Bold By Choice Podcast

How Great Boards Build Great Schools Strong schools don't happen by chance—they're built through intentional leadership, disciplined governance, and a relentless focus on students. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner welcome Mark Weinberg, governance expert and Senior Vice President at the National Charter Schools Institute, for a practical conversation about...

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Bold by Choice takes a step back to reflect on the ideas that shaped our nation—and how those same principles continue to shape public education today. Hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Don Cooper for a special Independence Day conversation exploring the Declaration of Independence, self-governance, human flourishing, and the endurin...

When does a governing board cross the line into managing a school? And why does that happen so often? In the second episode of our Season 5 governance series, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner, President & CEO of the National Charter Schools Institute, tackle one of the most common—and costly—tensions facing charter school boards: the difference between governing and managing. At the...

Season 5 of Bold by Choice begins with a simple but profound truth: governance is ultimately about decision-making. Not the routine decisions reflected in motions, policies, and dashboards, but the difficult decisions that carry real consequences for students, families, communities, and public trust. In this opening episode, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner launch the season theme, Someo...

What does leadership development need to look like in a world where school leaders face constant change, increasing complexity, staffing challenges, shifting community expectations, and the ever-present responsibility of improving outcomes for students? In this special partnership spotlight episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner welcome Dr. Richard Seigler-Carter, ed...

What does it take to change the trajectory of educational opportunity in a city? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust and recipient of the National Charter Schools Institute's Arc Changer Award, presented at the Bold By Choice Summit. Together, they explore what it means to pursue lasting systems change, build...

What happens when students don't just learn about careers—they live them? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Nicole Gasper, CEO of West Michigan Aviation Academy, recipient of the National Charter Schools Institute's inaugural Pathways to Opportunity Award. Located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, West Michigan Aviatio...

What does it mean to lead with both accountability and trust? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Terry Croy Lewis, Executive Director of the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) and recipient of the 2026 Stewards of Possibility Award. Terry’s journey began as a charter school mom in the 1990s — a parent searching for a school where her child...

What does it take to build an education movement that actually lasts? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Terry Ryan of Bluum, recipient of the 2026 Bold by Choice Catalyst Award, to explore how leadership, talent, and shared values can transform educational opportunity across an entire state. From teaching in post-Communist Poland to helping lau...

What does it really mean to be Bold by Choice? In this special episode, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner reflect on the heart behind the Bold by Choice movement following the inaugural Bold by Choice Summit. Together, they unpack the ideas, values, and leadership commitments shaping the future of education — and why courage, responsibility, and possibility matter now more than ever. This con...

Technology is everywhere in education, but is it actually transforming learning? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, joined by guest host Don Cooper, explore the difference between using technology to make school more efficient… and using it to make learning more personal. They’re joined by Dr. Garland Thomas-McDavid, CEO of Brooklyn LAB Charter School, whose...

What if adolescence wasn’t just about preparing for the future—but contributing to the present? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, joined by guest host Don Cooper, explore what happens when schools trust young people with real responsibility. They’re joined by Dan Porter, an experienced educator and leader at Kwiyagat Community Academy, alongside student Nao...

What if teachers didn’t just work in schools—but helped lead them? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, joined by guest host Don Cooper, sit down with Amy Junge (Education Evolving) and Dr. Julie Cook (Teacher Powered Schools Network) to explore a growing movement redefining the teaching profession. Across more than 300 schools nationwide, teacher-powered mode...

In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Jim Goenner, Ph. D ., Vashaunta Harris , and Don Cooper from the National Charter Schools Institute explore what it means to design a school around community, purpose, and the whole child. Joined by Alastair Pullen , Executive Director of Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, the conversation brings educational pluralism to life—showing how public education...

Season 4 continues with Episode 4: “Personalized, Not Programmed”, a conversation about what happens when schools stop acknowledging student differences and start designing around them. Hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, joined by guest host Don Cooper, ground the episode in Ted Kolderie’s argument that student motivation rises when personalization becomes structural, not aspirational. From t...

Guest: Michelle Trojan, Principal, Intrinsic Schools (Chicago, IL) Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim Goenner Guest Host: Don Cooper Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute | Sponsored by The Founders Library What does innovation in education really mean? In Episode 3, the conversation challenges a common assumption: innovation isn’t always about inventing something entirely new — it’s of...

Guest: Belicia Reaves, Executive Director, Two Rivers Public Charter School (Washington, D.C.) Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim Goenner Guest Host: Don Cooper Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute | Sponsored by The Founders Library In Episode 2, we move from theory to practice — exploring how the democratic purpose of education comes to life inside real schools. Vashaunta Harris , Ji...

Featuring: Brett Peterson, Director at High Tech High Mesa (San Diego, CA) Student Guest: Isabella Coralez, Junior at High Tech High Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim Goenner Guest Host: Don Cooper Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute | Sponsored by The Founders Library Season 4 of Bold by Choice begins with a new lens. Rather than focusing only on individual schools, this season expl...

Guest: Christie Huck , CEO, City Garden Montessori School (St. Louis, MO) Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim Goenner Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute In this episode of Bold by Choice, we travel to St. Louis to spotlight City Garden Montessori School — a public charter school built on the belief that Montessori education should be accessible to every child. CEO Christie Huck shares...

Guest: Rachelle Martinez , Operational Leader, Odyssey Charter Schools (Altadena, CA) Host: Vashaunta Harris Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute In this episode of Bold by Choice, we head to Altadena, California, to spotlight Odyssey Charter Schools — a community built around active learning, strong relationships, and a workshop model designed for how students actually learn. This se...

Guest: Tresha Ward , CEO, Prospect Schools (Brooklyn, NY) Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim Goenner Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute In this episode of the Bold by Choice Podcast , we travel to Brooklyn to spotlight Prospect Schools — one of New York City’s first intentionally integrated charter school networks, grounded in the International Baccalaureate framework and designed ar...

Guest: Gayle Nadler, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Multicultural Learning Center (Los Angeles, CA) Host: Vashaunta Harris Powered by: National Charter Schools Institute What happens when language, culture, and belonging are treated as strengths — not barriers? In this powerful episode of Bold by Choice, host Vashaunta Harris travels to Los Angeles to sit down with Gayle Nadler, co-founder a...

Guests: Mike Chalupa & LaShawn Bowser Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim Goenner What does it look like when a public school is designed around a single, powerful question: What would it take for every student to be known, loved, and inspired academically? In this episode of Bold by Choice , hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner head to Baltimore to spotlight City Neighbors —a family of public...

Guest: Dr. Matthew Tyson, CEO, Tapestry Public Charter School Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim Goenner Powered by: National Charter Schools Institute What if schools were designed around real children—their strengths, their differences, their pace, and their potential? In this episode of Bold by Choice, we travel to Georgia to spotlight Tapestry Public Charter School, a middle and high school whe...

Bold by Choice, powered by the National Charter Schools Institute , is hosted by Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner . In this episode, they travel to Utah to spotlight a school that proves what’s possible when STEM education, diversity, and belonging come together with purpose. Our guest is Halis Kablan , Secondary Principal at Beehive Science and Technology Academy —a school that began nearly 20 ye...