Charter School Superstars

This week, Ryan sits with Ric Hasenyager the Vice President of Curriculum Solutions for RosenLightSail, a education platform that provides e-reading and reading assessment solutions for students and schools. On this episode, Ric talks about keeping students engaged with reading during COVID19 and provides advice how charter schools can use this technology to implement a reading across a curriculum...

This week, we continue our series of interviews with stakeholders from schools who are taking part in the Classroom of the Future initiative and are working to use this technology to foster lasting change in the education system. This week, Ryan sits with Homero Gonzalez, a charter school parent whose daughter currently attends the Pinecrest Preparatory Middle High School in Miami, Florida, which...

This week, Ryan sits with Carly Daff and Dr. Vanessa LaPointe of Canva. Our guests talk about the Canva platform and their partnership with the Care Bears to create new SEL resources. Our guests also talk about why SEL is so important for education and the emphasis placed on ensuring these resources are effective for all educators and students. You can find out more about this project by visiting...

This week, we continue our series of interviews with stakeholders from schools who are taking part in the Classroom of the Future initiative and are working to use this technology to foster lasting change in the education system. This week, Ryan sits with Mark Quiroz, the Vice President of Marketing for the Display Division of Samsung. On this episode, Mark talks about Samsung’s work in education...

This week, we continue our series of interviews with stakeholders from schools who are taking part in the Classroom of the Future initiative and are working to use this technology to foster lasting change in the education system. This week, Ryan sits with Jaslene Diaz, a 7th grader at the Mater Brighton Lakes Charter School in Kissimmee, Florida who is currently learning in a Classroom of the Futu...

This week, we continue our series of interviews with stakeholders from schools who are taking part in the Classroom of the Future initiative and are working to use this technology to foster lasting change in the education system. This week, Ryan sits with Jeremiah Pierre-Louis, who is a ninth-grader at the Mater Brighton Lakes Charter School in Kissimmee, Florida. Jeremiah is currently learning on...

This week, we continue our series of interviews with stakeholders from schools who are taking part in the Classroom of the Future initiative and are working to use this technology to foster lasting change in the education system. This week, Ryan sits with Carmen Cangemi, the principal of the Mater Brighton Lakes Academy charter school in Kissimmee, Florida. On this episode, Carmen also talks about...

Over the next few episodes, Charter School Superstars will be interviewing stakeholders from schools who are taking part in the Classroom of the Future initiative and are working to use this technology to foster lasting change in the education system. This week, Ryan sits down with Ericka Briones, the principal of the A-rated Pinecrest Creek Academy charter school in Orlando, Florida. On this epis...

This week, Ryan sits with Dr. Caprice Young, the National Superintendent of Learn4Life, a network of nonprofit public schools that emphasize personalized learning, career training, mentoring, and life skills. On this episode, Dr. Young talks about Learn4life and the work that her schools have done to incorporate trauma-informed education methods into classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Yo...

This week, Ryan sits with Ellen Lin, the Chief Operating Officer for Green Dot Public Schools National. On this episode, Ellen talks about the work that she does for Green Dot and operational opportunities and challenges she encounters in her work. Ellen also talks about the unique budgeting and procurement challenges that charter schools face during the COVID pandemic and reflects on best practic...

This week, Ryan sits with Gavin Schiffres and Britt Kelleher, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Kairos Academies. On this episode, our guests talk about the backstory of founding Kairos and their school’s 1-to-1 executive function coaching model for students. Our guests also talk about the effects that this model has in helping students manage the COVID pandemic. You can f...

This week, Ryan interviews Maria Ferguson, the Executive Director for the Center on Education Policy, a national public education advocacy group based out of Washington, DC. On this episode, Maria talks about the work that the Center on Education Policy does and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted K-12 education policy. Maria also provides advice for school leaders, particularly charter school...

