D.

• The Politics of Charter School Authorizing: The Case Study of New York by Jonas Chartock (2012) – Read here

Two very different contexts, two very different laws—but both fueled by bold leadership and a shared belief that public schools could do better for families.

• In Arizona, Lisa Graham Keegan helped craft one of the most independent charter laws in the country, creating new authorizing structures outside of district control.

• In North Carolina, Speaker Harold Brubaker and Senator Fountain Odom championed charters as opportunities, not attacks—navigating bipartisan politics and caps on growth.

Together, these stories show how courage, context, and coalition-building shaped the next wave of chartering in America.

• Why the 1990s were ripe for rapid state adoption of charter laws.

• The bold design choices that made Arizona’s law stand out nationally.

• North Carolina’s unique balance of competition and opportunity.

• Leadership lessons from Lisa Graham Keegan and Harold Brubaker.

• Founders Library – Oral histories, legislative documents, and original resources.

• Zero Chance of Passage by Ember Reichgott Junge – Get the book

• Arizona & NC Oral Histories – Explore interviews with Lisa Graham Keegan and Harold Brubaker.

You’ll hear directly from Governor John Engler of Michigan and Governor John Ellis (Jeb) Bush of Florida, who each pushed through historic charter school laws—though in very different ways.

• In Michigan, Engler leveraged executive power and structural reforms to make chartering a competitive force.

• In Florida, Bush and Ellis crafted a vision rooted in accountability and equity, building a new structure from scratch.

Together, these stories show how bold leadership, political courage, and strategic design helped transform state systems—and what today’s leaders can learn from their example.

• Governor Engler recalls how Michigan’s charter law passed despite resistance.

• Why Proposal A’s funding shift was a game-changer for Michigan schools.

• Jeb Bush and John Ellis reflect on Florida’s early law and its roots in accountability and family choice.

• How different political contexts produced unique models—and enduring lessons.

• Leadership takeaways: seize the moment, design for context, and act boldly when the system won’t change itself.

• Governor John Engler Special Address to the Michigan Legislature on Education (1993)

• James N. Goenner, The Origination of Michigan’s Charter Schools Policy: A Historical Analysis (2011)

• Interview of Richard McLellan (2020)

• Interview of Gov. John Engler (2022)

• Interview of John Ellis ("Jeb") Bush (2021)

👉 Be sure to subscribe, share, and leave us a review. Bold choices got us here—and bold leadership will keep us moving forward.

From California’s SB 1448 negotiated in a few days by bipartisan champions, to Colorado’s collaborative law shaped by Peggy Kerns, Bill Owens, and community stakeholders, this episode uncovers how vision, strategy, and political courage turned idea into policy.

Guests:

• Ember Reichgott Junge – author of Minnesota’s first charter law, movement pioneer

• Don Cooper – charter historian and civic leader

Whether you lead a school, work in policy, or just believe in educational innovation, join us to hear how these Western states blazed bold trails—and what their stories teach about leading change where you are.

California

• California's Charter Schools Story. (2019) https://charterlibrary.org/library/californias-charter-schools-story/
• [ACCESS REQUIRED] Hart, Gary K. and Burr, Sue. "The Story of California's Charter School Legislation." Phi Delta Kappan. (1996) https://www.jstor.org/stable/20405703?seq=1
• "Education Chairs Introduce 'Charter Schools' Bills". Press release from state Senator Gary K. Hart. (1992) https://charterlibrary.org/library/education-chairs-introduce-charter-schools-bills/
• Senate Bill 1448 Chapter 781. (1992). https://charterlibrary.org/library/senate-bill-no-1448-chapter-781/

Colorado

• Interview of Peggy Kerns and Alex Medler. (2019) https://charterlibrary.org/library/interview-of-peggy-kerns-and-alex-medler/
• Interview of Bill Owens. (2019) https://charterlibrary.org/library/interview-of-bill-owens/
• Comparison of Charter School Provisions, Minnesota Statute, California Statute, and 93-183. (1993) https://charterlibrary.org/library/comparison-of-charter-school-provisions-minnesota-statute-california-statute-and-sb-93-183-1993-02-09/
• Romer, Roy. State of the State Address (excerpt). (1993) https://charterlibrary.org/library/governor-roy-romer/

Listeners will hear clips from Senator Dave Durenberger and Jon Schroeder that capture the heart of this moment in history—when federal policymakers saw the potential for chartering to transform public education and chose to champion it. Together, the group unpacks how asking the right question at the right time, combined with strategic policy design, created the federal Charter Schools Program.

