Charter Moms Chats

At a dual enrollment school, students can earn their high school diploma while also attending community college and earning college credit. Dariela Galindo, a senior at Travis Early College High School, joins us to share her experience in the supportive environment at San Antonio College and update us since her last interview when she was a sophomore.

Our brains are far more changeable than many of us realize. Once we understand the seven cognitive skills and undergo a cognitive skills assessment, we can take advantage of neuroplasticity to strengthen our brains and expand our potential. Gina Cruz, Owner/Director of LearningRx San Antonio Northeast , joins us to explain about cognitive skills and the benefits of brain training for clients from...

When it comes to choosing a school for your child, good parent communication and operations are essential. What are some key factors for parents and caregivers to consider when evaluating a school's communication and operations? Nick Stamboulis, Head of Sales for Cariina, a suite of integrated software solutions that helps school administrators to manage their internal operations, joins us to offe...

The Keystone School offers a challenging program for grades PK3–12 and a caring, diverse environment that brings out the most in each each individual and prepares students to compete among the best in the world. Rose Parham is raising two girls who are students at Keystone—Katelyn, age 9, and Madelyn, age 7—and joins us to share a parent's perspective . Also joining: Andrea Banks, Director of Enro...

"Body and soul; I am marvelously made!” That verse from Psalm 139:14 is the guiding force of Marvelously Made—The School for Young Children . Located in Helotes, Texas, this small, child-led Christian school was founded 13 years ago by Jennifer McCarville. She says that she saw a need for children to be educated in a way that honors how they are designed to learn. McCarville joins us to share abou...

How can high-quality preschools address the aftermath of the pandemic, such as children who have absorbed their parents' anxiety, on top of their longstanding mission of school readiness? Mary Field, a board member at the International School of San Antonio, joins us to dive into the research about early childhood education—it's surprisingly mixed—and ponders how high-quality programs, like the on...

Parents are concerned about a growing culture of school violence. Through advocacy, what can parents do to get involved and promote school safety? John Martin, co-founder and co-CEO of SAFEtech, joins us to share insights about statewide school safety initiatives and how to identify schools that have a culture of school safety and are prepared for emergencies.

You may know The DoSeum as San Antonio’s premiere children’s museum, home to an impressive menu of interactive exhibits, events, camps, and classes designed to stimulate young minds. What you may not know is that it is home to the Little DOers Preschool , which continues the museum’s objective of combining interactive fun with hands-on learning. Kathy Jones, Director of Little DOers Preschool, joi...

“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” That’s the philosophy behind The Acorn—A School for Young Children . With a focus on developmental, child-led education, The Acorn School fosters a life-long love of learning by meeting children where they are and helping them build a foundation for success both in and out of the classroom. Wendy Starnes, Director of The Acorn—A School for Young Children, and...

Democracy Prep at the Stewart Campus , in partnership with San Antonio ISD, is a neighborhood school located southeast of downtown that also welcomes students from across San Antonio. Virginia Boyce, Executive Director and Principal of Democracy Prep at the Stewart Campus, and Michelle Herrera, Director of Operations of Democracy Prep at the Stewart Campus, join us to discuss how DPSC offers a wel...

"Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit" is a traveling exhibit that's at The DoSeum through April 16. Our guest is Meredith Doby, Vice President of Exhibits at The DoSeum. Learn about how caregivers and children can visit the exhibit to experience the artwork of Eric Carle and absorb the emotional lessons of his books.

Premier High Schools offer students an individualized platform for reaching their goal of earning a high school diploma and overcoming any setbacks they have experienced in the past. Gustavo Escobar, Campus Director of Premier High School—San Antonio (Ingram) , joins us to share how the program works and what skills they teach their students to be successful in academics and in life.

The strange conditions of the past three years have caused trauma and prolonged stress for educators as well as parents and caregivers. Drawing on her learning journey to understand her own experiences with childhood trauma, Dr. Kathryn Kennedy founded Wellness for Educators, a 501(c)(3) organization supporting educators with research-based, trauma- and equity-informed, somatic (mind-body) educati...

