2026 - CharterFolk

CharterFolk X Volume 5.14, Bette Morff — “At the center, or the core of her belief is that the students are served at a very high level.”

January 26, 2026

Today, we are thrilled to honor the extraordinary Bette Morff, who spent over 50 years working in education, including as federal programs director for the Missouri Charter Public School Association. This is our first of a new type of CharterFolk X story—where we honor those “unsung heroes” who have made big impacts on the charter school movement. If you have someone you think we should write about, please reach out to

Casting the Spotlight: Seeing What Is Broken and What Is Possible

January 25, 2026

Weekend greetings, CharterFolk. I want to start by acknowledging that we have had some website issues in recent weeks that reduced access to some of our latest content. Most things are now back online. So if you missed last weekend’s Mega-Whip-Around or our CharterFolk Chat about New Orleans, I encourage you to check them out.

CharterFolk Contributor Andrew Broy – “Know What Business You’re In”: A Lesson for Charter Advocates

January 22, 2026

Good morning, CharterFolk. Today we’re pleased to present a Contributor Column from Andrew Broy, the President of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools, and Board Member of CharterFolk. We provide a bio for Andrew below. Andrew serves as President of the Illinois Network of Charter Schools (INCS), a statewide advocacy and charter school support organization

CharterFolk X Volume 5.13, Teren Shaffer — “Families have choice, and students with passion for the arts have opportunity.”

January 21, 2026

Today, we are thrilled to profile the extraordinary Teren Shaffer, President and CEO of the Orange County School of the Arts. Teren Shaffer always imagined himself standing at the front of an orchestra with a baton in his hand. A musician from a young age, Teren was raised by a father who had been a professional musician. He went on to study

A Mega-Whip-Around: The 10 R’s Reshaping Public Education

January 18, 2026

The post addresses the current complexities and rapid changes in the charter school movement, emphasizing the significance of restructuring and reaccelerating growth initiatives. It outlines ten critical developments each marked with an “R,” reflecting both challenges and progress. The author calls for collective responsibility in reimagining public education, pushing for innovative policies and cohesive strategies.

New Orleans: The Charter North Star We Won’t Claim – A CharterFolk Chat With Caroline Roemer, Dana Peterson and Jerel Bryant

January 16, 2026

Happy Friday, CharterFolk. This is one I’ve wanted to do for a long time: bring together some of the most important architects of the remarkable success story that CharterFolk have constructed in New Orleans over the past two decades. Dana Peterson, CEO of New Schools for New Orleans; Caroline Roemer, Executive Director at the Louisiana

CharterFolk Contributor Earl Martin Phalen – Leadership, Courage, and the Charter School Movement

January 15, 2026

Good morning CharterFolk. Today we are pleased to share a Contributor Column from Earl Martin Phalen, the CEO of Phalen Leadership Academies, which operates schools in five states across the country. We share a bio for Earl below. Earl Martin Phalen is a nationally recognized social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Phalen Leadership

Mid-Week Whip-Around – Common Place Enrollment Practices Deemed Illegal

January 14, 2026

The content discusses inequitable enrollment practices in Sacramento and other urban school districts, highlighting how these practices disadvantage less affluent families. It notes recent legal rulings against such discrimination while institutions attempt to maintain control. The author emphasizes ongoing challenges in urban education and points to potential reforms in Indianapolis as a hopeful solution.

A Tale of Three States: Preservation, Reform, and Vision

January 11, 2026

The post contrasts the educational policies of Mississippi, Vermont, and Louisiana. While Mississippi is embracing reform, leading to improved student outcomes, Vermont clings to preservation, resulting in declining performance and financial crisis. Louisiana serves as a successful model for Mississippi, showcasing the benefits of combined instructional and structural reforms for education.

CharterFolk Contributors Jessica Shopoff, Starlee Coleman and Marian Schutte – Spurring Impact: How TEA, TPCSA, and NAPCS Lassoed the Largest Charter Facilities Incentive Grant in History

January 8, 2026

Good day, CharterFolk. Today we are delighted to kick off the New Year with a Contributor Column written by Jessica Shopoff, Starlee Coleman and Marian Schutte. We provide bios for all three below. Jessica Shopoff, VP of Policy and Research, Texas Public Charter Schools Association. Jessica is responsible for leading the strategy and implementation of