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Dove into engaging workshops addressing key challenges in charter schools. Led by experienced educators and industry professionals, those sessions went beyond theory, providing practical tools and innovative approaches. Explored various topics, empowering participants with actionable strategies for administrative refinement, effective teaching, and adapting to the changing educational landscape. Enhanced their professional toolkit with insights from distinguished presenters, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in their school community.
Quickly find a specific category of workshops being held:
Collaboration at Work: Practical Strategies for a Co-Teaching Model
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
A pilot program at Pinnacle Charter School has implemented individualized co-teaching models for elementary, middle and high school, some of which support multi-language learners and students on an IEP. In addition to mapping out ongoing professional development and teacher coaching, we will share solutions to challenges such as high teacher burnout, low staffing and the ability of co-teachers to see eye-to-eye. Attendees will learn from Pinnacle’s experience how to gain administrative buy-in, support teachers, use data to drive class rosters, tweak master schedules and add-on to an existing teacher observation tool — all of which can expedite the implementation of a co-teaching model.
Assessing Your MTSS System to Meet the Needs of Gifted & Advanced Learners
11am – 12pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
The needs of G/T learners are unique, and both their learning natures and differences in the interpretation of student data can impact academic and affective MTSS interventions. This session will utilize audience collaboration to problem-solve various student scenarios, reflecting on structure and programming options for G/T students in particular. Attendees will re:vision what changes can be made to the MTSS supports to advance these learners, as well as what outcomes have been observed as a result.
Maximizing Student Support Systems within the Charter School Framework
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
This interactive workshop will focus on how to move beyond the pushout mindset to create a whole team approach that supports the whole child. Using our recent expansion from 486 students to over 1,000 in a three-year period, our team will discuss the process of refining the MTSS Framework to maximize teachers, support staff, administration, parents, and the community while supporting students across the learning spectrum. Learn how New Vision Charter School moved from the compartmentalization of interventions to a whole-building approach that encompasses data-driven discussions, parent support, and community engagement. Participants will leave with the knowledge and inspiration to build strong team data discussion protocols, sample data tracking tools and MTSS Framework flowcharts while shifting mindsets and gaining collective efficacy.
Elevating Instructional Rounds: A Dialogue on Nine High-Yield Strategies
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Shared learning and collaboration is dependent on meaningful dialogue and high-yield strategies rooted in teacher goals and observational data. We’ll present nine, high-yield instructional strategies, outline the use of observational data and share the experiences of both new and veteran teachers to illustrate the effect of collaboration and data analysis on shared goals. Showcasing a diverse range of experiences and insights, participants will re:vision the impact of instructional rounds on both new and seasoned educators as well as a plan for supporting effective rounds.
Unleash the Genius: Playing to Your & Your Students’ Strengths
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
When students attempt to learn and adults take on challenging tasks, three parts of their minds are activated: (1) the cognitive (thinking) part; (2) the affective (feeling) part; and (3) the conative (doing) part which encompasses their instincts for taking action and solving problems. However, often, educators lack the language to describe these conative strengths. The adult who does their best work last minute, the student who consistently asks detailed questions and procrastinates until they have answers, the middle schooler who is flooded with ideas and completes assignments differently than the teacher's example, are all examples of operating with conative strengths, i.e. their superpowers. Learning this language provides opportunity for breakthrough learning and accelerated results in and out of the classroom, all while being our most authentic selves.
Math Equity Matters: Elevating Teacher Expectations & Fostering Positive Mindsets
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Both teachers and administrators can benefit from fostering positive mindsets to elevate expectations and increase student math achievement! Explore the latest on high expectations and implicit bias to frame a discussion on how these attitudes are impacting students and widening the math achievement gap. We provide practical approaches to encourage teacher self-reflection, helping identify and overcome negative biases or fixed mindsets regarding students' capabilities. We also share activities to help teachers set high expectations and create a supportive classroom environment where all students feel valued and capable. Participants will not only gain a tangible toolkit to use in their own classrooms or with teachers on campus, but also have time to create an action plan to re:vision math education.
A growing body of work has increased awareness of the values, interests, and political activity of Generation Z, also referred to as Gen Z or Zoomers. However, understanding this generation of young people is only part of the challenge. We must also prepare ourselves and our schools for a future where Zoomers are increasingly in positions of leadership and influence – and that includes helping them attain these critical roles. Attendees will find ways to listen and thoughtfully engage with the members of Gen Z as co-workers, classmates, and neighbors so that future plans for every sector of society are developed collectively.
District Board Members on Strong Authorizer Relationships
11am – 12pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
The relationship between a charter school and its local authorizer can make or break the success of a school. This session will host a panel of former and current district-level school board members who will answer audience questions and share what they need from charter schools and vice versa to set up strong, effective school and authorizer connections.
Join us for a session that will deep dive into the players and strategies of the charter school advocacy landscape in Colorado. Learn more about who is at the table and how we all engage, and re:vision the role you can play to help advance the charter school sector in our state.
Policy Priorities & Funding Implications: Preparing for the 2024 Legislative Session
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
As the 2024 Colorado legislative session approaches, charter school leaders face potential policy changes and funding decisions that may significantly impact their schools. Join us for an informative session led by Angelina Sierra-Sandoval, the League's Director of Government Affairs, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the League's policy agenda and the key bills being considered in the upcoming session. We’ll also address anticipated outcomes and funding impacts.
Diversifying the Educator Workforce: Disrupting Inequities in Action
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
In 2022, as part of Colorado’s HB21-1010, a Diversity Working Group released its report “Diversifying the Educator Workforce: Disrupting Inequities.” It provided a set of recommendations and strategies for recruiting, preparing, and retaining diverse educators in the profession. By implementing these strategies, the PEBC Teacher Residency, Colorado’s largest teacher residency program, has doubled the percentage of participants who identify as Educators of Color (EOC) in the last three years. The percentage of self-identified EOCs enrolled during the 23-24 school year is now nearly three times the percentage of the Colorado teacher workforce at large. Participants will learn what these strategies look like in practice while making connections to their own schools and systems.
Over the years, the legislature has grappled with the challenge of updating the school funding formula to make it more student-centered and to ensure it reflects current needs and challenges. In 2023, the legislature identified a group of practitioners and experts (including several charter representatives) to recommend how to do just that. Comprised of district superintendents, CFOs, charter leaders, teachers, principals, and advocacy organizations, this diverse group collaborated to devise recommendations for how we might modernize the formula to reflect changes that have occurred in public education in the last 30 years since the School Finance Act was last updated. The legislature is now moving to consider those recommendations. Please join us for an overview of what is under consideration and how that may affect charter schools in the state.
Understanding Statutory Changes to the Suspension & Expulsion Process
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
During the 2023 legislative session, Colorado lawmakers amended key components of the statutes governing suspensions, expulsions, and denial of admission. Join this session for a comprehensive view of and best practices for this legal framework, including communicating with guardians about the expulsion process, conducting expulsion hearings, providing post-expulsion education services, and navigating the denial of admission process. We will also compare the differences between grades K-2 and grades 3-12 when it comes to suspensions and expulsions.
Title IX and Equity Compliance for Boards & School Leaders
7.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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2 hours
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
This single, two-hour training is designed for board members, school leaders, counselors, athletic directors and any staff involved in Title IX processes. Attendees will gain an overview of Title IX and its reporting requirements for K-12 schools, including charters. From policies and procedures to staffing and training, this course will provide a thorough understanding of mandatory reporting and potential implications, as well as guidance for building a positive, durable compliance program.
Board Transparency in the Age of Accountability: A Guide to Legal, Community & PR Considerations
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
This session goes beyond mundane legal requirements to explore the dynamic realm of community expectations and masterful public relations. Designed to be both interactive and engaging, the four-part session starts with examining the intricacies of nonprofit corporations, government entities, and charter contracts from a legal perspective. We’ll then uncover the secrets of open meetings, decipher the laws governing them, and illustrate scenarios using real-life litigations. In part three, we explore executive sessions and finally, we delve into conflicts of interest and personal liability.
Aligning Charter Board Governance with Top Leadership
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Based on the key concepts of Aligned Influence®, this workshop will present strategies and solutions to board members and school executives that will align their teams to ensure continuity, efficiency, effectiveness, and operationalization of the school. We’ll unpack key concepts as we detail the model, re:visioning a Board whose focus is to direct, protect, and enable and an executive whose focus is to lead, manage and accomplish. Walk away with clear steps to thrive in either role while understanding the concepts and processes that make governance and operations purposeful and meaningful. Attendees will be provided access to resources and opportunities for continuous coaching, mentoring, and support of the Aligned Influence® framework.
From School to Brand: Shaping Perception to Build a Lasting Reputation
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Most charter schools understand their charter and the reason why their school was founded. However, taking it one step further and building a brand is vital for attracting students and families, particularly in an increasingly competitive school environment. Learn how Pinnacle Charter School became a highly-desired school of choice in Federal Heights by building a strong brand presence in the community. Re:vision: strategic communications, media relations, and community engagement play a powerful role in turning your charter statement into a brand that attracts families. Attendees will gain actionable items, tips, and tools to create a unique charter school brand that both stands out and resonates.
Facebook Won't Fill Your School: A Community-Powered Enrollment Playbook
11am – 12pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Enrollment is the lifeblood of public charter schools. In competitive markets with a shrinking school-aged population, it can be tough for even the best charter schools to stand out. Too often, school leaders focus solely on digital marketing, forgetting that their strongest student recruitment assets are in their own buildings and neighborhoods. Learn battle-tested tactics for engaging your families and local community partners in an integrated student recruitment strategy and a framework for immediately impacting your recruitment results.
Communication & Marketing to Enhance the Parent Enrollment Experience
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
School leaders and staff wear many hats, especially at a charter school. Keeping up with all the details of the enrollment process can be challenging and tedious work. This session will provide best practices that save time, minimize errors, and help you achieve your school enrollment goals. We’ll discuss all areas of the enrollment process - from acquisition to day-one attendance - focusing specifically on marketing that is designed to run itself, communication with applicants, and maximizing every point of contact to maintain parent interest.
