General Session Speakers
Keynote Speaker — Dr. Kelli Harding
Dr. Harding, a renowned expert in human health and well-being, is celebrated for her groundbreaking work on the science of kindness and connection. Inspired by her life's work, much of which was spent in the ER at New York Presbyterian Hospital, she authored "The Rabbit Effect," a provocative new way to look at the connection between health, kindness and thriving communities. Dr. Harding brings a unique blend of expertise and heartfelt storytelling that will inspire and transform your approach to leadership and wellness. As part of her mission to educate the general public about important health topics she’s appeared on Today, Good Morning America, NPR, The New York Times, Medscape, Oprah.com, and US News & World Report.
For more about Dr. Harding, you can visit her speaker profile here.
Lunch Session — Mickey Revenaugh
A global digital learning pioneer and advocate, Mickey co-founded Connections Academy, a ground-breaking, online school provider. Launched in 2001, it serves more than 110,000 K-12 students around the globe — including Colorado — as part of Pearson. Prior to her 2022 retirement, Mickey focused on bringing high-quality, tech-enabled schooling opportunities to learners. Prior to that, she launched E-rate to increase school internet access and served as education technology editor at Scholastic. Mickey is currently Board Chair of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School, winner of XQ Institute's $10M prize for innovative school design, and also chairs the boards of Yellow Arrow Publishing and Barbara J. Dreyer Cares Foundation. She is the author of SCHOOL’S OUT, forthcoming in 2026 from Johns Hopkins University Press. Mickey holds a BA from Yale University, an MBA from New York University, and an MFA from Bennington College.
*Mickey will also be running a Workshop.
Panelist — Republican Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer
Kirkland is a 4th-generation Coloradan who has lived in Weld County for over 35 years. She started her service in 1992 after organizing her neighbors to fight the placement of four regional solid waste facilities in her community. Next, she ran for the Weld County Commission, serving from 1993 until 2001 when she was chosen to serve in the administration of Governor Bill Owens as the Acting Executive Director of the Department of Local Affairs. Prior to her time in office, Kirkmeyer co-owned and operated a dairy farm and was a small business owner for over 15 years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Colorado – Boulder in 1980 and her teaching certificate from the State of Colorado that same year.
Panelist — Nicholas Hernandez
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Transform Education Now
Shaped by his own educational experiences and the stories of the families he has served, Nicholas is committed to fighting alongside communities to create a more just education system for all. Prior to co-founding Transform Education Now, he worked as a community organizer at DSST Public Schools and taught middle school history in Southwest Denver. At the University of Colorado Boulder, he worked to ensure access and support to low income students and students of color with the Student Outreach and Retention Center for Equity. It was during this time that he became conscious of the intentional and systemic educational inequality that ensures that marginalized communities are denied opportunity.
Panelist — Krista Kafer
Columnist, The Denver Post
Krista L. Kafer is a Sunday Denver Post opinion columnist, adjunct professor of communication, journalism, and political science, and a frequent radio and television commentator. A Colorado native, Krista returned to Colorado after nine years in the nation’s capital where she worked for two members of Congress and served as the senior expert on education policy at the Heritage Foundation. She has a BA in history and an MA in political science. Krista loves to travel and has been lost on five continents because she lacks a sense of direction. Among her many nonmonetizable talents, she can say “hello” in 20 languages.
Panelist — Colorado Democratic Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Dafna Michaelson Jenet became Senator for Senate District 21 after representing Colorado’s House District 30 & 32 for seven years. She was the chair of the House Public Health & Human Services Committee and served on the Education and Legislative Audit Committees. Senator Michaelson Jenet’s legislative work primarily focuses on youth, particularly foster care youth, mental health, and healthcare access. Prior to her work in the legislature, Senator Michaelson Jenet traveled to all 50 states, one state each week for 52 weeks, in search of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to solve problems in their communities. She chronicled her experiences in “It Takes a Little Crazy to Make a Difference,” published by Motivational Press.
Workshop Speakers
Dan Schaller
Dan has been President of the Colorado League of Charter Schools since 2020, after leading its policy and advocacy work since 2014. He played a key role in passing House Bill 1375, which brought mill levy equalization to Colorado's charters. Dan believes in enhancing public education opportunities through charter schools’ autonomy and accountability. Prior to the League, he taught at Arrupe Jesuit High School and was Senior Director at the Denver Preschool Program. He holds degrees in political science, secondary education, and public policy.
