The Charter Support Unit is proud to partner with the Florida Department of Education and the planners of the Florida Charter School Conference to bring you recorded sessions from the 203 Florida Charter School Conference.
These sessions were recorded live at the conference, therefore the audio is not always the best quality. We’ve attempted to edit and tweak them where possible, and also have added clear views of the slides for the slides which were submitted to the conference planners.
For more information about the conference, please visit: https://www.charterschoolconference.com/2023/
Featured General Sessions
The opening session to the 2023 conference welcomed participants with a panel discussion hosted by Skylar Zender the State Director of Americans for Prosperity. The panel included:
- Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., Commissioner of Education, Florida Department of Education
- Jeanne Allen, Founder & CEO, The Center for Education Reform
- John Kirtley, Chairman of the Governing Board, Step Up For Students
- Fernando Zulueta, Founder & CEO, Academica
Morning General Session
Thursday, October 19, 2024
The Thursday Morning Session featured presentations by both Florida’s 2024 Teach of the Year, and a second presentation by the FLDOE Deputy Commissioner for Accountability about the new cut scores and assess processes used in Florida.
Closing Session
Friday, October 20, 2024
The closing session featured numerous presenters including Anita Whitby-Davis, the Executive Director of Blautism Education who introduced Jim Horne a Partner with Strategos Group and Florida’s first Commissioner of Education.
Conference Sessions
3 Schools: 3 Financing Options
Different schools had different facility needs, and that meant no funding option was the perfect match for all schools. Participants learned about the different funding options for school facilities and heard from various schools about the paths they chose.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Richard Moreno, President, Building Hope Services
- Mrs. Constance Ortiz, Founder, Odyssey Charter School
- Mr. Will Staros, Regional VP, FORZA Education
- Mr. Scott Sznitken, Executive Director, Franklin Academy Charter Schools
Amplify Your Advocacy: Training for Parent and Principal Advocates in Charter Schools
“Amplify Your Advocacy” was an empowering presentation for parent and principal advocates in charter schools. Participants learned effective advocacy strategies, policy engagement, community building, and communication techniques to drive positive change and amplify their voices for the success of charter schools. They joined and learned how to make a difference leveraging the voices of principals and parents.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Kirianne Suriano, Leadership Liaison for External Affairs, Charter Schools USA
- Ms. Julia Kiewit, Director of External Affairs, Charter Schools USA
Authorizer Options for Florida Charter Schools
For most of the existence of charter schools in Florida, there had only been one primary option for authorization of charter schools, Florida’s school districts. Within the last few years, two additional ones had emerged: Florida’s State Colleges and the Florida Charter School Commission. The session discussed these changes to Florida’s charter school authorization and sponsorship processes, along with options for new applicants and existing charter schools.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Shawn Arnold, Shareholder and CEO , Arnold Law Firm
- Mr. Adam Emerson, FLDOE Independent Education and Parental Choice Executive Director , Florida Department of Education
- Mrs. Susie Miller Callero, Executive Director , Charter School Review Commission
- Mr. Fermin Vazquez, President , Miami-Dade College North Campus
Best Practices for Strong Board Governance
Have you ever questioned how high-performing charter schools consistently advanced their mission? Well, it was almost always due to a high-performing governing board working effectively in collaboration with the school’s leadership. Participants attended this presentation to gain insight regarding best practices to keep their charter school’s governing board energized and mobilized towards fulfilling their school’s mission and goals!
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Christine Mentis, Services Manager, Building Hope
- Ms. Kathleen Schoenberg, Attorney & School Governance Trainer, Florida Charter School Governance Training
Building a Virtuous Mindset: Florida Civics and Debate
This presentation highlighted what was new in Florida civics education and debate. Participants learned how to access resources and direct support in the implementation of the revised civics and government standards and debate initiative.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Director of Social Studies and The Arts, Florida Department of Education
- Mr. David Fechtel, Program Manager, Florida Civics and Debate Initiativ
Charter School Funding Through the Florida Education Finance Program
This presentation provided an introductory overview of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), which was the primary source of operating funds for all K–12 public schools in Florida. Other topics covered included the reporting of full-time equivalent (FTE) students, new legislation, class size reduction funding, class size compliance, and the charter revenue worksheet.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Li Liu, Bureau Chief, School Business Services, Florida Department of Education
Charter School Program (CSP) Grant Funding
The Charter School Program (CSP) team provided an overview of the CSP Grant that the Florida Department of Education oversaw.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Chasity Ingram, Grant Specialist, Florida Department of Education
- Mr. Horace Taylor, CSP Budget Analyst, Florida Department of Education
Charter Schools and Career and Technical Education (CTE): A Winning Strategy for Students
Participants had the opportunity to explore the impact of CTE for students, families, and communities in this presentation. They learned how several Florida charter schools leveraged quality CTE programs to prepare students for careers and continued study that transformed their future.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Kevin O’Farrell, Chancellor, Division of Career and Adult Education, Florida Department of Education
- Mr. Carlos Alverez, Principal, COHEA Career & Collegiate Academy
- Ms. Caridad Rodriguez, Principal, SLAM Boca Raton
Charter Schools: Management and Monitoring of Federal Grant Funding for Increased Student Achievement
This presentation provided an overview of the management and monitoring of federal funding for charter schools and charter school Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). Participants learned about their responsibilities and how to receive necessary supports to maximize resources for increased student achievement.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Dr. Dinh Nguyen, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Federal Educational Programs, Florida Department of Education
- Mr. Matthew Wiley, Director of Title I, Florida Department of Education
Coaching for the B.E.S.T. Standards for Mathematics
The Office of Mathematics and Science discussed supporting high-quality math instruction by utilizing coach strategies and systems and using the B.E.S.T. Instructional Guides for Mathematics (B1G-M).