For Spring Break , Charter Moms Chats is going on site at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Our guest is Melanie Schwebke, Curator of Education at the Briscoe Western Art Museum. Learn about their extended hours this week and special hands-on programming.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School is a community of parents, staff, and children working together to foster Christ-like qualities in all they pursue. Jerrel Williams , a teacher, coach, and chef at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School, joins us to share his journey from the military to cooking school to coaching athletes. Williams will discuss how the culture at Shepherd of the Hills has help...

Juli Henderson used her voice to advocate for her late son, Robert, who was born with a rare genetic condition and spent his entire educational experience in special education. Juli, the creator of the "In Our Arms" blog, believes that parents know their children best. In caring for Robert up until his death at age 18, and raising his four siblings—who were all in gifted and talented education—she...

Essence Prep is a new charter school that opened on the Eastside of San Antonio in August 2022 with the purpose of finding students' strengths and building agency in young people. Akeem Brown, founder and Superintendent of Essence Prep, and Jennipha "Jae" Ricks, Chief Learning Officer and Principal of Essence Prep, join us to describe the school's learning model, culture, and plans for growth, and...

Do class sizes matter ? So many of us—parents, teachers, administrators—want to believe that they do. Mary Field, a board member at the International School of San Antonio, joins us to discuss the research about class sizes and why some studies show that students do better in small classes while other studies may not. She also offers advice for parents who are doing a school search and are trying...

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School , located in the Medical Center area of San Antonio, offers a Christian education with competitive academics and a sense of community among teachers, students, and parents. Megan Garcia, mother of Nolan, a second grade student at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School, joins us to share about how their family started at the childcare center and stayed for the c...

Edgewood ISD offers a portfolio of Schools of Innovation where students can study everything from fine arts to leadership, public service, and STEAM. A team of experts, including Theresa Salinas, Chief Innovation Officer at Edgewood ISD, Ana Cantú, Principal at Winston Intermediate School of Excellence, and Claudia Sánchez, Principal at Brentwood STEAM School of Innovation, join us to discuss the...

Greg A. Garcia Early College Intermediate will open in August 2023 to prepare students for early college programs for high school students who want to earn college credits. New Frontiers Public Schools , through partnerships with Alamo Colleges, helps students discover their path in life and experience college at a younger age. Dr. Monica Villarreal, Principal at Greg A. Garcia Early College Inter...

Southwest Preparatory Schools is a network of charter schools in the San Antonio region that offers college preparation and career readiness in a safe environment with individual attention and an academically enriched curriculum. A panel of Southwest Prep principals, including Cheryl Wills-Pacheco from Northwest Elementary and Northwest Early College, Ray Martinez from Northeast and New Directions...

Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy, known as EKHLA , is a public charter school that prepares confident students through high academic and behavioral standards, who are grounded in Hebrew language and Israeli culture. Members of the leadership team at EKHLA, including Principal/Superintendent Kathryn Cohen, Vice Principal Tracy Smith, Vice Principal Simran Jawanda, and District Coordinator/Ath...

There are so many reasons to attend the San Antonio School Fair on Saturday, February 11 from 11 AM to 1 PM at the San Antonio Food Bank. Families will be able to meet with schools and talk with organizations to learn about school choice. Every family will receive free produce bags, and kids will receive free snack bags. Ayla Dehghanpoor, Director of Marketing and Communications at Families Empowe...

Catholic schools have a long tradition of high quality education, as well as faith and character formation. In recognition of Catholic Schools Week, January 29 to February 4, 2023, we are sharing our enrollment guide to Catholic schools in San Antonio. Join us for a conversation with Catholic school parents, including Eddie Romero, Chief Operating Officer at Centro San Antonio, and Dr. Lindsay Cla...