Using Delegation, Consolidation, Automation & AI to Augment Enrollment Efforts
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Schools face recruitment and enrollment challenges for a variety of reasons and while there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, those who implement a strategic and systematic approach toward student recruitment successfully reach their enrollment goals. We’ll start by defining the steps involved in student recruitment and where the roles and responsibilities lie before uncovering how centralizing your efforts and incorporating cutting-edge AI and automation tools can help augment your current team. Armed with free tools, best practices, and a dedicated framework, you can do more with less by delegating, consolidating, and automating your way to student recruitment and enrollment success.
Chat Magic & MidJourney Mastery: Unlocking the Power of AI
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
This session will dive deep into AI's impact as a catalyst for improved school communications. Learn how to use the correct prompts to generate content for everyday communications, press releases, email marketing, social media, marketing plans, and more. Attendees will learn how to embrace their inner creativity with an AI assistant to create engaging copy as well as stylized artwork. We’ll explore other noteworthy AI platforms to keep a watch on, as well as the built-in AI functions within applications such as Canva, Firefly, Hootsuite, and more. By using AI to work smarter, not harder, you’ll both simplify and amplify your efforts.
Delve into the foundations of Colorado's accountability system, gaining a thorough understanding of its improvement planning process and the latest policy developments at the state level that affect accountability. Participants will emerge with a clear grasp of the current educational accountability landscape, equipping them to anticipate potential changes and prepare various stakeholders within their charter school community. By examining the foundational elements of Colorado's accountability framework, attendees will be empowered to make informed decisions that align with the evolving landscape of educational accountability.
Harnessing Data to Develop Comprehensive Assessment Protocols
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
From academic and social-emotional testing to student performance, attendance and grades, districts and schools are collecting massive amounts of data every day. While information is readily available, how and when to use data is rarely clearly defined, leaving educators scrambling and internal processes misaligned. Join us for an overview of the data commonly utilized to evaluate universal practice and identify student needs. We’ll explore the benefits of a Comprehensive Assessment Protocol and walk through both elementary and secondary case studies in the development of a data flow that can be generalized school and district-wide. These data flows will serve as templates for educators to take back and begin the development of their own Comprehensive Assessment Protocol.
The merging of two charter school networks into one unified, high-performing system in Denver has been historic, challenging and incredibly rewarding. Walk through the conditions that set the stage for the merger, how the network has both prioritized rapid academic improvement and achieved seat growth in year-one despite rapidly declining enrollment in the market. Workshop participants will hear about some of the toughest challenges and decision points and walk away with lessons that can be applied to their own contexts regardless of their roles.
Using Data to Support the Success of Every Student
11am – 12pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Education has long been held up as an equalizer in society. In this session, participants will be provided with tools for data disaggregation and analysis to support initiatives that strive to deliver on that ideal. This interactive session will provide participants with the opportunity to re:vision district and school data to reinforce foundational principles regarding its effective use. We’ll start by sharing how to ensure access to data and identifying the knowledge and skills key for using it. We’ll also explore how to make sense of data, considerations for building a data culture, and how to disaggregate data effectively to support all students within our schools and districts.
What Does “The Big Blur” Mean for Colorado Educators and Students?
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
The state of Colorado has become increasingly known for its commitment to “blurring” the lines between education and career aspirations for all learners. What does “The Big Blur” mean in both policy and practice? What impact does greater alignment between education and career aspirations have on students, families, and educators, and what tools are in place to help all learners make more informed choices? This panel of national experts and state-level practitioners will explain the “Big Blur,” discuss practical applications of “blurring” the lines in education, and shift perspectives when it comes to better understanding lifelong learning.
Hear about Universal Preschool (UPK) from a range of perspectives, including charter school leaders, board members, preschool directors, and some who are both. Facilitated by Willyn Webb, Early Learning and School Support Coordinator from Charter School Institute, this panel representing both rural and metro preschools will address the first year of UPK. From developing a new preschool to converting others, the panel will share what they learned about licensing, enrollment, the UPK online platform, grants, family experiences, funding, special education and mixed delivery choices through matching. Attendees will gain insight into the new Colorado Department of Early Childhood and their Local Coordinating Organization with unbiased and real perspective along with helpful information, resources, and tips for success.
Energize Your School’s Improvement Planning & Data Culture
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Despite vast research supporting its benefits, improvement planning in schools often remains cumbersome due to a lack of organized data to inform the process, time, structure or guidance. Even for schools with a strongly written improvement plan, successful implementation is challenging and doing it with energy and positivity requires an even bigger lift. Elevate awareness of the current state of improvement planning at your school, re:visioning key aspects and strategies in the process and developing actionable takeaways with guidance for building staff buy-in. Attendees will leave with a succinct path forward and implementation benchmarks to energize the improvement planning process.
This session will focus on how to bring energy to your improvement planning process, including an increase in the data culture currently being realized in your school.
1. The presenters will help to create awareness around the current state of improvement planning and data culture in attendees' schools by allowing time for attendees to gather in groups to share insight into: a) Successful strategies currently being implemented in their schools; b) Integration of teachers in the improvement planning process; and c) Actions that have resulted in the development of a strong data culture in their schools.
2. Following a share-out from group discussions, the presenters will share best practice research-based strategies in combination with examples from case studies that will help you build and strengthen improvement planning and implementation of data culture in your school.
3. Attendee and presenter strategies will be combined into actionable takeaways designed to energize the improvement planning process in schools and the necessary steps required to create excitement around the use of data in schools to drive improvement.
Safeguarding School Culture to Support a Positive Environment
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
A positive school culture creates a healthy environment where staff choose to not only remain employed but also engaged, both of which affect student success. Join us for an overview of current trends in school culture and the identification of concerns specific to Colorado educators. We’ll share approaches that protect teachers from burnout and collaborate on both classroom and campus-wide strategies that help them focus on student success while maintaining their own health and wellness. Attendees will gain ideas and resources that can be implemented immediately to reduce stress and raise happiness among staff.
Establishing Best Practices for Effective Technology Integration
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, technology integration is defined as the incorporation of technology resources and technology-based practices into the daily routines, work and management of schools. However, who is responsible for the integration and the quality of the integration? Is it part of a teacher evaluation system? Is it embedded in the tech plan or strategic plan? Is there a committee to decide? Are students involved? This session will focus on three key areas, including best practices for incorporating technology into teaching and learning standards, implementing technology for student assessment and leveraging it for the evaluation of faculty and administrators. Attendees will create an action plan for their school, including the use of a RACI chart to give interested parties a voice.
From Conflict to Connection: Using Tiered Systems of Support to Change Culture
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Pinnacle’s panel of administrators and counselors will walk through the systems and resources they have created, utilized, and implemented to morph from a culture of disengagement into one of increased focus, attendance and learning. See the data and scenarios that capture the remarkable turnaround of this Title I school, and gain the support and resources to implement a similar plan at your school. The approach includes decriminalizing students and supporting them with relationships, progressive discipline and logical consequences as well as reflecting and repairing harm. Attendees will be given time to create their goals and action plans, share their ideas, and receive feedback, leaving with a clear plan that will result in re:visioning their own student culture for the better.
Introduction to AI for Marketing, Enrollment & Recruitment
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
ChatGPT and AI tools are all the rage but the education sector has been slow to adopt and take advantage. Is it all just hype or can you really put these tools to good use? In this session, we’ll go over AI basics to get you comfortable using generative AI and demonstrate how to utilize some of the latest (free) AI tools to generate on-brand emails, text messages, social media posts and more. While we’ll focus this workshop on enrollment and marketing, these tools and techniques can be used for so much more as well. Feel free to bring a laptop to follow along and experiment with creating material for your school.
Session Objectives:
1. Learn the basics of what Generative AI is and how to start leveraging it without fear!
2. Generate a sequence of emails, text messages, and social media posts to boost your enrollment efforts.
3. Understand the possibilities AI tools provide and know where and how you can start exploring.
Culture on Purpose: Increase Engagement with Intention
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
The term “building school culture” sounds like an important objective, but oftentimes a school’s culture can develop in different ways than intended. When school leaders intentionally execute a plan to re:vision their school’s culture - where stakeholders know what to expect and what is expected of them - the rest will follow. Join us to learn how school leaders can build “cultures on purpose,” where all parties feel valued, engaged, and a part of a greater whole. Through a series of deep-dive discussions, attendees will walk away with practical tools to increase engagement and build a strong sense of community.
Making AI Work for You: Teacher & Leader Perspectives
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
From voice assistants to personalized recommendations, AI is quickly becoming a convenient tool in our daily lives. Embark on a journey to harness the power of AI in education, exploring its potential to revolutionize teaching and learning in the 21st century while addressing ethical considerations, including plagiarism. We’ll illustrate the benefit of ethical AI use in K-12 education, including personalized learning, adaptive curriculum and plagiarism detection. We’ll also introduce AI tools that can uphold academic integrity while saving educators time, as well as discuss the importance of fostering creativity, originality and academic integrity with students. Attendees will re:vision the value of AI in education while upholding ethical standards and garnering resources for further exploration and support.
Effectively Navigating Employment Investigations While Minimizing Risk
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Journey through the world of employment investigations with a session designed to equip school leaders, HR managers, and board members with the skills and knowledge to conduct effective investigations while being prepared for potential litigation. Our four-part exploration includes (1) understanding the critical role of the investigation team, (2) documenting to both serve the investigation and prepare you for potential litigation, (3) mastering the art of effective questioning while keeping legal consequences in mind and (4) tackling the complexities of investigating senior staff members and top administrators. Using real-world scenarios, attendees will learn how to apply the principles of employment investigations effectively while minimizing legal risks.
11am – 12.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour 30 mins
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
In the ever-changing landscape of human resources (HR) and legal compliance, charter school leaders must stay abreast of the latest regulations and best practices to ensure their schools remain compliant and protect their employees. This panel presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of HR legal compliance in Colorado, including hiring, firing, discrimination, harassment, and compensation. Attendees will gain valuable insights from experienced charter school attorneys to minimize legal risks and protect school interests. Leave with the knowledge and tools you need to stay compliant and manage your workforce effectively.
Practical Strategies to Modernize Your HR Department
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Historically, human resources (HR) has been associated with a mountain of paperwork, manual calculations, and extensive filing systems. While these practices have served their purpose in the past, they can hinder efficiency and the overall employee experience in the present. This session delves into the process of re:visioning HR practices, even on a limited budget. Participants will utilize an interactive worksheet to follow the presentation and receive a comprehensive roadmap to streamline their own school’s employee operations.