This week, Ryan sits with Antonio Roca, the Managing Director of Academica Virtual Education, an education service provider that provides an array of digital learning operational and support services for virtual and brick-and-mortar schools throughout the United States and worldwide. On this episode, Antonio talks about Academica Virtual Education and how it has expanded its footprint to meet the...

This week, Ryan sits down with Bob Lenz and Laureen Adams, the CEO and the Curriculum and Program Manager for PBL Works, an acclaimed provider of professional development and support services for K-12 project based learning. On this episode, Bob and Laureen talk about project based learning and what PBL Works does. Our guests give some terrific insight into how to transition PBL effectively into t...

This week, Ryan is joined by Thomas Rompella, principal at the Somerset Island Prep Charter School in Key West, Florida. Thomas talks to Ryan about the challenges and benefits of running a charter school in this unique city. Our guest provides his perspective on leadership and encouraging innovative ideas from his faculty and staff. Ryan and Thomas also talk about Island Prep’s recent “Jet Ski Gra...

This week, Ryan sits with Christopher King, an educator, consultant, and activist entrepreneur. Christopher is the founder of We Are Marcus, an education technology venture that builds online character development through digital learning. In this interview, Christopher talks about the We Are Marcus platform and his career in education as an instructor in an urban charter school. Christopher also...

This week, Ryan sits with Tre Gammage, an author, educator, podcaster, speaker, city council member, and consultant who specializes in implementing school-wide Social and Emotional Learning programs. Tre talks about his experience providing SEL consulting with rural K-12 charter schools, and shares ways to implement a successful SEL program in a school to establish a “foundation” for Social and Em...

This week, Ryan sits down with Adam Geller, the CEO of Edthena, a video-based teacher coaching platform. On this episode, Adam talks about the challenge that currently confronts schools to provide coaching and support for teachers during the pandemic. Adam also talks about the role that video can play to provide instructional support and also shares strategies to further schools’ professional coac...

This week, Ryan sits with Elana Jones and Nic Gonzalez, counselors at the Excel Academy Charter School system in Massachusetts. On this episode, Elana and Nic discuss student mental health and the role of a school counselor during the pandemic. They also talk about the student services they provide remotely to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic including counseling resources, physical h...

This week, Ryan interviews with Colleen McCormick, the Middle School Nurse at the Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy public charter school in Rhode Island. On this episode, Colleen (a former ICU and trauma nurse) shares her incredible story of returning to the hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic to care for patients in need. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting ww...

This week, Ryan sits with Brittnee Exum, the manager of communications and marketing for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. On this episode, Brittnee talks about a series of uplifting stories published to raise awareness and celebrate charter schools who are making phenomenal efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brittnee also talks about the inspiration behind this series and share...

This week, Ryan welcomes back Abbas Manjee the Chief Academic Officer of Kiddom, a provider of software solutions that help schools deliver and manage their digital curriculum and personalized instruction. On this episode, Abbas talks about Kiddom’s recently released distance learning guide. Abbas also shares practical strategies for schools to implement in the virtual landscape to maintain equity...

This week, Ryan sits with Mitchell Earl, the Chief Operating Officer at Discover Praxis, a six-month apprenticeship-based professional bootcamp platform in which graduates are guaranteed a job offer at a startup with an average starting salary of $50,000. On this episode, Mitchell talks about Discover Praxis and how this can be seen as a supplement or alternative to traditional college. Mitchell a...

This week, Ryan interviews with Suzanne Speed, the physical education teacher at the Pinecrest Preparatory Middle High Charter School in Miami, Florida. On this episode, Suzanne talks about what the transition to virtual classrooms has looked like through the lens of a PE teacher. Suzanne also talks about lesson delivery and gives advice to other physical education teachers on how to provide effec...

This week, Ryan sits with Liliana Salazar, the National Director for Special Education and Student Support for Academica. On this episode, Lily talks about her transition in helping students with special needs remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lily also gives guidance to parents and educators on becoming better advocates for students receiving special education services during this period. Yo...