Charter School Superstars

This week, Ryan sits down with Massie Ritsch. Massie is a communications expert who has worked with the US Department of Education and Teach for America. Today, he is the founder of the communications and branding consulting firm 5e, where he advises a wide range of organizations including education nonprofits. On this episode, Massie talks to Ryan about his personal experience working with charter schools and the importance for charter school leaders to “tell their school’s story.” Massie provides valuable insight on how to convey your school’s story effectively to stakeholders. You can find out more about his work by visiting www.engage5e.com Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, Ryan sits down with Adam Gerstenfeld, the manager of data and research for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. On this episode, Ryan talks to Adam about the latest Data from EdChoice about public opinion of schooling and what it means for the charter school movement. He also presents his point of view supported by statistics and various findings from the EdChoice report. You can find out more about his work by visiting www.publiccharters.org and by following @charteralliance on Twitter. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, we conclude our series of CSS episodes recorded from the 2019 Florida Charter School Conference in Orlando, Florida. Joining us on the program is Dr. Kelly Andrews of Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores and Todd Whitlock CEO of Standard for Success. On this episode, Kelly and Todd talk about best practices in teacher evaluation. They also detail various ways to move beyond seeing teacher evaluation as a compliance tool but more as a method for fostering teacher success. You can find out more about their work by visiting https://www.doctorscharterschool.org/ Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, we continue our series of CSS episodes live from the 2019 Florida Charter School Conference in Orlando, Florida. Joining us on the program is Ralph Arza, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Florida Charter School Alliance. On this episode, Ralph talks about how charter schools can effectively communicate with parents and make them advocates for the school. Ralph also details various ways to cultivate parental engagement in your school. You can find out more about his work by visiting https://www.flcharterschool.org/ Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, we continue our series of CSS episodes live from the 2019 Florida Charter School Conference in Orlando, Florida. Joining us on the program is Debbie Lister, Chief Transformation Officer of Education Board Partners. Education Board Partners is a DC based non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening non-profit boards in education. On this episode, Debbie talks about Education Board Partners and the array of services they provide to help school boards become more effective. Debbie also talks about all the skill sets needed to build a well-rounded board and reflects on the definition of academic success. You can find out more about his work by visiting http://www.edboards.org/ Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, we continue our series of CSS episodes from the 2019 Florida Charter School Conference in Orlando, Florida. Joining us on the program is Ron Burton, programing director for Troops to Teachers. Troops to Teachers is a career transition program that helps members of the armed forces began new careers as K-12 instructors--including charter school instructors. On this episode, Ron talks about Troops to Teachers and the support and recruitment services that the program provides. You can find out more about TTT’s work by visiting http://www.tcc.fl.edu/t2t Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, we continue our CSS episodes from the 2019 Florida Charter School Conference in Orlando. Joining us on the program is Dianna Weinbaum, regional director at Cognia. Cognia is a nonprofit organization that provides certification, accreditation, and improvement services for schools. On this episode, Diana talks about Cognia, the accreditation process, and the support services that her organization provides to charter schools. Dianna also talks about the internal and external stakeholders involved in fostering academic success and continuous improvement at all schools.You can find out more about her work by visiting http://www.cognia.org/Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week is the first of a series of episodes recorded from the exhibit hall of the 2019 Florida Charter School Conference. Joining us this week is Andy Jimenez of Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors. On this episode, Andy talks to Ryan about the unique insurance needs that charter schools have and the categories of coverage that exist to address common liability risks. Tune in!You can find out more about their work by visiting http://www.egisadvisors.com.Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

Charter School Superstars is at the Florida Charter School Conference in Orlando! Joining Ryan on this week's show is Cassie Dillman, the Gardening teacher at the School of Arts and Sciences on Thomasville in Tallahassee, Florida. Cassie talks to Ryan about her innovative gardening and cooking program, which is a required course at her charter school and exposes students to a "hands on" approach to student health. Cassie talks about her program's success and gives great advice on how to start a similar program on your own campus. You can find out more about Cassie's work by visiting @cassiethegardener and @the.school.garden on Instagram. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, Ryan sits down with Mike Mizzoni, the chief leadership and governance officer for BoardOnTrack, a Massachusetts-based charter school governance platform that helps charter school nonprofits remain academically strong and organizationally sustainable. In this podcast, Mike talks about the BoardOnTrack platform and identifies the unique governance practices and additional challenges that charter boards encounter. Mike also provides insight on board composition, managing organizational growth, and creating effective relationships with the CEO.You can find out more about his work by visiting www.boardontrack.comHost: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, Ryan chats with Dawn North and Cait Goss from Bright Star Schools, a LA-based nonprofit that operates seven tuition-free charter schools serving 2,800 students in the communities of West Adams, Koreatown, and the San Fernando Valley. In this podcast, our guests talk about Bright Star’s innovative sexual harassment/assault education curriculum. Our guests identify the positive effects that their programming has had on their students and provides advice for school leaders to start similar programs on their campuses. Tune in!You can find out more about our guests’ work by visiting http://www.brightstarschools.org/Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, we are honored to welcome Sydney Chaffee, humanities teacher at the Codman Academy Charter Public School in Massachusetts and the 2017 National Teacher of the Year, as our guest on this week’s show. In this podcast, Ms. Chafee talks about the role that social justice should play in instruction. She also identifies practical strategies to reinforce and incorporate effective discussion on social justice in classrooms.You can find out more about her work by www.sydneychaffee.com.Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, Ryan interviews Rachel Crouch, the K-8 principal of the Perry Street Prep Public Charter School in Washington DC. In this podcast, Rachel talks to Ryan about how Perry Street went from the brink of closure to a Tier 1 school in just a few short years. Rachel provides actionable strategies for school success, including fostering parent engagement the effective use of data. You can find out more about our guest’s work by visiting www.pspdc.org.Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, Ryan interviews Dr. Cara Candal, Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute and Director of Educational Opportunity for the Foundation for Excellence in Education. In this podcast, Dr. Candal talks about the successes of the Massachusetts charter sector and the policy environment that helped make those successes happen. Dr. Candal also identifies common policy issues that inhibit growth and innovation in public charters.Dr. Candal’s book “The Fight for the Best Charter Public Schools in the Nation” is available for purchase on Amazon. You can find out more about her work by visiting www.excelined.orgHost: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse

This week, Ryan interviews Cheryl Rose, Principal at the Edison School of Innovation, in Glendale, Arizona. In this podcast, Cheryl talks to us about the school’s educational philosophy of educating students to solve the unknown problems of the future. Her school places a strong emphasis on STEM, project-based learning, and apprenticeship-style teacher preparation.You can find out more about her work by visiting www.edisonschoolaz.org.Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)Producer: Ross Ulysse