Speakers
Jessica Welch
Cait Eggleston
Jenny Whitaker
Norma Browner
Quality: Academics
Drawing from the Charter School Institute’s "Stories of Impact and Innovation" publication, this panel brings together charter school leaders who have implemented transformative practices across three critical areas:
- Expanding access for all students
- Delivering innovative instruction
- Strengthening school culture through safety and family partnerships
Panelists will share the real challenges they faced, the solutions they developed, and the measurable outcomes they achieved. Attendees will gain actionable insights from schools that have moved beyond good intentions to demonstrable results in areas such as flexible scheduling, transportation solutions, specialized support systems, SEL integration, and family engagement strategies.
In my role I support our teams doing work to ensure that CSI schools meet their responsibilities to serve all students. We approach the work with a focus on equity, access, and continuous improvement to support schools in closing outcome gaps. This includes overseeing compliance with all state and federal requirements, providing opportunities for capacity building, and offering tiered consultation/support. I believe charter schools play an important role in a healthy education ecosystem, and may serve as models for a truly community-based and culturally responsive approach to education.
In prior roles, I've served as CSI's District Assessment Coordinator, ELD Coordinator, READ Act/School Readiness Coordinator, and Improvement and Implementation Specialist. Before working at CSI, I worked as a musician, teacher and school leader in Colorado, New Mexico, and East Africa. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a focus in Music Pedagogy from the University of New Mexico, and a Master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience and Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In my free time I continue to teach and play music, and like to run on dirt as much as I can.
Cait Eggleston joined CSI in July 2023 as a Special Education Coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in special education from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Northern Colorado, along with dual licensure in Principalship and Special Education Director.
Cait brings a diverse professional background that includes serving as a Special Education teacher in both charter and facility school settings. She has also held leadership roles such as Special Education Department Chair, 504 Coordinator, MTSS Coordinator, and Student Services Coordinator. She is passionate about developing and sustaining strong special education departments within CSI charter schools, with a focus on expanding student access and ensuring that all learners receive the support and programming they need to thrive.
Jenny Whitaker is a co-founder of AXIS Colorado and AXIS International Academy and a dedicated leader in charter school development. Through her work founding and building AXIS, she has developed deep expertise in organizational finance, operations, governance, and school accountability. She plays a central role in ensuring strong operational systems, sustainable financial practices, and strategic alignment with the school’s mission and board priorities.
Jenny earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications and Marketing and began her career in Development at the Children’s Hospital Foundation. In that role, she led initiatives across marketing, advertising, event planning, fundraising, and donor relations, gaining valuable experience in strategic communication and organizational growth.
Since co-founding AXIS International Academy in 2018, Jenny has worked diligently to master the complex responsibilities of charter school leadership, helping to build and sustain a high-performing school community. She remains committed to strong governance, operational excellence, and long-term organizational success.
Hello! My name is Norma Browner, and I am the Community Liaison and Multilingual Learners support at Crown Pointe Academy. I work with staff, families, and local community organizations. My role and goal is to engage our community and bridge home and school. I also work with our Intervention team and support our Multilingual Learners in small group instruction. I have been on staff at CPA for the past seven years. I currently have two of my children enrolled at CPA.I am passionate about equity and inclusion and making school a trusted, safe environment.
Sarah Gramarossa is a collaborative and student-centered educational leader with 19 years of experience supporting learning across K–12 settings. She is committed to helping schools achieve their goals through teamwork, thoughtful decision-making, and a strong focus on equity and inclusion.
Sarah is skilled in leading complex initiatives from concept through implementation, managing cross-functional teams, and aligning systems and resources to support equitable student outcomes. She has extensive experience guiding multidisciplinary teams, developing meaningful student supports, and building strong, trusting partnerships with educators, families, and the broader community. She is passionate about creating welcoming, innovative learning environments where every student and staff member feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.