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!

In this heartfelt and candid episode of Bold By Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner tackle one of the toughest topics in charter school leadership—closure. Joined by Heather Wendling from the National Charter Schools Institute, they dive deep into the emotional, logistical, and community-driven aspects of closing a school.

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.

In this insightful and reflective episode of Bold By Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner welcome Mary Bradley, Chief Operating Officer, and Heather Wendling, VP of Professional Services, from the National Charter Schools Institute to discuss one of the most pivotal moments in a charter school’s life: renewal.

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!

In this thoughtful and engaging episode of Bold By Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner welcome Alyson Murphy, Partner at the National Charter Schools Institute, to delve into the delicate yet essential balance between autonomy and accountability in charter schools.

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!

In this practical and insightful episode of Bold By Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner welcome Mark Weinberg, Vice President of Leadership and Learning at the National Charter Schools Institute. Together, they explore the critical period from when a charter school is authorized to the exciting and challenging moments leading up to opening day.

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!

In this dynamic episode of Bold By Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with special guest Heather Wendling, Vice President of Professional Services at the National Charter Schools Institute, to unpack the critical importance of the charter application process. Heather draws from her extensive background in education, authorizing, and coaching to illustrate how the charter application serves as more than just paperwork—it’s the foundational blueprint for a school's identity, commitment to its community, and roadmap to meaningful impact.

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/