Beat the Recruiting Game: Retaining Staff with Employee Relations
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
In 2018-2019, Pinnacle Charter School experienced significant leadership and workplace culture challenges, motivating their human resource and leadership teams to work with stakeholders to redefine the school's values. These values were then used to develop an employee relations philosophy to improve culture. By bolstering employee relations, charter schools can get ahead of recruiting challenges, retain high-performing employees and support all team members in the growth of professional skills and relationships. Participants will re:vision key employee relations strategies from purpose-driven on-boarding and evaluation to conflict resolution and more. Templates and takeaways will be provided that can be adapted to any school.
Building Bridges Across Generations: Strategies to Multigenerational Leadership
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
In today's dynamic workplace, charter school leaders face the challenge of managing four, distinct generations each with their own unique characteristics and needs. Delve into the attributes of each generation and how their differences can impact the workplace. We’ll explore how to leverage these differences to create a more inclusive and effective work environment. The session will also offer strategies for fostering open and respectful communication across generations and navigating potential challenges that may arise due to generational diversity.
A Tiered Approach to Staff Shortages & Retention Challenges
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
At a time when educators are leaving the field at an alarming rate, school leaders must re:vision a systematic and creative approach to talent management to retain existing staff, fill staffing gaps, and recruit future staff. By understanding the root causes of staffing challenges and implementing strategic solutions, school leaders can foster a positive and supportive work environment that attracts and retains top talent, ensuring that their schools continue to provide high-quality education for all students. This interactive session will equip participants with a systems-level framework to identify their talent needs, develop a structured approach to address those needs, and proactively build a talent pipeline.
From Good to Great: Embracing the Science of Extraordinary Leadership
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Charter school leaders are faced with creating a culture of learning where young people thrive and faculty model the way. As a leader, you embrace this responsibility, but tending the fire in the face of more complex regulations, public attacks on education, and mounting behavioral health challenges is a challenge. Join us to uncover answers and strategies to support personal growth in the face of outside pressures. We’ll guide attendees through a reflection process to re:vision their perspective on a current challenge and possibilities for making change. Participants will then discuss that new perspective, develop a strategy for making change, and commit to some actionable activity.
Leading High Reliability Schools: A Framework for Effectiveness
11am – 12pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
School leaders who aspire to elevate their institutions must embrace the transformative power of a high reliability school (HRS) framework. At the heart of this framework lies a commitment to establishing a solid foundation of basic principles that serve as the cornerstone of effective school leadership. These principles encompass a relentless focus on student learning, a commitment to nurturing a safe, supportive, and collaborative school culture, and the implementation of a guaranteed and viable curriculum that is driven by measurable results. The HRS framework empowers leaders to foster a culture of continuous improvement, leading to higher student achievement, longer staff tenures and a more engaged community.
Explorations in Relational and Restorative Leadership
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Effective and impactful school leaders foster a collaborative environment by engaging with individuals and organizations through relational and restorative practices, promoting positive change and enhancing overall well-being. You can too.
All-Star Strategy: Drafting a Winning Team for your School
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Developing and maintaining an effective, efficient and cohesive leadership team is essential to the success of any charter school, but requires a skilled and thoughtful approach to staffing as well as ongoing nurturing. Leading a school is truly a team sport, requiring a range of skills, bandwidth and expertise to fill crucial roles in HR, professional development, student culture, discipline, compliance, data and curriculum. These individuals must also be in sync with your school’s mission, vision and values. This session will help leaders lay the groundwork for building an all-star leadership team that is ready, able and willing to gracefully and methodically take your charter school to the next level.
From Dreaded to Dynamic: A School Leader's Guide to Better Board Reporting
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
With so many items on their plates, the monthly board report can feel like a task that never gets a leader’s full attention, but identifying key reporting areas and strategies adds higher purpose and value to the board's agenda while streamlining the flow of important information. We will explore the essentials, such as enrollment numbers, key initiatives, student learning outcomes, and strategic priorities. To build efficiency and purpose, we will also explore what should not be reported and share important steps and dashboard ideas that will increase attendees' abilities to communicate important information to their board. Participants will gain the necessary skills and tools to immediately re:vision routine school board reports while maximizing time, effort, value and purpose.
School Year Readiness Planning: A Blueprint for Next Year's Success that Starts Now
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Achieving success in June actually begins on day one of the school year in September, and the key to success comes with carefully laid plans prepared now. In this interactive session, we will explore the components of strong school-year readiness planning and review examples and templates to guide our work. We’ll also facilitate opportunities for shared audience collaboration and insights. Attendees will leave with the proper knowledge and tools to re:vision their school’s readiness project plan, making key decisions and plans for the coming school year. This includes a road map for a successful school year launch that can be repeated year-over-year!
Launching a K-5 Model of Inclusion through Grassroots Development & Change
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
United by a common goal of improving inclusion beyond preschool, a group of dedicated families and experts developed a model of high-quality inclusion for use in K-5 spaces. From seed to launch, these founders will share the program's origin story as well as what research says about the provision of high-quality inclusion for students with disabilities in K-5 settings. Attendees will hear data-driven support for why and how more schools should adopt a high-quality inclusive model. The presentation will also include preliminary findings from the group’s pilot kindergarten program currently in operation.
On The Move: A Guide to Changing or Securing Facilities
11am – 12pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Embarking on a journey to change or secure charter school facilities requires careful consideration as well as know-how. This session provides step-by-step instructions to secure a building that aligns with your school's mission and vision. Gain insights into property assessment, vendor negotiations, and strategies for overcoming potential roadblocks. Attendees will leave knowing what the process looks like, what questions to ask vendors, and how to navigate potential roadblocks. Leave empowered with the knowledge and tools to transform your vision into reality for a charter school that fosters academic excellence and community engagement.
Sustainable Systems of Operation: Founding Priorities for New Schools
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Getting the charter is the first battle, but creating a high-quality, sustainable program that can outlive the founding team is the greatest challenge. The primary reason that charters close is ineffective financial and operational management, but adapting the right blueprint can be a gamechanger. Using first-hand experience as a single-site founder in a challenging environment with limited resources, this session will share the strategic planning and thinking necessary for founding teams to be successful. Attendees will receive guidance on specific funding decisions such as hiring, facilities and staff management as well as time to think through their own challenges with the opportunity for group problem-solving.
Confusion to Clarity: Mastering Debt & Fixed Asset Accounting
8.30am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
Many audit findings arise out of errors with complex accounting principles related to debt and fixed assets. In this workshop, attendees will learn best practices and technical requirements to increase accuracy and compliance. Topics include GASB accounting standards for new bond issuance, annual bond accounting, retirement of bonded debt, bond refunding, capitalization standards, accounting for construction projects and non-building fixed asset accounting. Attendees will be able to apply GASB compliant accounting principles to their new, existing, or retiring debt and the facility projects funded by the debt proceeds, as well as additional, non-facility related capital asset depreciation, additions, and disposals.
Glenn Gustafson from the Colorado Department of Education and a charter school finance professional will lead you through the budget preparation process and offer tips for maximizing revenues, allocating expenditures and complying with bond covenants.
Key aspects of the session will include a budget development timeline, forms to collect budget information and a step by step process for preparing your budget in an efficient manner.
Key takeaways will include all the tools to navigate the budget deadlines and end up with a financial plan that effectively and efficiently resources your school.
In addition, they will walk you through the CDE budget template that will help you prepare a sound financial plan for your school and allow you to effectively estimate pay raises, comply with all state and authorizer deadlines. The budget template will help you understand Colorado school finance and governmental accounting and District flow-through accounting and State Intercept accounting for your bonds.
Key takeaways will include the confidence to build a budget using the CDE template that communicates your financial plan to your board, staff and community.
Speakers
Glenn Gustafson
School Finance Program Manager, Colorado Department of Education
State of the Markets: Strategies & Perspective for Facilities Projects in Uncertain Times
1.30pm – 2.30pm MST, 27 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
High interest rates, soaring prices and supply chain crises have become common news headlines as of late, with turbulent markets spooking everyone, including schools planning facility projects. Join a panel of experts for an update on the current state of the markets, including commercial real estate, construction and financial. Highlighting recent facility projects, we will point out a variety of creative methods and approaches that have proved successful during difficult market conditions. Attendees will not only absorb current market trends, but also gain important perspective through the comparison of historical and current data.
Join our panel of experts to understand the steps you can take to better protect your school! Our team has seen an increase in notices of discrimination, investigations, and lawsuits in areas such as IDEA, OCR, EEOC and Title IX. Attendees will better understand how their schools can avoid the organizational paralysis and high cost associated with defending their reputation. We will dive into the current trends and the mechanics of the insurance claims process, plus figure out how to make sure your charter organization is set up for success. Whether you serve on a board, work in finance, or in human resources, join us to formulate a stronger risk management plan for the future.
Mastering Process Improvement: A Toolkit for Tackling Complex Challenges
11am – 12pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
In day-to-day operations, it can be all too easy to spend time putting out fires without getting to the root of issues or not knowing where to start when a problem arises. Designed for those who play a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of their school, this session explores the implementation of a proven process improvement model to effectively uncover root causes, implement effective changes, assess efficacy and create a culture of continuous improvement. Attendees will gain a flexible toolkit that can be adapted to innumerable scenarios, providing a launching pad for process improvement on their campus.
From Eligibility to Application: A Practical Guide to Colorado’s BEST Grant
1pm – 2pm MST, 28 February 2024
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1 hour
Workshop/Breakout Sessions
This session aims to empower charter schools with a comprehensive understanding of Colorado’s Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant program. It will delve into the grant's priority rankings and intentions, enabling attendees to assess whether it aligns with their school's needs. It will also provide clarity on eligibility requirements, timelines, grant priority rankings, while highlighting the characteristics of successful charter BEST applicants. Attendees will have the opportunity for Q&A, connecting directly with the CDE on BEST grant information as well as the Charter School Capital Construction (CSCC program) and general capital construction support.
The new education environment demands that students can access learning from anywhere and that schools can measure and understand engagement at every level. ClassLink provides critical tools districts need to overcome digital learning challenges, and relieves the tech department from manual, scripted tasks.