Kyle Debeer
Kyle leads the League's efforts to raise awareness about charter schools and the policies supporting their success. He also serves as executive director of CLCS Action. Prior to joining the League, Kyle worked in communications, community engagement, and as chief of staff in Texas school districts, and spent a decade in state and national politics. He holds a bachelor's degree from Colorado College and was named a Rising Star by Campaigns & Elections Magazine.
Prateek Dutta
Prateek is a K-12 education leader with experience in district, state, and federal policy, as well as direct engagement with students and families. A Colorado native and University of Northern Colorado graduate, he taught in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina and later earned a doctorate in Education Leadership. Over the past decade, Prateek has driven policy and advocacy efforts in Colorado, helping pass legislation to expand access to rigorous courses for low-income students, increase funding for school counselors, and protect public school choice, including access to quality charter schools.
Kaci Coats
An accomplished leader in the field of education, Kaci's career spans nearly 20 years in Colorado's education sector. Prior to CEE, Kaci served as an educator in youth corrections and public school settings and as Senior Director of Student Services at a Denver charter school network. In 2019, she collaborated with the Colorado League of Charter Schools to develop and launch the CEE, an organization at the forefront of training and technical assistance for Colorado schools. Kaci specializes in a variety of areas, including special education, Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS), English language development, mental health, and gifted and talented programs. She actively partners and advocates at district and state levels to enhance the quality and accessibility of educational options for diverse learners across the state.
Antonio Vigil
Born and raised in North Denver, Antonio is a servant leader who has taught in, learned from, opened up, transformed, and regenerated schools throughout the city and country over the past twenty-six years. As a throughline for all these professional experiences, Antonio has dedicated his career to working for social change and transformation within public education through humanizing mental models and systems, culturally responsive expectations, and transformative leadership. Antonio is a ISTE Community Leader, a core member of Colorado Roadmap for AI in K-12 Education and a cohort member of AI for Equity.
MacKenzie Khan
Launching her career as a teacher, MacKenzie quickly dedicated her career to charter school authorizing with authorizing roles in both Volusia and St. Johns Counties, Florida. She also served as Vice President of the Florida Association of Charter School Authorizers (FACSA) and was a contributing writer in "Florida's Best Practices for Quality Charter School Authorizing." Relocating to Colorado in 2016, MacKenzie served as Director of Charter Schools for APS and Director of Choice Programming for DCSD, assisting the latter with implementation of their long-range facilities and educational plan, Blueprint APS. MacKenzie holds a Master's degree in Charter School Leadership and a doctorate in Leadership for Equity in Education.
Dr. Natalie Lewis
Dr. Natalie Lewis is a fifteen-year educator who believes deeply in the power of leadership. She began her teaching career as a middle school teacher in Washington DC, and has since served as a literacy tutor, teacher, principal, and central office leader. Her journey - particularly leading during the pandemic - convinced her public education could change. She believes that the response to great hardship and uncertainty presents opportunities for innovation and improved student outcomes. Dr. Lewis is a scholar practitioner focused on Black principals, leadership development and family engagement. She is deeply committed to preparing leaders to lead in diverse school communities, and as a parent to two teenage girls, uses motherhood as inspiration to ensure equitable outcomes for all students.
Dr. Jessica LeNeave
Dr. LeNeave has nearly 20 years of experience in charter school education. She has served as a teacher, administrator, founding principal of one of Nevada’s largest charter schools, Pinecrest Academy Cadence Campus, and founding board chair of CIVICA Academy Nevada. Currently, as Director of Academica Mountain West, she ensures excellence in operations and school leadership at six charter schools across Colorado and Wyoming. Dr. LeNeave also serves as the CEO of Epicenter Education, consulting with national and international schools and organizations to strengthen their educational practices and governance. She recently authored the book "Charter School Blueprint: A Complete Guide to Developing and Opening a Charter School."
Terry Croy Lewis
With over 25 years of experience in the charter sector, Terry has worked in urban, suburban, and rural communities as an authorizer, founder, school leader, governing board member, and consultant. Having led CSI since 2016, Terry also serves on the NACSA Strategic Advising Council and as a board member of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA) and the American Academy of Liberal Education (AALE). Prior to CSI, Terry served as the VP of School Quality at the League. She helped co-found Platte River Academy in 1997 and High Point Academy in 2006, the latter of which she lead as Executive Director and Principal for eight years. Earning her doctorate from the University of Maryland, Terry has taught university level courses in Colorado, Maryland, and Illinois.