Janet Dinnen

My name is Janet Dinnen and I have been with CSI serving in a variety of capacities since 2013. In my current role as Chief of Staff, I oversee our Communications and HR Teams and the data quality and reporting initiatives of our Data Submissions Team. I also support with legislative and regulatory monitoring and provide operational support to our Leadership Team and Executive Director.

I have worked in the charter sector for over 15 years. Prior to CSI, I was a secondary teacher and member of an administrative team at a Colorado Springs charter school. Prior to that, I worked with a charter management organization and a charter authorizer in Ohio. I received my bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and my master’s degree in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics and Assessment.

I love working at CSI because I believe in its mission, its ability and willingness to adapt to meet the changing needs of our schools and their communities, and its culture of continuous improvement. And importantly, I enjoy the diverse portfolio of schools, partners, and team I have the opportunity to work with.

Terry Croy Lewis

My name is Terry Croy Lewis, and I have served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) since 2016. Moreover, I contribute to state and national organizations as a member of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (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).

Before joining CSI, I served as the Vice President of School Quality and Support at the Colorado League of Charter Schools. I was also a founder of High Point Academy (HPA), which opened in 2006, and I served as the Executive Director/Principal at HPA for eight years.

Prior to my work with HPA, I contributed to the development of several other charter schools in Colorado, both as an independent consultant and as a consultant with a national organization focused on creating new charter schools. In 1997, I helped found my first charter school, Platte River Academy.

With over 25 years of experience in the charter school sector, I have worked in urban, suburban, and rural communities, serving in various capacities such as authorizer, founder, school leader, governing board member, and consultant. Additionally, I earned my doctoral degree from the University of Maryland and have taught at several universities in Colorado, Maryland, and Illinois.