Episode Highlights:

• Senator Dave Durenberger’s powerful story of the question that sparked action.

• How “public service options” and state-level innovation became federal priorities.

• Jon Schroeder’s blueprint for funding and authorizing charter schools at scale.

• The crucial role of authorizers and why structure drives outcomes.

• Lessons in timing, collaboration, and coalition-building that still apply today.

Whether you’re a policy leader, authorizer, or educator, this episode offers a masterclass in how visionary questions and strategic action create the conditions for lasting systems change.

Listen now to learn how federal leadership made chartering a national priority—and how you can keep building on that legacy.

Resources & Show Notes:

• Founder’s Library — Explore the documents and oral histories from Senator Dave Durenberger and Jon Schroeder.

• 1994 Public School Redefinition Act Summary — Learn how the federal Charter Schools Program came to life.

• 2018 Conversation: Ted Kolderie & Ember Reichgott Junge

• Interview with Ember Reichgott Junge (2023)

• Creating the Capacity for Change by Ted Kolderie

Ember takes listeners behind the scenes of the late 1980s and early 1990s, weaving together the context, opposition, compromises, and breakthroughs that led to the passage of the first charter school law in 1991. From the Nation at Risk report to Governor Rudy Perpich’s reforms, the Itasca Conference dinner napkin sketch, and finally the emotional “worst day of her career” that ended in legislative victory, Ember’s story reveals how bold leadership, persistence, and principled compromise created the conditions for change.

Episode Highlights:

• How A Nation at Risk and Governor Perpich’s reforms set the stage for chartering.

• The pivotal role of the Citizens League and Ted Kolderie in advancing bold ideas.

• Ember’s personal journey: navigating resistance from unions, moderates, and political allies.

• The tense final days of 1991, when the law nearly died — and then passed by just three votes.

• Leadership lessons from Ember’s story: compromise is not defeat, structure must change before strategy, and timing matters.

Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, or advocate, this episode offers timeless lessons in courage, resilience, and system redesign. Ember reminds us that laws aren’t just ink on paper — they’re ideas that can change lives.

Show Notes & Resources:

• Zero Chance of Passage: The Pioneering Charter School Story (2012)

• Remarks by Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge to the Democratic Leadership Conference (1991)

• “Involving Families in Education” – A White House Panel (1995)

• A Conversation between Ted Kolderie and Ember Reichgott Junge (2018): Chartering Origins | Why and How | Chartering Policy and Advocacy

  • https://charterlibrary.org/library/2018-kolderie-and-junge-discussion-part-1-chartering-origins/; Why and How https://charterlibrary.org/library/2018-kolderie-and-junge-discussion-part-2-chartering-why-and-how/; Chartering Policy and Advocacy https://charterlibrary.org/library/2018-kolderie-and-junge-discussion-part-3-chartering-policy-and-advocacy/

• Interview of Ember Reichgott Junge (2023)

• Brief Amici Curiae of Former Elected and Appointed Officials, St. Isidore v. Oklahoma (2025)

• Oklahoma Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville School v. Drummond Oral Argument

• Additional Reading: Chartering A Better Course (book); Zero Rights of Passage (available via donation — inquire through the Charter Library).

Listen now to uncover the true story behind the first charter school law — a story of vision, resistance, compromise, and bold leadership.

Episode Highlights:

• Why language matters: chartering as a verb, not a noun.

• Teacher leadership and the radical redesign of school roles.

• The “big boat/little boat” analogy and what it teaches us about innovation.

• Leadership lessons for today: redesign structures, empower teachers, and create space for small, nimble experiments.

Featured Archival Clips from the Charter Library Oral History: Ted Kolderie

Resources & Links:

• Zero Chance of Passage by Ember Reichgott Junge

• Creating the Capacity for Change (2004)

• Chartered Schools = Choices for Educators + Quality for All Students (1988 Citizens League Report)

• Making the School the Teachers’ School (2022)

Listen now and hear Ted’s words brought back to life—paired with reflections from the people who knew him best.