The Staffing Agency Partnership: Blueprint for Discovering Your Perfect Match
9.10am – 9.30am MST, 27 February 2024
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20 mins
Solution Sessions
Get the blueprint for collaborating with an educational staffing company to address your open positions and guarantee a successful academic year for your students. By partnering with agencies, schools can experience less vacancy gaps, continuity in services to students, and a pipeline for internal recruitment and hiring. Discover key considerations for engaging with agencies including contractual obligations, access to a diverse and extensive pool of qualified candidates, flexibility in hiring, and value adds. Partnerships with agencies are an investment, make sure you understand how to proactively ensure you have the perfect match.
SWAG isn't just about receiving "Stuff We All Get"! In this session, we'll delve into how SWAG stands for "Strategic Ways to Achieve Goals". We'll specifically explore the significance of brand marketing, highlighting the use of custom apparel and promotional products to support educators in recruitment, retention, rewards, and reputation enhancement. Drawing from over three decades of marketing experience, particularly within the education sector from K to College, we'll offer valuable insights to our attendees. We'll discuss the critical aspect of effectively maximizing marketing budgets and emphasize the importance of selecting sustainable and useful high-perceived-value marketing items to minimize environmental impact. Additionally, we'll discuss the importance of adhering to CPSAI regulations (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) regarding children's products, knowledge that every school should possess.
Future-Ready Students: Purpose Development and Career Readiness through nXu’s Nexus Curriculum
11.40am – 12pm MST, 27 February 2024
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20 mins
Solution Sessions
While students engage in career exploration, it’s critical that they intentionally cultivate their sense of purpose and career identities while also developing critical durable (e.g. SEL) skills. Join Jabali Sawicki, nXu's Compass Director, and explore how to strategically integrate these interrelated developmental areas into your school model. With nXu's Nexus Curriculum as a guide, attendees will learn about how to incorporate into their classrooms and school environments critical and often interrelated developmental areas - purpose, SEL, social capital, and career development - that are essential to ensure every student is future-ready.
This session will give you an overview of our curriculum and training, show you integration examples, and help you understand why nXu is the best solution for your school or district.
The pandemic created tremendous disruption in charter, district, and private school enrollment, but it's only part of a larger trend. The school-aged population is declining across the country, driven primarily by demographic shifts, and this decline is especially pronounced in Colorado's larger communities. Join us for a look at the data, an exploration of what is driving these trends, and a discussion about their implications for charter school sustainability.
Attendees will garner a deeper understanding of the planning and considerations that should be included in your next Strategic Facility Plan. From enrollment and demographics to utilization and capacity analysis, to strategic facility planning and cost modeling to ensure that the total “cost of work” is identified and aligns with your educational and financial goals.
Five Best Practices to Turn Procurement into a Strategic Pillar of Financial Stability
8.30am – 8.50am MST, 28 February 2024
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20 mins
Solution Sessions
Your school makes purchases each and every day…what’s your strategy for making the most of those funds? Effective procurement goes beyond securing products at the lowest price; it’s about creating the optimal learning environment for students while equipping educators and staff with the tools they need to succeed. Join us as we share five essential best practices to elevate your procurement process, minimizing disruptions and maximizing the value of every dollar spent.
An Overview of How AI Solutions Will Streamline and Optimize Your HR, Claims, and Finance Needs and Get Ahead of the Pack
9.10am – 9.30am MST, 28 February 2024
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20 mins
Solution Sessions
How HR departments can adopt AI to benefit humans and keep the human touch. From automating routine HR tasks, to handling claims, and delivering data-rich insights for more objective decision-making. AI will help Charter Schools best attract, develop, and retain talent.
Speakers
Aaron Zetterower
Principal and Charter School Practice Director, EPIC Brokers
Gifted and Talented Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA), Charter Schools, Aurora Public Schools
My core values are curiosity, integrity, creativity, community, and autonomous learning. I believe strongly in transformational education, in developing sustainable and healthy systems, and in nourishment of the whole self.
My career in education began as an English Language Arts teacher in a large suburban high school with urban qualities. After eight years, I put my MA in gifted education to use by designing and becoming the district's first site-based Gifted and Talented Coordinator. I eventually moved to a district-level position supporting the same work in charter schools across the district. My passion for this work has led me to pursue a Ph.D. in gifted education through the University of Northern Colorado (in progress). I have held leadership positions in multiple organizations supporting gifted education. In addition to my work in gifted education, I continue to exercise my skill in curriculum design and instruction through my business, The Rhetor’s Toolbox, which provides engaging, high-quality resources for teaching language arts.
I engage in urban farming at my home and am excited to use this skill set to develop hands-on, brains-on learning about sustainable living for my community.
I have been working in the field of Special Education for eleven years. I worked as a Special Education Teacher for eight years and have most recently become a Program Manager where I oversee the Special Education Department for a K-8 public school.
I graduated with my M.A. in Special Education-Generalist from the University of Northern Colorado in December 2014 with a 4.0 GPA. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colorado State University in May 2012 with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies.
Kimberly Stalcup is a 23 year experienced secondary educator with 12 years serving as an administrator with demonstrated success in student and teacher performance. She was a passionate teacher for 11 years teaching secondary history, social science, English and journalism courses. As a teacher and administrator, she has demonstrated high achievement and growth results. As an administrator, she is devoted to staff development, educational leadership, leadership development, high quality teaching and staff retention as well as data driven decision making. Kimberly achieved her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focusing in Educational Leadership and Policy Administration from the University of Florida. Her dissertation focused on math test score performance and correlated enrollment in National Academy Foundation Engineering programs in a selected school district which is published in ProQuest and also by visiting this link: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/E0/05/17/39/00001/STALCUP_K.pdf
Kimberly is originally from Florida spending almost 34 years in the southwest Florida area then moving to Colorado in 2017 with her husband and two boys. They love the outdoors and the great state of Colorado. Kimberly enjoys health and wellness topics to even coach others to achieve optimum performance in addition to competing in triathlons, weightlifting, and crossfit as a masters athlete. Although she doesn't necessarily strive to win competitions, she competes to be better than her own performance and health of yesterday. Keeping moving and staying healthy helps make her a better mom, wife, and school administrator.
As a Southwest Denver native, I have also been teaching in Denver for 14 years. I earned my BA in English and Political Science in 2008 and an MA in Secondary Education in 2013. I have been a member of the Pinnacle MS staff since 2017. I have spent the last 4 years teaching 8th Grade and Advanced 8th Grade ELA, and before that, I taught 7th Grade ELA. I was awarded the 2022 Charter School Educator of the Year, which was both a humbling and rewarding recognition. The best thing I love about being an educator is witnessing the academic and character growth of my students from year to year.
I am a 28-year-old Colorado native from Arvada embarking on my inaugural year as a teacher. I started teaching because I understand the vital role language arts play in nurturing critical thinking, empathy, and communication skills essential for children's holistic development.
Born and raised in Arvada, CO, I am driven when it comes to education and have loved the 13 years I have spent in the classroom thus far. I graduated summa cum laude from Hope International University in 2011 with a degree for K-6 education and completed MSU Denver’s Alternative Licensure Program in 2014. After dedicating 9 years to private education at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, I began teaching at Pinnacle Charter School in 2020. Middle school students are hands-down my favorite age of students to teach both for their authentic desire for connection and their energetic enthusiasm. English language arts is my passion as is helping to develop a community of other passionate teachers that are confident and skilled in their craft.
Alesha Arscott is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for Unleashed, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to implementing strengths-based practices with individuals, teams, organizations, and students to achieve breakthrough results.
Math Intervention Specialist, CollaboratEd Consulting LLC
I am passionate about improving math instruction for all students.
I have been in public education as a teacher, instructional coach, teacher on special assignment, and now as a Math Intervention Specialist and founder of CollaboratEd Consulting.
Associate Director of Regional Advocacy, CLCS Action
Allison works to develop relationships throughout the charter school space by connecting schools, leaders, parents, teachers, students and advocates and encouraging them to become advocates to support high quality charter schools. She has been with the League since 2018.
Her relationship with charter schools goes back to when her parents helped start Montessori Peaks Academy in Littleton in 1998. The school was not quite ready for her to attend, so she went to Douglas County Montessori School for grades 1-3. “My parents were empowered to make an informed decision on the school that would best fit my needs. I believe the ability to choose is so important, especially for parents of nontraditional learners, and am excited to be part of a lively team who is dedicated to school quality and choice,” she says.
A Colorado native, Allison has traveled extensively and is happy to live in the beautiful state of Colorado.She graduated from Loyola University in Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in international relations and a minor peace studies. Her employment background has always centered around children. When not at work, you can find her practicing yoga and taking advantage of the great outdoors.
Director of Regional Advocacy, Colorado League of Charter Schools
Lauren supports the work of the League to engage and elevate members of the charter school community through advocacy. She brings a diverse background in creating sustainable public impact strategies, from partnering with policymakers across the country to develop innovative programs to working with local organizations to create grassroots system change. Previously holding positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures, Clayton Early Learning, Save the Children Action Network, Education Commission of the States, and the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Network. She has a Bachelors in Political Science from Colorado State University and a Masters in Public Administration from University of Colorado Denver.
Director of Regional Advocacy, Colorado League of Charter Schools
Lauren supports the work of the League to engage and elevate members of the charter school community through advocacy. She brings a diverse background in creating sustainable public impact strategies, from partnering with policymakers across the country to develop innovative programs to working with local organizations to create grassroots system change. Previously holding positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures, Clayton Early Learning, Save the Children Action Network, Education Commission of the States, and the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Network. She has a Bachelors in Political Science from Colorado State University and a Masters in Public Administration from University of Colorado Denver.
Director of Government Affairs, Colorado League of Charter Schools
Angelina’s specializes in advocating for favorable policies for public charter schools at the state and local levels while managing the League’s State & Local Policy Team. At the state level, this includes laws, rules and governance decisions made by the State Legislature, State Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education. Locally, this focus encompasses policies and governance decisions made by school district boards, counties and municipalities as it relates to public charter schools.
Shares Angelina, “As a daughter of a single mother who found her leadership voice through charter school advocacy, I can attest to how important it is for families to have quality choices in schools. I strongly believe that if a student has access to a quality school, it can change the trajectory of their life forever. Every child in this state deserves that opportunity.”