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mrs. Courtney Starling, Secondary Math Specialist, Florida Department of Education
- Mr. Omar Quijada, Elementary Math Specialist, Florida Department of Education
Comprehensive Management Information System (CMIS) Overview
This presentation provided an overview of the public school data collection process used for funding, accountability, and reporting. Pertinent information about the CMIS and data reporting was discussed.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mrs. Shawna Reid, Executive Director, Data Systems, Florida Department of Education (FDOE)
- Mr. Dr. Andre Smith, Chief Information Officer, Florida Department of Education (FDOE)
Decoding Title IX: Rule and Compliance Implications for Charter and Private Schools
This presentation explored the rule’s requirements, methods of compliance, and optimal approaches to prevent legal disputes related to Title IX, which mandates stringent responsibilities on educational institutions for addressing cases of sexual discrimination or harassment. Title IX’s requirements were binding on all schools receiving federal dollars, even private institutions.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. John Leombruno, Attorney/Shareholder, Arnold Law Firm, LLC
- Mrs. Emily Rodriguez, Attorney, Arnold Law Firm
- Ms. Marie Turchiaro, Executive Director, Palm Beach Maritime Academy Elementary
- Mrs. Lisa Wheeler, Principal, Pineapple Cove Classical Academy at Palm Bay
Developing a Powerhouse IT Strategy
In this presentation, the major pitfalls schools faced as they made both short-term and long-term IT and technology decisions were discussed. With the heavy reliance schools had on IT performance and efficiency inside the 21st Century Classroom, a roadmap of “Do’s & Don’ts” was provided to ensure technology was a catalyst for learning within their school(s) versus a frustrating barrier.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. James Pope, Chief Revenue Officer, Technology Lab
Due Process Complaints: A Charter School’s Guide to Navigating Administrative Hearings
This presentation served as a guide for charter schools to navigate Due Process Hearings, including recent trends, advocates, do’s & don’ts, available resources, and steps schools could take to prevent them.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Andy Jiminez, Senior Vice President, Risk and Trust Operations, Egis Insurance & Risk Advisors
- Onier Llopiz, Partner, Llopiz Wizel Law Firm
Elevating Education Through Tutoring: Rethinking Approach
Anthony Salcito delved into the profound impact tutoring could have on supporting individualized instruction in schools. In this presentation, Salcito explored the dynamics of tutoring, examining both its historical value and the urgent need for reimagining its role in modern education. By highlighting the transformative potential of tutor-assisted learning, Salcito shed light on how educators could empower teachers with access to tutors, enabling them to better support their learners and foster personalized educational experiences. The focus was on how to unlock new possibilities in educational practices, propelling the future of teaching and learning.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Anthony Salcito, Chief Institutional Business Officer, Varsity Tutors for Schools
Empowering Education with AI: The Future of Individualized Instruction
This presentation explored the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in ushering a new era of individualized instruction. The critical role of AI in crafting personalized learning experiences, accommodating the unique needs, styles, and pace of every learner was discussed. The future of mixed learning modalities, including AI-assisted tutoring and hybrid learning, was also delved into. Participants learned how these technologies could elevate the role of educators, support diverse educational needs, and ultimately drive improved student outcomes.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Anthony Salcito, Chief Institution Business Officer, Varsity Tutors for Schools
FDOE Update
FDOE representatives provided an update on changes — legislative and otherwise — affecting Florida charter schools.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Adam Emerson, Executive Director, IEPC, Florida Department of Education
Florida Resource Round-up: Organizations Dedicated to Charter School Success
Participants learned about organizations dedicated to charter school success in Florida and how to take advantage of their services to support the operations and management of their schools. A Q&A session about new school issues was also conducted, where attendees could bring their questions.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Curtis Fuller, Interim Director, Florida Charter Institute
- Ms. Christine Mentis, Governance Program Director, Charter Support Unit
- Ms. Lynn Norman-Teck, Executive Director, Florida Charter School Alliance
- Ms. Sherard Parker, Director- Member Services, Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools
- Ms. Dana Vignale, Charter Support Manager, Charter Support Unit
- Mr. Jeffrey Wood, Legal Advisor, Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS)
Florida’s Harm Prevention and Threat Management Model
This presentation provided an overview of Florida’s Harm Prevention and Threat Management Model, including legislation, the School-Based Threat Management Teams and District Threat Management Team, and the workflow and process.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Angie Chesser, Statewide Threat Management Coordinator, Florida Department of Education, Office of Safe Schools
How did a New Authorizer Build the Best Systems and Supports?
