California - CharterFolk

CharterFolk Contributor Dan Effland – Seminar Is Our New, “Always-on” Professional Learning Community

June 21, 2024

Dan Effland, Executive Director of Summit Atlas High School, introduces Seminar, an innovative professional learning community for charter school leaders. Seminar connects leaders, offering practical resources and support to address unique challenges in education. It fosters collaboration, empowering members to share strategies and enhance operational efficiency while prioritizing community and collective growth.

CharterFolk Contributor Sebastian Cognetta – Trusting in Expertise and Empowering Innovation: A Dynamic Balance of Alignment and Autonomy

February 22, 2024

Sebastian Cognetta, CEO of Allegiance STEAM Academy, emphasizes the importance of balancing expertise and innovation in education. With a commitment to fostering collaboration and recognizing staff contributions, the Academy boasts a high teacher retention rate. They continue to advocate for school choice while facing challenges from competitive salaries and anti-charter sentiments.

CharterFolk Contributor Jacqueline Elliot – Charter Schools Need to Speak Up: Here’s How We Find Our Voice

January 25, 2024

Dr. Jacqueline Elliot, President of PUC National, emphasizes the necessity for charter schools to actively combat misinformation and advocate their success in enhancing public education. Charters outperform traditional schools, yet face negative perceptions fueled by opponents. Elliot urges community engagement and storytelling to reinforce charter schools’ vital role within the public education landscape.

CharterFolk Contributor Erin Studer – Special Education Implementation Has Room For Everyone To Improve

November 9, 2023

Dr. Erin Studer, Executive Director at the CHIME Institute, discusses the challenges and opportunities in special education, highlighting the need for collaboration and better funding. He notes that both charter and public schools struggle to serve students with disabilities but advocates for charter schools to lead innovations in inclusive education.

WonkyFolk Vol 9 – Morgan Polikoff is Reading Polls So You Don’t Have To

October 23, 2023

This week’s episode features Andy Rotherham discussing with Morgan Polikoff about public opinion on education, especially among parents, following the pandemic. They explore K-12 experiences, political influences, and the importance of accurate data to counteract misinformation. Key themes include controversial topics in schools and the disconnect between academic data and parental perceptions.

CharterFolk Contributors Kirsten Carr and James Dent – Innovative Blended Learning at Work

October 19, 2023

Kirsten Carr and James Dent discuss Navigator Schools’ student-led classroom model characterized by collaborative “squads” that enhance leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Students actively participate in their learning, supporting one another to ensure mastery of content. The model fosters a supportive environment, emphasizing student accountability and engagement.

CharterFolk Contributor Peter Thorp – Once a Charter Person, Always a Charter Person, No?

October 6, 2023

Good morning, CharterFolk! Today we are pleased to share a contributor column from Peter Thorp. I provide Peter’s bio below. In his 5 decades of educational experience, Peter Thorp has completed the “trifecta” of service–23 years of independent boarding schools; a dozen years as the founding principal of Gateway High School in San Francisco (now

CharterFolk Contributor Lydia Hoffman – What Would it Take for More Charter Schools to Improve the Educational Experiences of Diverse Learners?

September 28, 2023

Lydia Hoffman, a partner at the Charter School Growth Fund, discusses the need for charter schools to enhance educational experiences for diverse learners, particularly students with disabilities. She emphasizes collaboration, inclusive practices, and family engagement while identifying barriers like funding disparities and the siloing of special education that hinder progress. Through successful examples, she advocates for listening to student and family voices to improve outcomes.

CharterFolk Contributor Kathleen Hermsmeyer – Flex-Based Schools Should be the Most Popular School Model in America Today. Why isn’t it?

September 22, 2023

Dr. Kathleen Hermsmeyer advocates for flex-based schools as a solution to current educational challenges. These hybrid models offer personalized, flexible learning environments tailored to students’ needs, enabling them to engage in real-world applications. With rising student disengagement, flex schools provide hope for an innovative, inclusive education system that values individual learning journeys.

WonkyFolk Vol 8 – The Home Base Episode

August 30, 2023

In this week’s podcast, Andy and Jed discuss education challenges with Lakisha Young and Heather Harding. They explore the impact of proposed book bans and curriculum changes on student learning, emphasizing the importance of a clear policy priority “home base” for advocates amidst a polarized political landscape affecting urban education.