Angelina brings a wealth of experience working in education policy and with legislators in Colorado, including as the Special Policy Advisor to the House Majority Leader Crisanta Duran from 2015-2017. She also brings lobbying experience from her work as the Intergovernmental Affairs Manager at Denver Public Schools, and has additional background in advocacy and within the legislature. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts in political science & pre-law and a Master’s in public administration & local government from the University of Colorado-Denver. Angelina is a proud 5th generation Coloradoan and enjoys spending her time with her husband and their two children, Israel & Isla.
Director of School Partnerships & Innovative Programming, PEBC Teacher Residency
My teaching journey started back in San Juan, Puerto Rico where I attended an English immersion K-12 school through 5th grade. I then moved to Colorado (big change!) and entered suburban public schools as the only MLL in my classroom. Years later, experiences as a summer camp counselor and youth mentor ignited a passion for teaching with a relationship focus. I joined an intensive teacher residency program that primed me for teaching Multilingual Learners at Denver Public Schools. Things have come full circle as I currently coach and mentor teacher residents as a Manager of Resident Development for PEBC in Denver, Colorado.
Director of Regional Advocacy, Colorado League of Charter Schools
Lauren supports the work of the League to engage and elevate members of the charter school community through advocacy. She brings a diverse background in creating sustainable public impact strategies, from partnering with policymakers across the country to develop innovative programs to working with local organizations to create grassroots system change. Previously holding positions with the National Conference of State Legislatures, Clayton Early Learning, Save the Children Action Network, Education Commission of the States, and the Buell Early Childhood Leadership Network. She has a Bachelors in Political Science from Colorado State University and a Masters in Public Administration from University of Colorado Denver.
Director of Government Affairs, Colorado League of Charter Schools
Angelina’s specializes in advocating for favorable policies for public charter schools at the state and local levels while managing the League’s State & Local Policy Team. At the state level, this includes laws, rules and governance decisions made by the State Legislature, State Board of Education and the Colorado Department of Education. Locally, this focus encompasses policies and governance decisions made by school district boards, counties and municipalities as it relates to public charter schools.
Shares Angelina, “As a daughter of a single mother who found her leadership voice through charter school advocacy, I can attest to how important it is for families to have quality choices in schools. I strongly believe that if a student has access to a quality school, it can change the trajectory of their life forever. Every child in this state deserves that opportunity.”
Angelina brings a wealth of experience working in education policy and with legislators in Colorado, including as the Special Policy Advisor to the House Majority Leader Crisanta Duran from 2015-2017. She also brings lobbying experience from her work as the Intergovernmental Affairs Manager at Denver Public Schools, and has additional background in advocacy and within the legislature. She holds both a Bachelor of Arts in political science & pre-law and a Master’s in public administration & local government from the University of Colorado-Denver. Angelina is a proud 5th generation Coloradoan and enjoys spending her time with her husband and their two children, Israel & Isla.
Ms. Petersen joined the firm in 2020 from St. Louis, Missouri with extensive experience in product liability defense. Julie’s current practice focuses primarily on education law and the representation of nonprofits. She is also a member of the firm’s litigation department.
Alesha Arscott is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer for Unleashed, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to implementing strengths-based practices with individuals, teams, organizations, and students to achieve breakthrough results.
Dustin Sparks is the founder and managing member of the Charter School Law Group, a firm committed to guiding charter schools through the intricate legal framework they navigate. With a keen focus on employment law, Dustin has carved out a niche in advising charter schools on the development of robust employment policies, conducting thorough investigations into employment-related issues, and crafting strategies for the prevention of claims. His expertise extends to all facets of employment litigation, where he has a proven track record of defending schools in disputes with employees, thus safeguarding the interests of educational institutions.
In addition to his expertise in employment law, Dustin possesses a broad legal skill set that encompasses various aspects crucial to charter schools. He plays a pivotal role in securing new charter contracts, facilitating financing for school facilities, managing property acquisitions, and negotiating construction agreements. He has been instrumental in drafting and revising policies that guide schools in their day-to-day operations, advising boards and administrators, and addressing challenges involving both employees and students. His advisory role further includes special education matters, tax issues, and the myriad of unique challenges that come with the charter school territory.
Throughout his career, Dustin has successfully secured over $500 million in financing for charter schools, represented these institutions in land and facilities acquisitions, and defended them against claims from diverse stakeholders. His work is driven by an intellectual curiosity about the evolving landscape of charter school law and a deep-seated belief in the importance of educational choice. Dustin finds immense satisfaction in knowing his efforts contribute to enabling students to attend the schools they choose, reinforcing his commitment to the educational sector.
Experienced Superintendent with a demonstrated history of working in the primary/secondary education industry. Strong operations professional skilled in Administration, Curriculum Development, Public Speaking, Writing, and Grant Writing.
Andy Franko is the iConnect Zone Superintendent. The iConnect Zone encompasses eleven “non-traditional” schools within the district portfolio. Franko oversees four district operated schools including an Alternative Education Campus (9-12), multi-district online/blended school (K-12), multi-district online/blended Early College (9-14), and a Homeschool Program (K-12). In addition, Franko manages the authorization of seven charter schools offering K-12 models inclusive of online learning, classical education, expeditionary learning, career and tech, and humanities based education.
Franko holds a Masters Degree from the University of Colorado. His career in education includes teaching, coaching, and administration in the K-12 setting. With both traditional and public charter experience, Franko embraces a unique perspective of school choice and student opportunity. In addition to his work in District 49, Franko serves as a board member for the Colorado League of Charter Schools and the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers. He also provides consulting services to a number of charter school boards and administrators throughout Colorado.
My professional experience includes a wide array of marketing, media and public relations endeavors. My passion is helping business owners find success in their marketplace and helping them discover the best avenues for marketing their business. My firm, Focus Marketing + PR, has helped many Denver-area businesses find success even in tough economic times utilizing cutting-edge internet marketing techniques.
Lyman Millard has been working to help provide families with better educational options for more than 25 years. Since launching Bloomwell Group in 2017, he has helped national funders, regional nonprofits, and local school leaders in 26 states and the District of Columbia serve more students and attract more teachers. Prior to starting Bloomwell Group, he served on the founding team of Breakthrough Public Schools, where he helped launch 10 high-performing charter schools in underserved communities. Lyman lives in Cleveland, Ohio and is the proud dad of three charter school alumni.
Supervisor, School Improvement & Planning, Colorado Department of Education
Experienced public servant in supporting improvement processes with districts,schools and communities. Passionate about change processes that consider empowerment for participants grounded in a common vision for a better future.
Accountability Support Manager, Colorado Department of Education
Dan Jorgensen serves as the Accountability Support Manager within the Colorado Department of Education. He previously served as the Research, Data, and Accountability Officer at Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Assistant Director of the Division of Accountability and Research within the Aurora Public School District and as a project leader within the Department of Planning and Analysis within the Denver Public Schools. He served two terms as a Board of Education member for the Aurora Public Schools and is currently a Regional Education Laboratory (Central States) Governing Board member appointed by the State Commissioner. Also, he has served as a Board Member for RMSEL BOCES. He has served on the state Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board (2009-2013), served as a CASB delegate, and is a past officer for the Association of Colorado Education Evaluators. He has earned a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy & Administration from the University of Denver, has earned a Master of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he was a Rhoden fellowship recipient and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is a recipient of the adjunct teaching award at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, a past member of the School Accountability Committee at Sixth Avenue Elementary School, and served both as a division representative for the School Executives of Aurora and as a member of the APS teacher evaluation committee. Mr. Jorgensen has authored/coauthored research articles that have appeared in peer-reviewed research journals.
Meagan is a K-12 Educational Consultant based in Denver, CO. Having graduated with her B.A. (Old Dominion University) and M.A.Ed. (The College of William and Mary) degrees in the area of special education, Meagan has been a devoted advocate and secondary public school educator for 12+ years. Her work as an instructional coach and special education program director have allotted her the opportunity to understand the holistic needs of both students and teachers at a deeper systematic level. This knowledge has given Meagan extensive experience in seeking a more collaborative, equitable, and inclusive process at the school and district level. Her passion for this work is rooted in keeping great educators in education to support student growth and achievement far beyond the classroom walls.
Accountability Support Manager, Colorado Department of Education
Dan Jorgensen serves as the Accountability Support Manager within the Colorado Department of Education. He previously served as the Research, Data, and Accountability Officer at Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Assistant Director of the Division of Accountability and Research within the Aurora Public School District and as a project leader within the Department of Planning and Analysis within the Denver Public Schools. He served two terms as a Board of Education member for the Aurora Public Schools and is currently a Regional Education Laboratory (Central States) Governing Board member appointed by the State Commissioner. Also, he has served as a Board Member for RMSEL BOCES. He has served on the state Concurrent Enrollment Advisory Board (2009-2013), served as a CASB delegate, and is a past officer for the Association of Colorado Education Evaluators. He has earned a Doctorate of Philosophy degree in Educational Policy & Administration from the University of Denver, has earned a Master of Arts degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha where he was a Rhoden fellowship recipient and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is a recipient of the adjunct teaching award at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, a past member of the School Accountability Committee at Sixth Avenue Elementary School, and served both as a division representative for the School Executives of Aurora and as a member of the APS teacher evaluation committee. Mr. Jorgensen has authored/coauthored research articles that have appeared in peer-reviewed research journals.
Lead Accountability Reporting Manager, Colorado Department of Education
Current Accountability Support Manager at the Colorado Department of Education and PhD Candidate at the University of Colorado - Denver School of Public Affairs.
Alison Griffin’s experience on the implementation side of higher education and workforce development, and as a grantmaker, is reflected in her practical understanding of how policy shapes practice. Her career in postsecondary education policy includes two terms as a policy advisor to the Chairman of the U.S. House of Education and the Workforce, as well as an early career role with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities where she guided state policy development. Alison joined Whiteboard Advisors after leading national engagement, government relations and external affairs for Strada Education Network.
Alison believes the solutions to our most pressing education and workforce challenges from access to affordability to the alignment between skills and employment are rooted in thoughtful collaboration among a growing community of diverse voices. As a natural convener and connector across policymakers, impact investors, entrepreneurs, practitioners and employers, Alison is often at the center of moderating conversations and guiding solutions among national and state-level subject matter experts.