This episode pairs vivid storytelling with primary sources so you can follow along, explore the documents yourself, and share them with your teams.

Explore the primary sources

• National Charter Schools Founders Library (primary-source archive): https://charterlibrary.org/

• Al Shanker, National Press Club (1988): overview at the Founders Library: https://charterlibrary.org/library/albert-shanker-national-press-club-speech-1988/ 

• Ray Budde resources: https://charterlibrary.org/search/?_author=ray-budde&_author_list=ray-budde\

•  

  • Education by Charter (backgrounder / origins): https://www.educationevolving.org/files/Ray-Budde-Origins-Of-Chartering.pdf
  • Strengthen School‑Based Management by Chartering All Schools (1996): https://openlibrary.org/books/OL31401521M/Strengthen_school-based_management_by_chartering_all_schools
  • Kolderie essay on Budde’s origins (PDF): https://charterlibrary.org/library/ray-budde-the-origins-of-the-charter-concept-by-ted-kolderie/
  • Founders Library feature: “1988—The Launch of an Idea”: https://charterlibrary.org/library/1988-the-launch-of-an-idea/
• Ember Reichgott Junge’s book Zero Chance of Passage (Founders Library page): https://charterlibrary.org/zero-chance-of-passage-shop/

What we cover

• Ray Budde’s charter concept: Why a quiet academic proposed reorganizing authority by giving teacher teams contractual autonomy—and how that differed from traditional “program” reforms.
• Al Shanker’s second-wave reform: Why a national union leader called for teacher‑led, autonomous public schools—and how that reframed the conversation.
• From ideas to statute: How Minnesota’s Citizens League translated theory into policy architecture, paving the way for the first charter law.
• Politics, promise, and pushback: Early tensions, misperceptions, and the practical tradeoffs that shaped implementation.

Why it matters now Understanding chartering’s roots isn’t nostalgia—it’s navigation. Knowing the original intent (teacher power + public accountability) helps today’s leaders stay true to the promise while innovating for the future.

Takeaways

• Chartering began as a public‑school reform from within: autonomy with accountability.
• Real change scaled when local civic groups turned ideas into workable law and authorizers implemented with integrity.

Listen now and use the links above to dive deeper, brief your board, or kickstart PD with founding documents.

From the launch of the Founders Library exhibit to the stories behind the very first charter law, this episode connects past, present, and future—and invites listeners to consider their role in writing the next chapter.

Episode Highlights:

• The origin and significance of the Founders Library exhibit
• Reflections from Don Cooper and Ember Reichgott Junge on the early charter movement
• Why understanding history is essential to leading with clarity today
• A preview of Season 2 themes: legacy, leadership, and the future of chartering

Listen now to reflect on the movement’s roots and get inspired for what’s coming next!

Using a fictional (but all-too-familiar) scenario and a powerful basketball metaphor, the conversation explores what happens when roles blur and finger‑pointing replaces partnership. Alyson breaks down the unique responsibilities of each stakeholder—school leaders as the players, boards as the coaches, authorizers as the referees—and shares real-world stories of both failure and success.

Episode Highlights:

• The “three‑legged stool” of charter success: authorizer, board, and school leadership
• What each role is (and is not) responsible for during crisis and change
• How misalignment impacts students first—and how to spot early warning signs
• Real examples of authorizers, boards, and leaders working in true partnership
• Practical tips for building trust, clarity, and shared accountability across the ecosystem

When the system works as intended—each role playing its part with purpose and discipline—students win. But it takes intentional relationship‑building and a shared commitment to the charter promise.

Listen now to learn how clearly defined roles and trusted partnerships can transform schools from the boardroom to the classroom.

Don shares insightful stories and experiences from his extensive career, emphasizing how authorizers can play pivotal roles as thought partners, innovation drivers, and capacity builders. He challenges listeners to view compliance not as an end goal, but as a baseline for strategic, meaningful support that fosters transformative educational outcomes.

