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
Jed wrote last week that Indianapolis was giving the charter movement its first new north star in decades. To follow that north star, though — to get there faster and to make charter school growth happen absolutely everywhere — we need to have hope. The extraordinary leaders of the charter school movement — those who we profile in our CharterFolk X pieces — give us the hope we need. As status quo interests continue to dig in, the leaders we write
Jonathan Tiongco, the founding principal of Alliance Marine – Innovation & Technology 6-12 Complex in Sun Valley, CA, transformed challenges into opportunities. After experiencing a culture shock at UCLA, he dedicated himself to education. His leadership has fostered community empowerment, resulting in significant student enrollment growth and advocacy for families within underserved communities.
Glenn Byrum, the executive director of Mountain Island Charter School and a board member of the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools, transitioned from a career in humanitarian work to education. His leadership in expanding the charter school emphasizes community service, advocacy, and collaboration among educational leaders to enhance public understanding of charter schools.
This week, we profile the extraordinary Ignacio Prado, founder and executive director of Futuro Academy in Las Vegas. As a ten-year-old, Ignacio Prado’s family moved to the United States from Argentina. This happened “on little warning,” so Ignacio started fifth grade knowing little English. It took until he was in eighth grade for a teacher to see his potential
This week, we profile the extraordinary Steven Bartholomew, the executive director of New Legacy Charter School in Aurora, Colorado. Steven Bartholomew watched his own son struggle in a traditional school system and then thrive when given a choice for something different. That transformation shaped not only his entire educational career but also his life’s work. For Steven, this approach is more
This week, we are excited to profile the extraordinary Shannon Peterson, executive director of Lakes International Language Academy in Forest Lake, Minnesota. Shannon Peterson has lived and worked all over the world. After getting married, she and her husband moved from the U.S. to Germany and taught at an international school. “We said we were
Jacqueline Elliot, founder of Los Angeles County’s first charter middle school and former CEO of PUC National, views middle school as pivotal for student engagement. Starting her career in health education, she championed educational reform and established multiple successful schools, emphasizing community impact and advocacy. Jacqueline is transitioning to an advisory role, promoting future leadership development.
Dr. Elaine Swafford is a transformative leader in Chattanooga’s education landscape. As CEO of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, she has significantly enhanced the school’s focus on STEM and college readiness. Celebrated for her community engagement, Elaine emphasizes creating opportunities for students, ensuring success beyond academics while fostering partnerships within the community.
This week, we highlight Dr. Ahmed White, founder of The Rock Academy in Nashville, TN. An educator dedicated to at-risk youth, he transitioned from law school to education, championing transformative school experiences. Despite challenges, The Rock Academy recently gained state approval as Tennessee’s first opportunity charter school, offering tailored support for its students.