Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators

Charter school health insurance costs are accelerating at historic rates, with medical trend inflation running at 15–16% in 2026 compared to a typical 8%, driven by a lag in post-COVID inflation working through provider contracts and a consistent 15% annual rise in million-dollar claimants. In this episode, Gary Clark of HUB International and Kylie Hunter of Berkley Accident and Health explain how...

Ascend Public Charter Schools achieved more than 20% academic growth in a single year across 17 Brooklyn K–12 campuses — and CEO Maryann Li credits three interconnected pillars: shifting organizational mindsets about what students can achieve, investing strategically in talent at every level, and building execution systems that enable rapid, data-driven intervention. Maryann challenges the assumpt...

Enrollment has become one of the most urgent and complex challenges facing charter schools today. Shifting demographics, increased school choice, and evolving family behavior have fundamentally changed how schools attract, engage, and enroll students — and many traditional enrollment approaches are no longer working. On this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, Pres...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ , sits down with Layne Fisher , Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Chief Operating Officer at IDEA Public Schools , to discuss what it takes to scale operational excellence across one of the nation’s largest charter school networks. With 85,000 students and 146 schools across Texas, Florida, and Ohi...

On this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ , sits down with Ebonie Durham, Executive Director of Great Lakes Academy , to discuss how strategic partnerships can transform the student experience and strengthen charter school communities. Drawing on her background in charter school operations and leadership, Ebonie shares how Great Lakes Academy h...

Charter school finance leaders are navigating one of the most complex operating environments the sector has faced in years. From declining enrollment and shifting funding models to increasing compliance requirements, CFOs must balance financial sustainability while staying true to their mission. In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli , President at BuyQ , sits...

Running a charter school network requires a delicate balance: empowering campus leaders while maintaining the systems that keep an organization running smoothly. In Episode #66 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Jason Mellen, Network Director of Operations and Compliance at AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation in Washington, DC. J...

In Episode 65 of T he Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli , President at BuyQ , sits down with Cynthia Leger , Senior Director of Operations Leadership Development, at Uncommon Schools , to explore one of the most critical challenges facing charter school executives today: how to intentionally develop people at scale. Cynthia breaks down what it really means to use a competency-b...

Health insurance renewals are shaping up to be one of the biggest financial stressors charter schools will face heading into 2026. In this episode, Daniel sits down with Gary Clark, Senior VP at HUB International and head of HUB’s national charter school health practice , to break down why this renewal cycle is projected to be the most challenging in decades—and what school executives can do right...

Master scheduling isn’t just a logistical task—it’s a strategic lever that shapes student outcomes, staff experience, and long-term sustainability. In this episode, Daniel sits down with Matt Troha , former COO of Mastery Charter Schools and now Partnerships Manager at Timely , to unpack why the master schedule is often the most dreaded project of the year—and how AI, data-driven models, and smart...

Facilities planning isn’t just a real estate decision — it’s a strategic leadership moment that shapes a school’s long-term viability, culture, and stability. In this episode, Daniel sits down with John Sun , CEO of Blueprint (formerly Pacific Charter School Development ) — a nonprofit facility solutions partner that has supported charter schools for over 20 years. John brings deep experience in h...

What happens when your mission requires more staff, but your budget says less spending? In this insightful episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli sits down with Richard Royal, Executive Director of Denver Language School (DLS) — a top-performing K–8 immersion charter in Colorado — to explore how to build a sustainable staffing and budgeting model from first principles...

Strong authorizer relationships are the foundation of long-term charter school success — but they can also be one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of T he Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli sits down with Kathryn Connell-Espinosa , Executive Director of the SUNY Charter Schools Institute , to discuss what effective collaboration between schools and authorizers really l...

On Episode #59 of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli sits down with Missy Couch , Founder & CEO of Checkbox Pro LLC , to discuss one of the most pressing challenges in charter school leadership: time. Missy shares how Checkbox Pro helps school leaders reclaim their schedules, avoid burnout, and refocus on the work that truly moves their schools forward. From practical ti...

Enrollment isn’t just about filling seats—it’s about building a culture where every staff member understands their role in sustaining and growing a school community. In this episode of The C harter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Yoni Samuel-Siegel , Chief Operating Officer at Prospect Schools in Brooklyn, NY. With 25 years in education, Yoni shares how Prospect shifted...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli , President of BuyQ , sits down with SarahGennie Colazio , Director of Finance & HR at Windsor Charter Academy . What happens when a charter school dares to rethink one of its biggest expenses—employee health insurance? For Windsor Charter Academy , the answer was staggering: $1.4 million in savings over six years. Sa...

Is your charter school board stuck in operational weeds instead of leading with vision? In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli speaks with Carrie Irvin of Bellwether and John Troy of WorkTogether , two national experts in board development and executive leadership. Together, they explore how charter school executives can revitalize underperforming boards, buil...

In Episode 55 of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli sits down with Dr. Richard Seigler-Carter , Managing Director of the LeveragED Foundation , to unpack a powerful truth: schools don’t thrive on curriculum alone—they thrive on people. Dr. Seigler-Carter shares his journey from dance teacher to principal to leading 14 high-performing schools, and now shaping leadership devel...

In Episode 54 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Susan Jenkins and Dr. Earl Metzler of Hertz Furniture to discuss how charter schools can go beyond desks and chairs and operationalize truly innovative FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) upgrades. They share practical, real-world strategies for reimagining learning spaces—from flexible seating to co...

When it comes to teacher retention, onboarding isn’t just the first step—it’s the foundation. In this episode, Keith Vigraham , VP of HR at Vertex Education , shares his two decades of experience working with charter schools across the country to break down what a successful onboarding process really looks like. From the moment a teacher signs an offer letter to their first chaotic day in the clas...

What if staffing decisions weren’t just about qualifications—but also about personalities, team dynamics, and leadership potential? In this energizing episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast , host Daniel Casselli , President at BuyQ, sits down with Racheal Sewards , Founder and Executive Director of Solare Collegiate Charter School . Racheal shares how her school is challenging traditional...

Great operations leaders don’t just get things done—they build teams that trust each other, communicate clearly, and move fast together. In this episode, Jill Dunchick —veteran educator, school leader, and leadership coach—joins Daniel Casselli to deliver one of the most practical, tactical conversations yet. Jill shares how charter school ops leaders can create aligned, high-functioning teams by...

What does it really take to build a charter school from scratch—and do it well? In this milestone 50th episode, we sit down with Dermoth Mattison , founder of South Shore Charter School , to explore how intentionality in the early days can lay the groundwork for a thriving school culture and academic excellence. From rigorous SUNY authorizer expectations to community-driven design, Dermoth walks u...

What do growing charter schools have in common? In this special compilation episode of The Charter School Insider, we’re bringing together the sharpest insights from enrollment-focused conversations with top charter leaders.  Hear from:  Bill Knous on the power of community engagement Vanessa Segovia Barry on parent perception and enrollment blind spots Maria Blencowe on scaling enrollment with li...

In this special live episode, recorded at the Colorado League of Charter Schools Conference 2025, host Daniel Casselli sits down with powerhouse education leader Jen Davis Wickens . As the founder of Impact Public Schools and co-founder of Seminar —a national community platform for charter leaders—Jen shares the top leadership insights, trends, and challenges emerging from Seminar’s first year . W...