Listeners will gain practical advice on how to cultivate a supportive, human-centered approach in their work, creating robust, lasting relationships between authorizers and schools. Don highlights the importance of values-driven authorizing, the impact of tailored support for schools and students, and innovative ways higher education authorizers can uniquely empower and uplift their school communities.

Episode Highlights:

• Rethinking compliance as a floor, not a ceiling.

• Strategic approaches to supportive authorizing that prioritize human connections.

• Effective ways for authorizers to build meaningful relationships and trust with schools.

• Leveraging institutional resources in higher education authorizing to support schools and students.

• The role of continuous, values-driven improvement in the authorizing ecosystem.

Whether you're an authorizer, board member, school leader, or educator, this episode offers profound insights into how strategic support and innovative thinking can transform educational outcomes and strengthen the charter school ecosystem.

Listen now to discover the power of moving beyond compliance to meaningful, impactful partnerships!

Vashaunta, Jim, and Heather openly share their personal and professional experiences with school closures, offering listeners an honest look at the difficult realities and essential considerations that must guide these critical decisions. They address the reasons behind closures, from academic performance and finances to governance and enrollment challenges, while questioning whether communities truly have a meaningful voice in these decisions.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of handling closure with humanity, dignity, and transparency, ensuring that the impact on students, families, educators, and communities is handled with compassion and care. The hosts challenge listeners to view closure not merely as an end but as an opportunity for reflection, growth, and improvement within the educational ecosystem.

Episode Highlights:

• Understanding the complex reasons behind school closures.
• Ensuring community voices genuinely influence closure decisions.
• Defining what a healthy education ecosystem means.
• Best practices for handling closures humanely and compassionately.
• Transforming closures into opportunities for learning and systemic improvement.

Whether you're navigating a school closure or shaping policies that impact educational communities, this episode offers valuable insights and guidance to lead with integrity, compassion, and courage.

Listen now to discover how closure, though difficult, can still reflect your values and commitment to the communities you serve.

Together, they explore the deep meaning of renewal beyond compliance, framing it as a critical checkpoint that ensures schools keep their promises to students, families, and communities. Mary and Heather emphasize renewal as an opportunity to recalibrate, realign, and recommit to the shared vision of excellence and continuous improvement.

Listeners will discover how successful renewal practices balance accountability with grace, consider both qualitative and quantitative measures, and highlight ongoing storytelling to showcase a school’s journey authentically. Through vivid examples and compelling metaphors, the conversation illuminates how renewal, done right, strengthens trust, transparency, and long-term growth.

Episode Highlights:

• Understanding renewal as a vital checkpoint for performance and community trust.
• Evolving practices in charter renewal toward clarity, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Key considerations for renewal: academics, financial health, governance, leadership, and operations.
• Strategies for balancing accountability with support during challenging times.
• The role of storytelling in communicating renewal clearly and meaningfully to the broader community.

Whether you're a school leader preparing for renewal, an authorizer refining your renewal practices, or a board member guiding your school through critical milestones, this episode offers profound insights to help you navigate renewal effectively.

Listen now to understand how the renewal process can empower schools, honor promises, and drive future success!

Drawing from her extensive experience in governance and compliance at Grand Valley State University’s Charter Schools Office, Alyson shares insights on how effective oversight can simultaneously uphold accountability and support innovation. She emphasizes the importance of clearly defined performance expectations, the benefits of relational versus transactional oversight, and how authorizers can foster trust and collaboration while ensuring schools meet their commitments to students and families.

Listeners will learn practical strategies for authorizers to maintain rigorous yet flexible oversight, recognize signs of responsible autonomy, and understand why building authentic relationships between authorizers and schools is crucial for sustained success. Alyson highlights how a supportive, values-driven approach can enhance educational outcomes and strengthen community trust.

✨ Episode Highlights:

• Defining autonomy and accountability within the charter school context.
• Effective oversight practices that respect school autonomy while ensuring accountability.
• Common oversight pitfalls and how to avoid them.
• Lessons learned from historical oversight practices.
• Innovative approaches to oversight that foster continuous improvement and collaboration.

Whether you're an authorizer, board member, or school leader, this episode provides valuable perspectives and actionable advice to strike the right balance and enhance your oversight practices.