The Florida Charter Institute (FCI) at Miami Dade College was dedicated to authorizing high-quality charter schools that provided excellent education and choices for families. The Institute served as a model for education excellence and provided opportunities for schools to thrive. The presentation discussed the Institute’s goals, policies, and practices to improve charter education in Florida, seeking input from attendees on challenging and supportive authorizing practices. FCI aimed to create a supportive environment for charter schools while maintaining accountability.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Curtis Fuller, EDD LEA and Support, Building Hope on behalf of Florida Charter Institute
- Ms. Jenna Hodgens, EDD Accountability, Florida Charter Institute
- Susie Miller Carello, Executive Director, Florida Charter Institute
- Mr. Adam Emerson, Executive Director, Office of Independent Education & Parental Choices at the FL DOE
- Ms. Christy Noe, President, Collaborative Educational Network
- Mr. Paul Powell, Executive Director, True North Classical Academies
Language Acquisition and Accommodations
This was an interactive/hands-on presentation where participants learned best practices to help multilingual learners succeed.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Dr. Julio Acevedo, Bilingual Specialist, Lake Wales Charter Schools
Launch Year Training: Starting Your School on the Right Path
The Launch Year Training was a support network for schools opening in the next year or beyond. This workshop was the first meeting of our new cohort. We reviewed a variety of issues and provided a detailed to-do list of things you needed to focus on to ensure a successful opening.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Razia Ali Hamm, School Director, Constellation Charter School
- Ms. Christine Mentis, Services Manager, Building Hope
- Ms. Dana Vignale, Charter Support Unit Manager, Building Hope
Legislative Advocacy 101: How to Share Your Story so that Lawmakers Listen
Participants gained a better understanding of Florida state government and the legislative process, the major factors that influenced policymaking, and how to actually get their message across so that lawmakers listened to them, with specific examples of things they could do to engage their local representatives.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Sara Clements, Vice President, McGuireWoods Consulting
- Ms. Lindsay Hoyt, Executive Director / Founder & Board Chair, Jacksonville Classical Academy / Cornerstone Classical Academy
Let’s Took a Walk: Setting Impactful Look-fors for Classroom Learning Walks that Led to School Improvement
In this presentation, the lead for the FLDOE Bureau of School Improvement’s Field Team discussed how to maximize classroom learning walks through a tight lens of instructional look-fors that led to positive change in teacher practice. Participants were actively engaged in a systemic process of developing school-specific look-fors to maximize efficiency and impact of instruction.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Dustin Sims, Lead Executive Director, Bureau of School Improvement, Florida Department of Education
- Ms. Lindsay Messner, Regional Assistant Director, FDOE Bureau of School Improvement
- Mrs. Kati Pearson, Regional Executive Director (Region 4), FDOE Bureau of School Improvement
New Worlds Reading Initiative Overview
New Worlds Reading was a FREE statewide program that advanced literacy and a love of reading by shipping free books and literacy resources to Florida VPK students who were not yet making age-appropriate progress according to student assessments and K-5 students who were not yet reading on grade level in public and charter schools.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Michelle McGriff, Regional Partners Manager , New Worlds Reading Initiative
- Dr. Taylor Bainter, Mathematics Content & Implementation Specialist , Lastinger Center for Learning
- Ms. Nasseeka Denis, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator , New Worlds Reading Initiative
Parentally Placed Private School Students: Public Local Educational Agency Obligations
This presentation provided an overview of the child find, meaning consultation, and proportionate shared responsibilities of a public local educational agency, as well as equitable services and dispute resolution options in Florida.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Chelsea Strickland, Florida Department of Education
Preparing for the ESSER Cliff
The ESSER funds were a great source of comfort in a time of need, but what was your plan, come next September, to ensure your school’s needs continued to be met post ESSER funding? Discussions with us included some possible solutions to the ESSER cliff!
