Board of Directors 2025
Voting
Currently, two seats are open for voting. VOTING IS NOW OPEN. Only League Members may vote, and the Head of School or Board Chair (or their designee) may vote. School leaders will cast two votes per CDE school code (network leaders vote for all the schools in their network).
View the two candidates below.
Robert Daugherty
CEO, James Irwin Charter Schools
I am writing to express my interest in serving on the board of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, an organization whose mission resonates deeply with my professional journey and personal values. As the CEO of James Irwin Charter Schools for the past four years, and the founding principal of Power Technical, a James Irwin Charter School focused on skilled trades and engineering, I have dedicated my career to advancing the cause of high-quality education and school choice.
My journey in education began in the classroom as a high school math teacher, where I first developed my passion for empowering students through knowledge and critical thinking. This passion propelled me through various leadership roles, including Dean of Students and Director of Operations, culminating in the opening of James Irwin's second elementary in 2013 and Power Technical in 2016. Currently, I am leading the initiative to open our network's third elementary school in the fall of 2024, further expanding our impact on providing exceptional educational opportunities.
My commitment to education extends beyond operational leadership; it is rooted in the belief that every child deserves a great education, one that not only meets their academic needs but also nurtures their individual talents and interests. This belief aligns perfectly with the mission of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, which strives to improve student achievement by supporting charter schools, reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded high-quality public school choice.
Serving on the board of the Colorado League of Charter Schools would provide an invaluable platform to advocate for the principles I hold dear: school choice, educational excellence, and the transformative power of innovative educational models. I am eager to contribute my experiences and insights gained from leading a dynamic charter school network to the broader charter school community in Colorado. Together, we can positively impact the educational landscape, ensuring that every child in our state has access to a high quality, choice-driven education.
I am excited about the opportunity to work with the league, not only to further my cause for school choice and great education but also to learn from and contribute to the wealth of positive developments happening in Colorado's educational sector. I am confident that my background, skills, and passion for education will make a meaningful contribution to the board and the mission of the Colorado League of Charter Schools.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the possibility of working together to advance the quality and reach of charter education in Colorado.
Mary Seawell
CEO, Lyra Colorado
Mary Seawell is a board member for Compass Academy, a Denver charter serving middle school students in Southwest Denver. She was a founding board member and served as its board chair for the first two years of operations. She has served on the boards of two other charter schools and currently serves on the Colorado League of Charter Schools board as well.
Mary works with charters and school districts throughout the state with a significant focus on rural Colorado. She currently works as the president of a nonprofit called Lyra Colorado. In addition to being an education funder, she works on rural school innovation, public policy, advocacy, and expanding the number of school leaders and teachers, especially in rural areas. In 2009, Mary was elected to the Denver Public School’s Board of Education. She was president of the board from 2011-2013. During her tenure, DPS became a national model for charter school authorizing.
She is a graduate of American University and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Mary has strong relationships with Colorado legislators, state board of education members, advocacy and policy organizations, other education funders, and local education officials. She would leverage all of those relationships to support the work of the League and its members.
The ballot is now open. VOTE HERE
Results will be posted by mid-March