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!