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Richard Moreno, President of Services, Building Hope
- Ms. Alina Chester, Budget Analyst, Academica
Scaffolding in Education: The Legos of Explicit Instruction
Similar to scaffolding used in construction to support workers as they worked on a specific task, instructional scaffolds were temporary support structures put in place to assist students in accomplishing new tasks they could not achieve on their own. Participants joined this hands-on workshop to build upon their understanding of scaffolding.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mrs. Liliana Salazar, National Director for Special Education and Student Support, Academica
- Mrs. Alexandra Prieto, Principal, Somerset Academy Miramar Charter School
- Ms. Michelle Rojas, Lead Teacher, Somerset Academy Miramar Charter School
Teacher Apprenticeship Program
The CTE office in the Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development, and Retention provided an overview of the new Teacher Apprenticeship Program recently created in House Bill 1035, Section 1012.555, Florida Statutes, and answered any questions.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Kelley Duda, Director, Educator Preparation, Florida Department of Education
- Mr. Steven Lindas, Teacher Apprenticeship Representative, Florida Department of Education
The Keys to Rapid and Sustained School Improvement
The founders of the Florida Charter Institute (FCI) at Miami Dade College shared their learn-from-the-exemplar approach to developing competency around the key levers of instructional coaching and data-driven instruction. Participants had a chance to analyze footage of leaders, name key actions, and practice implementing best practices while also reflecting metacognitively on the process.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Kathryn Perkins, Exec. Deputy Director of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, Florida Charter Institute
- Paul Powell, Executive Director, True North Classical Academies
- Michael Bileca, Founder, True North Classical Academy
- Susie Miller Carello, Executive Director, Florida Charter Institute
- Christy Noe, President, Collaborative Educational Network
The Power of Parent Engagement
Participants learned how and why engaged parents were important for promoting educational options. Topics covered included parent training, engagement, and opportunities for parent advocacy.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Lauren May, Director of Advocacy, Step Up For Students
The Role of Governance in a Successful Continuous Process and Outcome
In this presentation, Charter Schools USA and Cognia focused on the question: What could governing boards do to support a successful continuous improvement process? Board members were often told about their roles and responsibilities. However, maintaining the fine line of governance in the day-to-day was complicated. Effective governing boards were disciplined, which took time and practice. Content and scenarios were presented, and ample time for discussion/Q&A was provided.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Dianna Weinbaum, Senior Director of Florida, Cognia
- Mrs. Rita Weaver, Sr. Director of Board Governance, National, Charter Schools USA
Understanding The Charter Application Process
Writing a charter application was a massive undertaking, with many moving parts. This workshop went through each section of the Florida Charter Application and discussed common pitfalls while giving tips on how to effectively work as a team to develop a high-quality charter application.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Mr. Curtis Fuller, Director- Charter School Operations, Building Hope
- Ms. Sherri Davidson, Chair of the Board, Bradenton Classical Academy
- Dr. Christy Noe, President, Collaborative Educational Network
- Ms. Karen Roland, Co-Founder, Bradenton Classical Academy
Wanting to Be Better is Not Enough
Attendees at this presentation learned how data analysis, actionable practices, and intentional instructional and strategic planning could help leaders meet students’ needs and grow. Engaging in continuous improvement inspired forward-thinking transformational change and new opportunities. Institutions couldn’t just want to be better; they had to take steps to make change.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Dianna Weinbaum, Senior Director Florida, Cognia
- Mr. Rick Jeffries, Principal, Polk State College Lakeland Collegiate High School
Weathering the Storm: Navigating Controversies in the School Environment
Charter schools and private schools could sometimes find themselves under the scrutiny of the public’s eye, particularly in the midst of controversy. This presentation explored frequent pitfalls that led to public relations woes, as well as the various means in which schools could prepare themselves to weather the storm when controversies arose.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Lynn Norman-Teck, Executive Director, Florida Charter School Alliance
- Mr. Braxton Padgett, Associate Attorney, The Arnold Law Firm, LLC
What Everyone Should Have Known About Certification
The Bureau of Educator Certification was committed to providing timely, accurate, and efficient services to all constituents, and this presentation highlighted the entire process and explained the essentials of the Florida educator certification process.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Michelle L. Gaines, Bureau Chief, Educator Certification, Florida Department of Education
What Schools Needed to Know: Essential Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and Student Services Requirements for Charter Schools
This presentation shared how schools could maintain required ESE Compliance with their practices, policies, and procedures and addressed emerging concerns resulting from recent state complaint data and Due Process Ordered Action in exceptional student education.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Chelsea Strickland, Senior Director, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services, Florida Department of Education
Your School Had a Facilities Loan: How to Maintain Compliance?
After a facilities loan closed, a charter or private school’s long-term compliance work began. Participants learned about the typical loan requirements and how to establish facilities finance policies and compliance procedures that survived staff and Board transitions and endured the test of time.
- Conference: 2023 FL Charter School Conference
- Presenter(s):
- Ms. Melissa Gross-Arnold, Shareholder, Arnold Law Firm
- Ms. Danielle Suhr, Principal, Ivy Hawn Charter School of the Arts