Good day, CharterFolk.
Today we are pleased to share a Contributor Column from Kendall Massett, the Executive Director of the Delaware Charter Schools Network.
We provide a bio for Kendall below.
Kendall Massett is the executive director of the Delaware Charter Schools Network (DCSN), a statewide nonprofit organization supporting 24 charter schools serving over 19,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. In her role, Massett leads advocacy, policy initiatives, and strategic programming, championing equity, flexibility, and excellence in education. Her commitment is rooted in the belief that every student deserves access to a high-quality school tailored to their individual needs and that families should have the freedom to choose educational options that work best for them.
Before dedicating herself to education advocacy, Massett built a distinguished career in hospitality management. She served as Director of Business for At Your Service Hospitality Management from 1998 to 2011, providing interim managers to fill open positions in hotels and restaurants across the country and abroad. Her hospitality journey began while attending North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C., where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Massett’s transition to advocacy was shaped by her experience as a 2010 Fellow of Leadership Delaware, Inc. (LDI), which aims to prepare outstanding young Delawareans for impactful leadership roles. During her fellowship, she was profoundly inspired by Command Master Chief Charles Baldwin and William Manning, whose insights on leadership and education in Delaware motivated Massett to dedicate herself to giving back to the Delaware community. Since 2012, she has actively contributed to advancing public education in the First State.
Massett holds a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. When she is not working, she is a loud and proud XC mom, hopeful gardener, and is actively involved at Christ Church Christiana Hundred, including as a member of the Saturday service worship band. Massett, along with her husband Kelly, two sons, and their dog Bayley, lives in Wilmington, Delaware.
A Day (or 10) at the Fair: My Reflection on Delaware’s Charter Community, Curiosity, and Connection
Have you ever been to the State Fair?
That was the question I texted on July 2nd to two of the best people I could have asked—lifelong Delawareans who knew about the fair and its crowd. I, on the other hand, had never been. And I had no idea whether the fair starting on July 17th would bring people who might be interested in charter schools.
Sure, I thought: Maybe with over 300,000 people attending across the 10 days, we’d catch a few parents and students. But I wasn’t prepared for the answer from the people I asked. They said it loud and clear: Yes. The fair is a big deal.
So, when I found out there was one table left in the air-conditioned building—and that we could be a sponsor and connect with families for 10 full days—I decided to go for it.
A Full Circle Moment, 30 Years Later
And I am so glad I did.
Delaware’s charter school law was signed 30 years ago—in July, the same month as the fair. I doubt anyone imagined then that charter schools would grow into what they are today: 24 charter schools across the state, serving over 19,000 students—about 13% of Delaware’s public-school population. Much higher than the national average.
I also doubt that anyone imagined that one day there’d be a need for an advocacy organization like the Delaware Charter Schools Network—or that we’d be spending 10 days at the fair filled with games, rides, and concerts, talking to families about school choice, student needs, and public education.
“Wait…Charter schools are free?”
Even after 30 years since the signing of our charter school law, we’re still fielding the same questions:
- Aren’t those the schools where all the bad kids go?
- Don’t those schools pick and choose their students?
- How much do charter schools’ cost?
These are some of the myths we’re up against – that I know most of my colleagues across the country are still dealing with too.
But once we explained that charter schools are public schools, free, open to all, and made to serve students with different needs, the families were thrilled. A lot of them had been looking for different options and they had no idea our schools existed.
By the end of the fair, over 100 families had signed up to learn more about charter schools.
Charter Community: Past, Present and Future
We didn’t just speak with new families. We met alumni, parents of graduates, and students already enrolled in charter schools—excited to talk about their school. The fair was an amazing chance to connect with our broader charter community—those who came before, those who are with us now, and those who might be with us in the future.
And that includes educators, too. I know there’s a teacher shortage. Sometimes, however, it feels like the only way to recruit new teachers is through very traditional methods. It turns out, though, future educators go to the state fair too.
Strengthening Our Own Community
But this wasn’t just about outreach. It was about building connections across the charter landscape.
I watched a charter leader from Kent County eagerly talk about all 24 charter schools in the state — not just their own. They answered questions about school options, helped families navigate possibilities, and even had an impromptu interview with a charter parent that was also a potential educator. Less than a month later, that parent is now teaching in one of our schools.
Charter Schools: Still Growing. Still learning.
This was a learning opportunity for me too.
The fair reminded me that even though charter schools have been around for 30 years, we’re still new in many ways. There’s still work to do — myths to bust, students and families to support, and communities to build.
But we’ve got momentum. Like the rides at the fair, there’s energy and movement all around us.
See You Next Year
I can’t believe it took us this long to show up at the Delaware State Fair — but now that we have, we’ll be back every year.
Because every child deserves access to an excellent public education.
And we’ll keep showing up — anywhere and everywhere — to tell them that.