Alison is a frequent commentator in the media on issues at the intersection of postsecondary education and employment. She is a Forbes contributor and her opinion pieces have appeared in The Hill, The Washington Post and EdSurge. Alison co-leads Whiteboard’s postsecondary education practice from Boulder, Colorado. Appointed by Governor Jared Polis (D) in 2019 to the Colorado Mesa University Board of Trustees, Alison currently serves as chair of the Board. She is the vice chair of the Board of the Colorado League of Charter Schools and served the state of Colorado as a 2020 Governor’s Fellow. Alison holds a masters degree in education from the University of Georgia and graduated with undergraduate degrees in business and psychology from Southern Methodist University. As an avid reader and live music lover, her goal each year is to read more than 52 books and see at least 20 concerts.
Through my experiences in post-secondary guidance, college admissions recruitment, and various student-focused settings, I've developed critical skills in leadership, project management, recruitment, and advocacy. My long term professional goals center around reducing economic and educational inequities that persist as a result of longstanding federal and local policies.
Dr. Kyle Hartung is an associate vice president in Jobs for the Future’s (JFF) Education Practice and a co-author of The Big Blur. Over the last 25 years Kyle has worked as a teacher, leader, consultant, and researcher in public K–12 systems and higher-education settings. In his current role at JFF he leads strategy and initiatives with state, regional, and local leaders to design, strengthen, and scale solutions to reimagine the ways in which people experience and move through education and workforce development systems to ensure that they access the knowledge, skills, credentials, and capital critical to advance in a career, achieve economic advancement, and realize their best possible futures. Kyle is regular participant in the ongoing conversation about equity, education, workforce development, and the future of work in the media and at events around the country. His areas of expertise include college and career readiness, education-industry partnerships, work-based learning, secondary and postsecondary alignment, intermediary design and development, career navigation, systems change, adult learning, and mixed-methods research.
Early Learning & School Support Coordinator, Colorado Charter School Institute
With over 25 years serving children and adolescents first as a teacher, then school counselor, private therapist, principal, executive director of a charter school, author, consultant, and now as the School Support Specialist for Colorado Charter School Institute I am excited about the future of education. By embracing challenges with a Solutioning approach we learn, grow, and continue to improve!
Preschool Leader, Salida Montessori Charter School
Brianna Myersgrew up in Salida and has always had a love for young children and helping others. She has been teaching in early childhood since 2008. She has been an assistant in a Montessori classroom since coming home to Salida in 2013. Prior to that, she spent five years at a private preschool in Grand Junction. Two of those years were spent as a lead teacher in their toddler program and the last three years as Director. Brianna attended Mesa State College where she earned her Large Child Care Center Director's Certificate. Brinna has three daughters, Sydney, born in 2005, Jayden, born in 2007 and Stella, born in 2016. Brianna is very excited to be continuing her work in a toddler classroom at SMCS and also continuing on in the role of Preschool Director.
As a school leader I have opened a new school and exceeded all enrollment goals in less than a year, while becoming a 1.5 million dollar a year school. I have also worked at schools with extremely low enrollment and high staff turn over and in less than a year turned the school around with over 80% utilization and zero turn over in the last 6 months. I pride my self on making every school I work at a family environment. I want everyone from kids, parents, teachers, support staff to upper management feel like they are walking into a place that they can call it a home!
I am a dedicated research and analytics professional who is passionate about using quantitative and qualitative models to improve the education and success of all populations. I have extensive experience in research design, public speaking, grant management, policy writing, program management, qualitative and quantitative research design as well as data visualization, with a particular interest in working in the education space.
Director of Outreach, Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE) of AAE
Candace Inghram is a communication specialist with a comprehensive background in education and athletics. As Director of Outreach, Candace is responsible for cultivating AAE’s outreach to targeted communities, including educators, school leaders, policy allies, and other strategic partners. This include partnership development, existing partnership support, presentations as assigned to potential members, potential partners, and other targeted audiences.
She began her career as a highly-qualified and certified teacher in her hometown, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. While earning her bachelor’s degree at the University of Alabama, Candace gained valuable experience working in recruiting for the University of Alabama football team, and developing her love of football. Her experience prepared her to work in the NFL and NBA. She worked in public/media relations and communications for the Kansas City Chiefs, Indiana Pacers, and Cleveland Browns.
Candace earned an MA in public relations from Indiana University. She also worked in business development for the law firm, Faegre Baker Daniels. Candace then returned to her passion of education and shared stories to connect alumni and businesses in a philanthropic manner as a Director of Development for Ball State University and the Director of Development for Athletics at Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Regional Director, Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE)
Ariel Elliott serves as regional director for the Professional Association of Colorado Educators (PACE), supporting and serving PACE members throughout Colorado and working to introduce many more educators to the benefits of PACE and the importance of membership in a professional association.
Ariel started her professional career in hotel management before transitioning to the association industry five years ago. She recently served as Education Director and Membership Development Director at the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado (now Trusted Choice Insurance Agents of Colorado). As membership director Ariel grew membership and other programs offered by the association substantially. Ariel is a licensed property and casualty insurance professional and a tax professional.
Top five strengths: Strategic, futuristic, activator, learner. systems reformer, change agent, education advocate, promoter of diversity, equity, and connector of people, passionate about equity, opportunity, and access. Seeks projects that create social good, require hard work, and a high degree of grit and ethics.
What drives me? Knowing my work meant something, changed trajectories for kids or the community, and opened doors for others. Creating social impact in a global competent settting.
What is my why? Turn victim into victor, and share my zest and positivity with others. Watch people
succeed.
Things I support: cultivating curiosity, equity driven programs: Girls Who Game, esports, United Way, Ready 4 Life, foster youth advancement, public education, magnet school reform, STEM, STEAM, Arts, and mental health reform in K12, teacher and leader advancement, Ed tech, Climate Action Project, and much more!
Experienced Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the primary/secondary education industry. Skilled in Coaching, Program Coordination, Turnaround Experience, Program Development, Problem Solving, and Leadership. Strong community and social services professional with a Post Master's Certificate - Principal License focused in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Denver.
Kimberly Stalcup is a 23 year experienced secondary educator with 12 years serving as an administrator with demonstrated success in student and teacher performance. She was a passionate teacher for 11 years teaching secondary history, social science, English and journalism courses. As a teacher and administrator, she has demonstrated high achievement and growth results. As an administrator, she is devoted to staff development, educational leadership, leadership development, high quality teaching and staff retention as well as data driven decision making. Kimberly achieved her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) focusing in Educational Leadership and Policy Administration from the University of Florida. Her dissertation focused on math test score performance and correlated enrollment in National Academy Foundation Engineering programs in a selected school district which is published in ProQuest and also by visiting this link: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/E0/05/17/39/00001/STALCUP_K.pdf
Kimberly is originally from Florida spending almost 34 years in the southwest Florida area then moving to Colorado in 2017 with her husband and two boys. They love the outdoors and the great state of Colorado. Kimberly enjoys health and wellness topics to even coach others to achieve optimum performance in addition to competing in triathlons, weightlifting, and crossfit as a masters athlete. Although she doesn't necessarily strive to win competitions, she competes to be better than her own performance and health of yesterday. Keeping moving and staying healthy helps make her a better mom, wife, and school administrator.
Secondary Social Studies Teacher, Pinnacle Charter School
Originally from Colorado, I've spent nine years honing my teaching craft, with six years at the high school level and three years at the middle school level. Armed with a master's degree in U.S. History, I've focused on teaching subjects like U.S. History, Concurrent Enrollment U.S. History, Government, Geography, Economics, and Sociology. Currently, I'm fortunate to teach at Pinnacle Charter School and contribute to Front Range Community College. My approach to teaching centers on creating an engaging learning environment that fosters critical thinking and supports student success.
Dustin Sparks is the founder and managing member of the Charter School Law Group, a firm committed to guiding charter schools through the intricate legal framework they navigate. With a keen focus on employment law, Dustin has carved out a niche in advising charter schools on the development of robust employment policies, conducting thorough investigations into employment-related issues, and crafting strategies for the prevention of claims. His expertise extends to all facets of employment litigation, where he has a proven track record of defending schools in disputes with employees, thus safeguarding the interests of educational institutions.
In addition to his expertise in employment law, Dustin possesses a broad legal skill set that encompasses various aspects crucial to charter schools. He plays a pivotal role in securing new charter contracts, facilitating financing for school facilities, managing property acquisitions, and negotiating construction agreements. He has been instrumental in drafting and revising policies that guide schools in their day-to-day operations, advising boards and administrators, and addressing challenges involving both employees and students. His advisory role further includes special education matters, tax issues, and the myriad of unique challenges that come with the charter school territory.
Throughout his career, Dustin has successfully secured over $500 million in financing for charter schools, represented these institutions in land and facilities acquisitions, and defended them against claims from diverse stakeholders. His work is driven by an intellectual curiosity about the evolving landscape of charter school law and a deep-seated belief in the importance of educational choice. Dustin finds immense satisfaction in knowing his efforts contribute to enabling students to attend the schools they choose, reinforcing his commitment to the educational sector.
I love people and helping people in anyway I can. I enjoy utilizing my diverse legal background and experiences to help clients navigate the legal system.
CEO & People Leadership Coach, NoLimitsCareer & Consulting , LLC
Trina is the primary contact for “All things People” at the League, providing members with efficient, applicable and relevant talent development services and solutions in areas such as HR support and resources, talent acquisition, recruitment strategy, workforce planning, performance management, leadership development and succession planning. She collaborates with businesses, organizations, community members and universities to establish resources that can contribute to a school’s success with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I believe charters promote a true educational partnership between the school, students, parents and community, meeting their needs and providing options and opportunities for the next generation. I am glad to disrupt, innovate, impact and make a difference,” says Trina.
Having worked in a diverse array of organizations from startups to international fortune 500’s, Trina has over 20 years of results-oriented, broad industry experience in over eight industries. The most magical was The Walt Disney Company and the most energizing was Vestas. She holds several HR certifications, including Myers Briggs and Gallup Certified StrengthsFinder Coach. Trina received her bachelor's of science degree from the University of Louisville in business administration/human resources and her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. In her spare time, she enjoys giving back to the community and loves to travel, read, find new personal and professional projects, meet new people and spend time with family and friends, especially her niece and nephew.
Dustin Sparks is the founder and managing member of the Charter School Law Group, a firm committed to guiding charter schools through the intricate legal framework they navigate. With a keen focus on employment law, Dustin has carved out a niche in advising charter schools on the development of robust employment policies, conducting thorough investigations into employment-related issues, and crafting strategies for the prevention of claims. His expertise extends to all facets of employment litigation, where he has a proven track record of defending schools in disputes with employees, thus safeguarding the interests of educational institutions.
