Catalysts Among Us

By Nicole Wetzel, League Board Vice-Chair

I wanted to share my thoughts with you today because so much of the good we’re seeing across the Colorado charter school landscape is because of the catalyzing effects of people, systems, and resources around the state. 

First, I wanted to say how proud I am of the League for securing the federal CSP grant. Dawna, Dan, and the team are doing a fantastic job building out a $68 million pipeline for quality and growth in charter schools. These grants of up to $2 million each will not only support the schools that receive them but the entire charter ecosystem.

For example, as the team builds out trainings related to the grant, they will become available to ALL charter schools in the state. This technical assistance is a vital component of the overall program and one that the League is pursuing so that the benefits of CSP can be seen and felt across the sector. 

To add to that, the League was instrumental in pushing for the State Facilities Incentive Fund (won by CDE) to bring an additional $36 million to Colorado—a combined $100 million to support Colorado charter schools over the next five years! As a leader with a construction project underway, I know the crucial value of funds to expand, build, and develop our campuses. Our school sites, our buildings, and our venues are critical to demonstrating the value we bring to our students, families, and broader communities.

And there is much to celebrate related to the quality of the education and opportunity we provide for students. We can see in each of our own schools the complex web of people and resources that are needed to help our students develop and grow. There are many positives coming out these days—from the recent CDE Charter Schools report, to last year’s CREDO analysis, to compelling UC Denver research from just a few days ago—we have much to celebrate. 

And we have more work to do. We have new support at the League in the form of Dawna Taylor and Bill Knous, both former school leaders, along with new hire Karolina Villagrana, who will lead the effort on Charter School Quality. They bring experience, understanding, and pragmatism to the work, and we’re so grateful they’re here. We’re also excited to welcome Tanesha Bell, who is bringing her past experience and expertise in CSP management to the team. Welcome, Tanesha!

So today, as we gather together for a day of networking, learning, celebrating, and reflection, I hope we can pause and think about how we celebrate our wins and prepare for the work ahead. In what ways can we both be a catalyst and inspire others to become one, too? Indeed, we can’t do this all alone. But together, and by bringing in more supporters, partners, and thought leaders, we can create a larger impact, increased opportunity, and more success for our students.

Thank you,

Nicole
Chief of Staff, GVA Collaborative