In this special live episode recorded at the National Charter School Alliance Conference, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner celebrate 30 years of chartering and offer a preview of what’s ahead in Season 2. Joined by Don Cooper and Ember Reichgott Junge, they walk through the founding stories that sparked the movement and reflect on why the history of chartering still matters today.

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!

In this episode of Bold By Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner shine a light on the three essential roles that uphold the charter school promise: authorizers, governing boards, and school leaders. Joined by Alyson Murphy, Director of Partner Services at the National Charter Schools Institute, they unpack how clarity, trust, and aligned responsibilities create a strong governance ecosystem—and how misalignment can quickly derail student success.

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.

In this dynamic episode of Bold By Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner welcome special guest Don Cooper, Senior Fellow at the National Charter Schools Institute and Director of Civic Initiatives at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. Together, they explore the powerful concept of authorizing as a role that extends far beyond compliance and regulation.

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!