Susie Miller Carello
FCI Executive Director
There are so many reasons to celebrate this holiday season! It’s hard to believe that this marks the first full year of FCI spreading tidings of joy and highlighting all the incredible things happening across Florida’s charter school sector.
First on our list of celebrations is the opportunity to support the amazing charter schools across the state. FCI Support is proud to be the home of what was once the Charter Support Unit. In addition to the many resources available on our website, FCI Support offers webinars, podcasts, courses, and personalized training and coaching for boards and school leaders.
This year, we were especially excited to work with over 80 governing boards, assisting them with everything from quick issues to in-depth, ongoing coaching. We’ve heard from so many of you about your search for good governance practices, and we’ve responded by providing a treasure trove of tools on our website. Beyond that, the mighty FCI Support Team dedicated hundreds of hours working with schools and boards, striving to make them better for the students they serve.
A highlight of the year was the governance conference held last fall at South Tech Academy in Boynton Beach, FL. This event brought us together, both in person and online, to focus on best governance practices. It also served as a powerful reminder of why we do this work: It’s all about the students! Additionally, FCI had the privilege of sharing best practices from Florida and beyond at the Florida Charter Schools Conference, the NAPCS Conference, and the NACSA Conference. We also celebrated Florida’s elementary reading success, showcased in a national report by the American Enterprise Institute: Grading Florida’s Schools: A+ for Achievement and Return on Investment.
Professional learning was another big win this year. We hosted nearly 400 teachers and school leaders at Miami Dade College for workshops and training sessions with national partners, including Teach Like A Champion and Leverage Leadership. Our inaugural class of FCI Fellows set a high bar for instructional leadership, focusing squarely on student success. Altogether, over 68 hours of professional learning took place this year—and there’s so much more to come!
Finally, we reviewed 16 applications for the first year of the Charter Schools Commission and developed the comprehensive LEA Manual, a guide filled with essential requirements and practical tips for becoming your own LEA.
See? So much to celebrate! As we wrap up this incredible year, we wish you a happy and joyful holiday season. At FCI, we celebrate the amazing gifts you bring to Florida’s children all year long. Thank you for giving us the gift of partnership, and here’s to another year of success and collaboration!