When did you become interested in Charter Schools?
I began my education career working with special needs youth at Ramapo for Children. On this 250-acre camp site we provided the participants with alternative education to help them to develop their social emotional skills. The student population varied on all levels of the autism spectrum. While living on the grounds and providing services to the youth Ramapo for Children also served as a retreat site for schools and education-based non-profits. During that time, I was a facilitator of high ropes, low ropes adventure activities, and team building activities when KIPP Academy, the flagship school for the KIPP NYC Charter network came to the site for team building and a school trip. I learned about the values of KIPP Academy and witnessed an inspiring level of commitment from teachers. In connecting with their educators during their visit, I learned about charter schools and was inspired by the value of “find a way or make one”. That level of dedication towards the education and improvement of young people pulled me in and I joined KIPP NYC. I spent the next 18 years with them in various roles from college advisor, teacher, dean, assistant principal, principal and senior director of leadership development. I am proud of my impact and influence in the charter space because of my experience at KIPP NYC.
How would you best describe your current role at FCI?
At Florida Charter Institute I am the District Director of Leadership Operations which allows me to step in all four pillars of our work. I support the EDUCATE pillar by supporting our fellows with Professional Learning, supporting our efforts for partnerships from an instructional lens and supporting the Professional Learning sessions we offer for all charter schools. Within the AUTHORIZE pillar, I am part of the Florida Charter Review Commission team. I also support our growth as a Local Education Agency. Within the SUPPORT pillar, I actively support the team in organizing and facilitating charter school collaborations, contribute to our marketing efforts and participate in school visits as needed. Lastly, I collaborate with the team within the RESEARCH pillar to identify and gather the latest information. Allowing us to create content for educators. I play a multifaceted role that allows me to leverage all of the different experiences I bring to the table. I am function as a team player who leans in wherever I can to help to ensure that I am elevating the value of “find a way or make one”.
What motivates you most in your work with charter schools, and what keeps you passionate about this field?
What motivates me to work in charter schools is the ability to cater structures for the families that choose to be a part of the community. Having choices that focus on different focal points is vital to the idea of choice. Choice is a fundamental function of human livelihood. Parents know own children more than anyone else and deserve the opportunity to select the direction of their child’s education. The variances provide that opportunity is the freedom that parents deserve. As a parent I have always looked to support all parent needs. They are the primary client as we educate their children; as such, we should support their voice in the education space. I see myself as an advocate for parents, which continuously drives me to ensure that any charter school spaces I help provide the best possible options for its students.
What is the most critical challenge facing charter schools today, and how can leaders effectively address it?
One of the biggest challenges is enrollment. Enrollment is a component of running a charter school that needs a proactive, strategic plan. It is something that needs to be considered year-round. It is also the biggest influencer on your school’s budget. What is often forgotten in the process is that family retention impacts the need for new recruitment. If you keep the families in your communities, less recruitment must be done. As a result, school leaders must focus intently on the community that the staff have created for the students and parents. The quality of instruction, connection, communication and safety.
Can you share an experience or initiative from your career that you are particularly proud of, and what impact did it have on students or schools?
Being the principal at KIPP NYC College Prep is one of my proudest accomplishments. KIPP NYC College Prep is a high performing charter school in the Bronx, NY, with1300 students and 200 staff. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I was honored to be in that role. As a community we graduated 95% of the students or more in four years and supported with access to collegiate opportunities to 85% or more students. We also provided access to career paths to the 15% of students who did not pursue college. I am very proud of these results, particularly of the meaningful connections and relationships built with all community members. Graduation was a day that was always emotional for me as I was so grateful that the families trusted our school with their time and development. The pride has been elevated tenfold by seeing some alumni in their professional roles, expressing tremendous gratitude.