In addition to his expertise in employment law, Dustin possesses a broad legal skill set that encompasses various aspects crucial to charter schools. He plays a pivotal role in securing new charter contracts, facilitating financing for school facilities, managing property acquisitions, and negotiating construction agreements. He has been instrumental in drafting and revising policies that guide schools in their day-to-day operations, advising boards and administrators, and addressing challenges involving both employees and students. His advisory role further includes special education matters, tax issues, and the myriad of unique challenges that come with the charter school territory.
Throughout his career, Dustin has successfully secured over $500 million in financing for charter schools, represented these institutions in land and facilities acquisitions, and defended them against claims from diverse stakeholders. His work is driven by an intellectual curiosity about the evolving landscape of charter school law and a deep-seated belief in the importance of educational choice. Dustin finds immense satisfaction in knowing his efforts contribute to enabling students to attend the schools they choose, reinforcing his commitment to the educational sector.
Director of Business Development , Tatonka Education Services
Excellent public speaking skills to large and small groups, creative problem solver, very detailed oriented, highly organized, professional customer service skills via phone and email, well disciplined and able to balance many tasks at once, well traveled, passionate and motivated.
Director of Operations, Vanguard Classical Schools
I am a dynamic, influential, and results-driven executive with accomplished experience developing and leading strategic operations for growth-focused organizations. I have a proven record of streamlining processes and improving results in sales, business growth, talent acquisition, employee retention, and company culture.
The consultative methodology I use produces real results. I approach each role and project with a strategic plan, motivating goals and KPIs, effective team development, and agile leadership. As I lead growth and transformations, I continually improve and streamline processes to be most effective which results in profit generation and expense reduction.
The key to my operational achievements is found in the teams I build and talent I develop. I am proficient at connecting with people, placing each person in the right position, forging partnerships, and providing resources that support and empower the teams I lead. As a colleague I am accountable, adaptable, and collaborative, truly believing that success is found in a strong team.
Chief Human Resource Officer, Pinnacle Charter School
Experienced human resources professional supporting 200+ employees through the full employment life cycle, payroll support, and effective customer service and communication.
In-depth experience leveraging professional communication to promote non-profit missions and projects through community outreach, presentations, and marketing and design to expand personnel support, improve organization impact, and achieve measurable results.
More than seven years of cross-cultural work in development and human rights, along with professional proficiency in Spanish, contributing to bridging cultures and communities.
CEO & People Leadership Coach, NoLimitsCareer & Consulting , LLC
Trina is the primary contact for “All things People” at the League, providing members with efficient, applicable and relevant talent development services and solutions in areas such as HR support and resources, talent acquisition, recruitment strategy, workforce planning, performance management, leadership development and succession planning. She collaborates with businesses, organizations, community members and universities to establish resources that can contribute to a school’s success with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I believe charters promote a true educational partnership between the school, students, parents and community, meeting their needs and providing options and opportunities for the next generation. I am glad to disrupt, innovate, impact and make a difference,” says Trina.
Having worked in a diverse array of organizations from startups to international fortune 500’s, Trina has over 20 years of results-oriented, broad industry experience in over eight industries. The most magical was The Walt Disney Company and the most energizing was Vestas. She holds several HR certifications, including Myers Briggs and Gallup Certified StrengthsFinder Coach. Trina received her bachelor's of science degree from the University of Louisville in business administration/human resources and her MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. In her spare time, she enjoys giving back to the community and loves to travel, read, find new personal and professional projects, meet new people and spend time with family and friends, especially her niece and nephew.
Executive Director, Collaborative for Exceptional Education
Kaci understands that becoming a charter school that is inclusive and supportive of students with diverse learner needs does not happen overnight; it requires intentional program development and ongoing program refinement and teacher skill building. As the Director of Exceptional School Services, she is committed to supporting charter schools in both the development of programming and the building of skills to ensure that ALL learners have access to choosing a high quality education. Kaci specializes in providing ongoing thought partnership, professional development as well as customized program assessment and development. She regularly seeks opportunities to collaborate with schools and partners both within and outside of Colorado.
“I have worked in the charter school sector since 2006 in various settings and roles. My experiences have led me to believe that they can and should be blazing a path in the world of Exceptional Student Services. The structural and budgeting autonomy that charter schools have allows them to be innovative and flexible when planning programming for the diverse needs of their learners. I have had the pleasure of seeing passionate teachers and leaders sit down with families to develop creative, individualized plans for their learners so they can be successfully served in the least restrictive environment at their school. When leadership and staff in a charter school environment possess a dedicated and passionate mindset, extraordinary results can occur for all students.”
Before joining the League, Kaci worked at Betty Marler Youth Services Center teaching science, math, and special education to incarcerated females aged 14-21. She went on to become a Middle School Special Educator at STRIVE Prep – Federal (formerly West Denver Prep) before serving as the Senior Director of Student Services at STRIVE Prep’s Central Office where she worked to develop network programming in the areas of special education, multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS), English language development, mental health, and gifted and talented. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in math and science from Ouachita Baptist University and her Master’s Degree in educational leadership and special education administration from the University of Northern Colorado.
Executive Leadership Consultant, Special Education Leader Fellowship (SELF)
• Self motivated, creative, and dedicated Educational Leader with demonstrated expertise in directing educational staff and students’ towards reaching common educational goals; designing programs to lead professional development, leadership development, and continuous learning opportunities; developing curriculum and instructional programs
• Collaborates with classroom teachers to develop, coordinate and deliver reading interventions to ensure accelerated progress for striving readers
• Knowledge and experience with intervention programs, planning and facilitating various professional learning activities; able to demonstrate, model, and coach effective research-based literacy plans.
• Analytical ability to plan individual and group activities that stimulate growth in the cognitive, affective and physical dimensions of each teacher or student.
• Adept in improving performance levels through effective instructional techniques, innovative integration of technology, real life experiences, and hands-on activities to support learning concepts.
• Modifies curriculum to address the changing needs of students and incorporate new methods of teaching.
• Able to break down complex information into comprehensive parts, ask questions, synthesize and analyze for better understanding of students or teachers
• Experienced in handling small to large group of students, varied student ages, and dedicated to meeting the individual needs of children using creative, engaging methods.
• Quickly builds and maintains positive working relationships with support staff, administrators, parents, and students.
• Organizes tasks and manages time to meet deadlines.
Sonya Hemmen, Ed.D. is the Head of School and CEO of Ross Montessori School, a regionally recognized K-8 public charter school. After participating in the planning for Ross' forever home in 2016, a 21,000-square-foot green building, she switched focus to Strategic Leadership Planning with a team comprised of teachers, staff, parents, and board members. Ross has received three five-year renewal charter contracts under her leadership since 2012.
She manages an annual operating budget of over $3.5M and supervises a staff of 40, having personally hired most senior staff members and retained them all for over a decade. She earned a BA in Spanish Literature and Latin American Studies from Arizona State University, an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Northern Colorado, and a leadership credential from the American Montessori Society. She is a Roaring Fork Leadership graduate with an Ed. D. in charter school leadership from William Howard Taft University. Her professional Colorado licensures include teacher, principal, and superintendent.
Sonya plans and leads a successful Annual Fund campaign each school year, managing financial donations and gifts-in-kind for the Mark Ross Montessori Foundation.
Janet’s passion is working with leaders who are becoming their very best selves, especially as they deal with the consequences of the pandemic, political polarization, scary news, and uncertainty everywhere. Great leaders have a profound impact on their teams, as well as in their communities, and on society. They are destined to create deep, meaningful, sustainable, organizational change. Janet’s life purpose is understanding and embracing her role in facilitating their development.
As a coach, mentor, advisor, and teacher, Janet noticed that leaders respond and grow very differently from each other, even when in the exact same circumstances as their peers. These observations inspired Janet to study what facilitates and accelerates the growth of leaders. What she found was surprising, causing her to develop a leadership program from her unique perspective.
Her approach to innovation and problem-solving is anchored in her values and guided by a blend of principles from the world’s most significant business leaders, not-for-profit thought leaders, and her own research-based proprietary content. Janet’s recommended reading list includes anything from Jim Collins or John Kotter; Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Happiness; Shirzad Chamine, Positive Psychology; Joiner and Josephs, Leadership Agility; Clifton and Harter, Wellbeing at Work; Crutchfield and Grant, Forces for Good; and Kouzes and Posner, The Truth About Leadership.
Janet is certified and experienced in the administration of many individual and organizational assessments or tools such as 360-degree feedback inventories, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Essential Motivators, Positive Intelligence, GALLUP Clifton Strengths, Workplace Big Five, Strong Interest Inventory, DiSC, and Herman Brain Dominance Instrument.
Rebecca Teeples, recognized as one of “40 Superwomen of Northern Colorado” by the Coloradoan, serves as the Executive Director over Windsor Charter Academy Schools. With 10+ years’ experience in educational leadership, academic scores place the schools of Windsor Charter Academy in the top schools in the state of Colorado.
Prior to work at Windsor Charter Academy, Rebecca worked in various leadership capacities—principal, district curriculum trainer, instructional coach and assistant principal. Rebecca also taught at Grand Canyon University in the Elementary Education department and was recognized as Faculty of the Month for her commitment to excellence.
I am seeking the opportunity to add value to a professional organization where I can apply my restorative and relational leadership style to build and maintain an effective and high performing team. I hope to use my leadership and management skills in strategic planning, systems development, crisis and conflict management, creative problem solving, collaborative team building, communication, and technology, to meet the mission and vision of a school or organization where growth, achievement, and safe community are a priority among stakeholders.
Dr. Weyman now serves as the Regional Vice President for ACCEL Schools and oversees Charter schools in Colorado. In this role she oversees school academics, operations and fiscal management. Dr. Weyman maintains a Colorado Department of Education Principal license for grades K-12 and is developing a principal induction program that is accessible for the remote school leaders of Colorado. Previously, she was an award-winning teacher in the middle and high school science classrooms.
Experienced Superintendent with a demonstrated history of working in the primary/secondary education industry. Strong operations professional skilled in Administration, Curriculum Development, Public Speaking, Writing, and Grant Writing.
