# 61 Staff Budgeting from First Principles ft. Richard Royal, Executive Director of Denver Language School

What happens when your mission requires more staff, but your budget says less spending? In this insightful episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Richard Royal, Executive Director of Denver Language School (DLS) — a top-performing K–8 immersion charter in Colorado — to explore how to build a sustainable staffing and budgeting model from first principles. Richard shares how DLS achieves exceptional outcomes in both Mandarin and Spanish immersion programs while facing lower per-pupil funding than district peers. He walks us through his strategic shift in staff compensation, the challenges of realigning pay scales, and the importance of leading with transparency and mission alignment. From tough board conversations to courageous leadership decisions, this episode is a masterclass in strategic budgeting for charter school executives — balancing people, purpose, and performance. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact us at [email protected] Learn more: buyq.org/podcast