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

Understanding bond ratings can be a game-changer for charter school leaders navigating facility financing. In this episode, Daniel Casselli sits down with Blake Cullimore , a senior analyst at Moody’s Public Rating Finance Group , to demystify the world of bond ratings and their impact on charter schools . Blake shares insights into the rating process, key financial and qualitative factors that sh...

What happens when a charter school leader takes a hard look at the data—and doesn’t look away? In this episode,  The Charter School Insider Podcast  host Daniel Casselli welcomes  James Cryan , founder of  Willow Education  and  former CEO of Rocky Mountain Prep , for a deeply reflective conversation on the power (and pitfalls) of  data-driven leadership . From jaw-dropping statistics about post-s...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider , we’re joined by Reyes Claudio , the dynamic Chief Operations and Community Relations Officer at Brilla Public Schools . Reyes takes us deep into what it really means to serve a community — not just in theory, but in day-to-day practice. She shares Brilla’s powerful philosophy that community engagement is not a tactic but a foundational value — and ho...

Financials aren’t just numbers—they tell a story. In this episode, Neil Shah, a seasoned CFO for nonprofits, joins Daniel Casselli to break down the power of financial storytelling and why it’s essential for charter school leaders. From understanding financial data to using it to make strategic decisions, Neil shares practical insights on how to translate financial reports into compelling narrativ...

Chronic absenteeism has surged in schools post-COVID, creating significant challenges for student success. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast host Daniel Casselli sits down with Alastair Dawe , COO at University Preparatory Schools , to discuss how his team tackled attendance issues head-on. From crafting a school-wide culture of attendance to implementing data-driven incentives a...

Charter school boards are responsible for overseeing multimillion-dollar organizations, yet most only meet for 20 hours a year. So how do the best boards ensure effective governance? The answer: committees. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast welcomes Mike Mizzoni , Chief Governance Officer at BoardOnTrack , to break down the key role committees play in school leadership . Mike sha...

Managing school facilities isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about creating spaces that inspire learning and reflect a school's mission. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast welcomes Raymie Fernandez , Chief Operating Officer at Dream Charter School , to unpack the strategic side of facilities planning . With a background in operations and instructional leadership, Raymie...

Finding and retaining great educators is one of the biggest challenges in charter schools today. In this episode, Daniel Casselli sits down with Josh Czupryk , the creator of Josh’s K12 Job Blast , a go-to resource for educators exploring new career opportunities. Josh shares his journey from being a teacher and charter school leader to running a widely used job board that connects transitioning e...

In this captivating episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast , Daniel Casselli , President at BuyQ , sits down with Dr. Sarper Turker , a visionary leader in education, to discuss his impressive turnaround story at Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools . Dr. Turker shares how he took a struggling school with a 15% staff retention rate and transformed it into a thriving institution with an aston...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Ru Sharma , Chief People Officer at Achievement First . With a professional background spanning global giants like Coca-Cola and Amazon, Ru brings a fresh perspective to the unique challenges of building and leading a people team at one of the nation’s largest charter school networks. Ru shares candid insigh...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli dives into the intricate world of charter school operations with Tom Tafoya , Chief Operating Officer at Visions in Education . Spanning 9,200 square miles without a single physical classroom, Visions has redefined procurement processes to serve over 7,500 students annually. From adopting innovative technologies to partner...

In this conversation, Daniel Casselli and Zainab Ali discuss the critical issue of teacher retention in K-12 education, particularly within charter schools. Zainab shares insights from a recent research report conducted by the Charter School Growth Fund , highlighting the importance of executive team culture, effective change management, and the need for ongoing support and development for princip...

Did you know over $100 million in E-Rate funding for charter schools is about to disappear ? This episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast is your ultimate crash course on E-Rate . Host Daniel Casselli dives into this critical topic with experts Cari Warnock and Dave LeNard from CDW, a BuyQ-awarded vendor specializing in education technology. Together, they demystify E-Rate, explaining its tw...

Join Yeime Valle , Executive Director of Brilla Public Charter Schools , as she shares how her team tackled financial challenges by developing a tiered budgeting strategy. In this episode, Yeime and host Daniel Casselli explore the power of transparency, stakeholder engagement, and staying mission-focused in the face of tough decisions. Perfect for school leaders seeking actionable insights on sus...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider, host Daniel Casselli talks with Julie Anne Garretson , Network Director of Operations and School Support at Public Prep . Julie shares her extensive experience managing complex school relocations across New York City, focusing on three major moves Public Prep has navigated over the past two years. These include closing a flagship campus, managing temp...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, we sit down with Tina Dass and Stacy-Ann Brissett , Senior Operations Directors at Prospect Schools (NY), to explore the critical role of operational infrastructure in driving the success of charter schools . Tina and Stacy-Ann share their insights on how they’ve helped shape efficient operations, focusing on everything from resource allocatio...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Dallan Wortham , CEO and Founder of Charter Connect , to explore the essentials of digital marketing for charter schools. They discuss the importance of setting appropriate ad budgets, the differences in spending on Google versus Facebook ads, and how to determine cost per enrollment. Dallan shares practical...

In this episode, we chat with Maria Blencowe , Director of Communications & Marketing at Georgia Cyber Academy , about how they grew enrollment from 8,000 to 10,000 students. Maria breaks down the strategies behind their digital marketing success and how charter schools can drive growth in a competitive educational landscape. Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at  podcast@buyq.org

In episode 29 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, Mollie Mitchell , Founder of The K12 Search Group, sheds light on why succession planning in charter schools often falters. With her expertise in executive recruitment, Mollie highlights the need for transparency, stakeholder involvement, and redefining the CEO’s role. Whether you're a board member, CEO, or aspiring leader, this episode offers p...

In Episode #28 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, “You don’t have to do it all: Leadership Lessons with Executive Coach MK Flynn,” host Daniel Casselli sits down with MK Flynn, an expert in executive coaching and education consulting. They delve into the art of effective leadership, emphasizing that it’s not about knowing everything but about continuous learning and strategic delegation. Disco...

In this insightful episode, Tricia Noyola, CEO of Rocky Mountain Prep, reveals the behind-the-scenes details of their groundbreaking merger with Strive Prep. She discusses the strategic motivations driven by declining enrollment and financial challenges, and how setting clear goals led to a unified vision. Noyola offers valuable advice on managing mergers, emphasizing the importance of embracing c...

In this episode, Vanessa Segovia Barry from Mariposa Consulting Group unpacks the secrets to mastering enrollment marketing for charter schools. She emphasizes critical elements often overlooked: goal setting, strategic resource allocation, and adapting to the seasonality of parent behavior. Learn how to enhance the parent experience and leverage automation to streamline communication. Interested...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider, Daniel Casselli talks with Trey Vernaci, Sr. Director of Operations at RePublic Schools, about the shortage of qualified operations professionals in charter schools, focusing on Mississippi. Trey discusses his innovative solution: an operations leadership residency program covering key areas of operations and offering practical advice for replication....

In this episode, Daniel Casselli outlines five best practices to make procurement a financial stability pillar. He stresses procurement's role in tough financial times and covers its four core pillars: strategic sourcing and cost management, policies, compliance and risk management, technology and data, and stakeholder engagement. The best practices are: revisiting the purchasing policy, listening...

Jen Davis Wickens & Kristen McCaw are the Co-Founders of Seminar, a national community for charter school leadership development. As school leaders and founders themselves, Jen & Kristen speak to the need for tactical/practical support for executives and we explore how Seminar is tackling this challenge using AI as an example of a hot-button item leaders are currently navigating. Intereste...