Andy Franko is the iConnect Zone Superintendent. The iConnect Zone encompasses eleven “non-traditional” schools within the district portfolio. Franko oversees four district operated schools including an Alternative Education Campus (9-12), multi-district online/blended school (K-12), multi-district online/blended Early College (9-14), and a Homeschool Program (K-12). In addition, Franko manages the authorization of seven charter schools offering K-12 models inclusive of online learning, classical education, expeditionary learning, career and tech, and humanities based education.
Franko holds a Masters Degree from the University of Colorado. His career in education includes teaching, coaching, and administration in the K-12 setting. With both traditional and public charter experience, Franko embraces a unique perspective of school choice and student opportunity. In addition to his work in District 49, Franko serves as a board member for the Colorado League of Charter Schools and the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers. He also provides consulting services to a number of charter school boards and administrators throughout Colorado.
With nearly 30 years in Education Leadership and Youth Development, I was fortunate to have many supports and opportunities sprinkled throughout my life. It led me to take advantage and work hard to start Stronger Consulting envisioning a more creative space to collaborate with educators and leaders to support kids from all over the nation.
Matthias O’Meara specializes in raising capital for educational institutions such as charter schools and EMO/CMO networks as well as healthcare organizations.
Matthias O’Meara's expertise includes debt financing, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions advisory, swap and derivative advisory, and developing state-of-the-art financial analytics that utilize statistical analysis.
Prior to becoming an advisor, Matthias O’Meara was an investment banker at BB&T, where he oversaw the western region, as well as a banker at Wells Fargo. Matthias has managed more than $2 billion in transactions for his clients.
In addition to his career in finance, Mr. Matthias O’Meara is active in his community and has served on several charter school boards. He was a founding board member for Montessori del Mundo, a dual language charter school in Aurora. Mr. O’Meara was on the board of directors at Rocky Mountain Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, and is board treasurer of Ricardo Flores Magon Academy, which recently was awarded a $15.6 million BEST Grant in 2018.
Founder & Executive Director, Vega Collegiate Academy
As a mission-driven educational director, entrepreneur, and advocate for social change, I champion equitable learning infrastructures, drive policy change, and boost local engagement to transform underserved areas into sustainable, thriving communities.
With a background in special education for diverse, vulnerable populations, I have collaborated on special teaching task forces to enhance curriculums, partnered with Teach for America (TFA) in improving teacher capabilities, and personally taught many as 180 students at a time. I recently collaborated with the renowned Building Excellent Schools program to establish Vega Collegiate Academy, a new K–8 college preparatory school in Aurora, Colorado, and I currently serve as the Founding Executive Director, where I lead the strategic direction and overall learning methodologies for 550 students in a marginalized area. A few of my noteworthy accomplishments include:
● Launched and scaled Vega Collegiate Academy to make an impact on the underserved community of Aurora.
● Grew Vega Collegiate Academy from 12 staff members with 100 students to 72 full-time employees and 550 students despite the massive educational fallout due to the global pandemic. I led the school in achieving the #1 and #2 rankings across charter schools in reading and mathematics skills, and we were honored with the School of Excellence Award by the Colorado Department of Education.
● Served as an advocate for education policy and a lobbyist for special education services in charter schools. I have been invited multiple times by the Colorado League of Charter Schools to speak at the House Committee. We recently succeeding in passing House Bill 22-1294 to expand special education pathways in charter schools.
Experienced leader in public sector finance and operations. Government finance expert dedicated to supporting local governments, state agencies, school districts, and charter schools in building a strong foundation for a fiscally sustainable future. Builder of agile teams who make a difference in the everyday lives of the communities we serve.
Mrs. Noelle Currell originates from Albuquerque, New Mexico, attended college at Rice University in Houston, TX, and has a nearly 20-year career in finance spanning both private and public sectors. Outside of work she enjoys being outdoors with her husband Luke and their three children (Alex and Katy - twins 9, Dean - 6).
Personally: I am a JHL lifer having joined the firm as an intern in 2001. Having grown up professionally with the firm I have held many positions coming through the ranks as PE, PM, VP, Exec VP and now focus strictly on the front end of the business. I have a passion for helping our clients, partners, & helping my JHL family grow through new relationships, coaching/mentorship, and having a blast together.
John has over 30 years experience in all aspects of corporate real estate advisory services for clients with single locations and clients with a portfolio of locations. He has a broad range of experience including strategic planning for individual requirements and portfolios, lease renewals, restuctures and relocations, building purchases and sales, and build-to-suits for lease and purchase.
John approaches each assignment as an opportunity to build a long-term relationship, and strives to advise and achieve results as if he has an equity stake in his clients' businesses.
Specialties: John has experience primarily in office and industrial asset classes.
I couldn't be more grateful I found school operations early in my career. It's been my niche in education combining my passion for being in service of others and working for an equitable world with my love for all things organization, systems and connecting the dots between big picture strategy and the little details that matter. I've learned a lot in my 11 years working in education (10 of those in school ops!), and am excited to continue learning from the amazing leaders I get to work with. I'm here to walk beside you on this journey.
I founded Ops for Impact on the belief that operational excellence is essential for enabling success of all students. At Ops for Impact, we believe that at a single site charter school or small CMO, operational training and resources should be accessible and easy to implement. Through personalized coaching for ops leaders, professional development with purpose built templates for operations, and Ops Excellence Assessments we’ve got your ops team covered to drive great operational results.
National Partnership Manager, Cross Country Education
Shannon Middendorf began her 20+ years of teaching in private and charter schools. She has taught preschool, elementary, and junior high while completing her masters in Curriculum and Instruction at Grand Canyon University. As a deliverer of professional development and coordinator of school programs and events, she transitioned to Assistant Principal to motivate teachers and students in achieving their personal best. Using her experience as an educator and school leader, Shannon has served as a National Partnership Manager with Cross Country Education for nearly 5 years. Her goal is to partner and provide support to schools and districts, fueled by her passion to see every student receive the education and support they need to thrive.
President and Founder, Garment Graphics & Promotional Products
Holly is an experienced and passionate speaker, boasting over three decades of expertise in promotional marketing, particularly within the K-12 education sector. She embarked on her entrepreneurial journey shortly after completing her education at The University of Arizona in 1992.
Central to her ethos is the belief encapsulated in the phrase, "One Generation Plants the Seed, Another Gets the Shade," a philosophy Holly and her company, Garment Graphics, wholeheartedly embrace.
Eller College at The University of Arizona has honored Holly with the "Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things" Award for Marketing Excellence and her outstanding contributions have earned her the distinction of being a 2021 Finalist for Arizona, Women of Influence, Marketing Woman of the Year.
Beyond her professional achievements, Holly's commitment to social responsibility shines through. A percentage of all corporate gross sales are directed towards charitable causes close to her heart, including foster care, education, and support for the military. She is also a mentor for Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and works with Angel Charity for Children.
Holly is married to her college sweetheart, Scott and has 2 children and 4 grandchildren. She is a competitive tennis player, a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs, and enjoys her 2 dogs, Mazie and Addie – her “barketing” interns who accompany her to the office.
Jabali Sawicki is the Compass Director of nXu, a youth purpose incubator whose mission is to catalyze a diverse community of youth to explore, articulate, and pursue their purpose. Prior to joining nXu Jabali served as the Senior Director of Inspire at Relay Graduate School of Education, an independent, nonprofit graduate school of education that focuses on training and supporting great teachers and leaders working in our nation’s high-needs public schools. Prior to that, Jabali served as a founding Instructional Designer at Zearn, a non-profit digital learning organization currently serving over 2,000,000 students.
Jabali has extensive experience working in schools. He taught middle school science at Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, one of the highest performing urban charter schools in the state of Massachusetts. Jabali also served as the founding principal and Head of School of Excellence Boys Charter School, of Bedford Stuyvesant located in Brooklyn, NY. Excellence, a member of Uncommon Schools, a high performing network of charter schools, was the first single-sex public charter school in New York State. Excellence prepares its 750 young boys in grades K-8 to enter, succeed in, and graduate from outstanding college preparatory high schools and colleges. For his exceptional leadership and commitment to educational equity, Jabali has received numerous awards and recognition including being selected as a KIPP Fisher Fellow in 2003.
Jabali currently sits on the advisory board for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa, the Leadership Council of the Robin Hood Foundation in New York City, the national board of Summer Search, a leadership development program focused on low income youth, the board of German School Brooklyn, the national board of Breakthrough Collaborative, and the board of Uncommon Schools in New York City.
After 21 years in education Jabali continues to be committed to improving educational outcomes for all students.
Lyman Millard has been working to help provide families with better educational options for more than 25 years. Since launching Bloomwell Group in 2017, he has helped national funders, regional nonprofits, and local school leaders in 26 states and the District of Columbia serve more students and attract more teachers. Prior to starting Bloomwell Group, he served on the founding team of Breakthrough Public Schools, where he helped launch 10 high-performing charter schools in underserved communities. Lyman lives in Cleveland, Ohio and is the proud dad of three charter school alumni.
Paul, a partner with Plante Moran Realpoint, is the lead team member of the strategic planning and program management team, specializing in preconstruction planning, project feasibility, and project oversight services for public sector clients. Paul excels in helping decision makers define and meet key project success parameters, goals, and objectives. This includes assisting with strategic planning, site selection and due diligence, assemblage of the design and construction team members, and monitoring project progress from program through punch list.
Paul has more than 25 years of program management experience and has completed successful capital projects worth more than $4 billion. He has assisted numerous clients across the United States on more than 600 facilities projects involving building assessments, conceptual programming, bonding approval, and building construction for educational facilities, municipal offices, law enforcement, fire and EMS, libraries, courts, recreation centers, and DPW facilities.
Paul received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Architecture degrees from Lawrence Technological University. He became a licensed architect in 2001. Paul is a LEED-accredited professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).
Daniel Casselli is a life-long learner whose passion for education has driven his professional endeavors. He began his career as a classroom teacher and youth ministry leader before his entrepreneurial spirit led him into the world of education technology. At EVERFI Inc., Daniel helped run the business development efforts for EVERFI’s Financial Education Program. Later, Daniel lead K12 Enterprise Sales at Class Technologies, helping the company land its first 100+ K-12 customers across public, charter, and private schools. In 2023, Daniel joined BuyQ, where he is focused on growth, operational excellence, business strategy, and client satisfaction. He is a graduate of Grove City College where he studied Religion and History.