👉 Listen now to explore how oversight can empower innovation while safeguarding educational quality!

Mark Weinberg, a seasoned educator, school leader, authorizer, and advocate, guides listeners through essential first steps post-authorization, emphasizing the importance of meticulous planning around facilities, hiring, governance, and community engagement. Drawing on real-world experience, Mark highlights common pitfalls, essential success factors, and strategies to foster effective school leadership and strong board governance from day one.

Listeners will discover how to navigate start-up pressures, overcome common challenges, and leverage the authorization phase to build a solid foundation for long-term success. Mark also encourages listeners to rethink traditional start-up processes, focusing not only on compliance but also on innovation, culture, and community engagement.

Episode Highlights:

• Immediate actions and priorities post-authorization.
• Defining and cultivating strong start-up leadership and governance.
• Avoiding common pitfalls through proactive planning.
• The role of authorizers and support organizations in school success.
• Balancing compliance with innovation and community-building.

Whether you're part of a founding team, an authorizer, or an education leader, this episode provides actionable insights to ensure a strong, sustainable school launch.

Listen now and equip yourself with the knowledge to successfully navigate authorization and start-up phases!

Heather emphasizes how effective charter applications are built around a clear, measurable vision and mission that resonate with communities. She shares practical insights on assessing founding teams, crafting rigorous academic plans, establishing strong governance, creating realistic financial strategies, and authentically engaging communities. Throughout the episode, listeners learn how authorizers and applicants can collaborate effectively to shape quality schools from day one, setting clear expectations and fostering innovation.

Episode Highlights:

• Crafting compelling, measurable mission statements and visions.
• Identifying readiness in founding teams and their capacities.
• Creating robust and realistic academic and financial plans.
• Ensuring community voice and genuine demand are central.
• Strategies for authorizers to make the application process transparent, supportive, and impactful.

Whether you're involved in writing, reviewing, or advising on charter applications, this conversation provides essential strategies and insights to build high-quality, thriving schools.

Listen now and gain actionable advice to transform your charter application process into a catalyst for excellence!

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation. Bold leadership starts here. https://chartersinstitute.org/podcast/

Discover how thoughtful planning and clear alignment from the start help schools fulfill their promise to communities. Mary emphasizes key pitfalls to avoid, highlights indicators of long-term success, and stresses the importance of integrity and vision at every phase. This conversation underscores that a charter school is more than an institution; it's a promise made to students, families, and communities.

Episode Highlights:

• Essential components of effective design and planning.
• Criteria for strong charter applications and balanced authorizing.
• Critical success factors during school launch and early operations.
• Indicators of sustained achievement and continuous improvement.
• Considerations for responsible replication and expansion.
• Strategies for fair renewal and handling closure with integrity.

Whether you're an experienced charter leader or just beginning your journey, this episode equips you with powerful insights to transform student outcomes and strengthen your schools.

Listen now and join the conversation about making bold choices that truly matter!

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation. Bold leadership starts here.

Vashaunta and Jim share personal stories that reveal their “why” — from Southern roots and sweet tea to bold ideas and boardroom breakthroughs. You’ll get to know who they are beyond their titles, and what drives their commitment to making leadership more human, hopeful, and honest.

They’ll also pull back the curtain on the National Charter Schools Institute — how it started, what it stands for, and how it supports leaders across the charter school ecosystem. You’ll hear about the spark that lit The Charter Network, the real-world needs it seeks to meet, and why this podcast is launching now — in a time where real connection, fresh ideas, and actionable support are more essential than ever.

Plus, get a sneak peek at what’s ahead in Season 1: Meet the Movement Builders, where each episode explores a key phase of the charter school life cycle and elevates the voices of the passionate people doing the work.

If you’re a school leader, board member, authorizer, or advocate looking for community, clarity, and real tools to move the work forward — this space is for you.

Listen in for:

• Candid introductions from Jim & Vashaunta
• The origin story of the National Charter Schools Institute
• The bold vision behind The Charter Network and this podcast
• What to expect this season (and why it matters)

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation. Bold leadership starts here.

Bold By Choice Podcast home at National Charter Schools Institute https://chartersinstitute.org/podcast/