Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators

AI is rapidly reshaping how families find, research, and choose schools — and most charter school enrollment strategies haven't caught up yet. In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down in ...

Charter school health insurance costs are accelerating at historic rates, with medical trend inflation running at 15–16% in 2026 compared to a typical 8%, driven by a lag in post-COVID inflation working through provider contracts and a consistent 15% a...

Ascend Public Charter Schools achieved more than 20% academic growth in a single year across 17 Brooklyn K–12 campuses — and CEO Maryann Li credits three interconnected pillars: shifting organizational mindsets about what students can achieve, investin...

Enrollment has become one of the most urgent and complex challenges facing charter schools today. Shifting demographics, increased school choice, and evolving family behavior have fundamentally changed how schools attract, engage, and enroll students —...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Layne Fisher, Deputy Superintendent of Operations and Chief Operating Officer at IDEA Public Schools, to discuss what it takes to scale opera...

On this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Ebonie Durham, Executive Director of Great Lakes Academy, to discuss how strategic partnerships can transform the student experience and stre...

Charter school finance leaders are navigating one of the most complex operating environments the sector has faced in years. From declining enrollment and shifting funding models to increasing compliance requirements, CFOs must balance financial sustain...

Running a charter school network requires a delicate balance: empowering campus leaders while maintaining the systems that keep an organization running smoothly. In Episode #66 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at B...

In Episode 65 of T he Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Cynthia Leger, Senior Director of Operations Leadership Development, at Uncommon Schools, to explore one of the most critical challenges facin...

Health insurance renewals are shaping up to be one of the biggest financial stressors charter schools will face heading into 2026. In this episode, Daniel sits down with Gary Clark, Senior VP at HUB International and head of HUB’s national charter scho...

Master scheduling isn’t just a logistical task—it’s a strategic lever that shapes student outcomes, staff experience, and long-term sustainability. In this episode, Daniel sits down with Matt Troha, former COO of Mastery Charter Schools and now Partner...

Facilities planning isn’t just a real estate decision — it’s a strategic leadership moment that shapes a school’s long-term viability, culture, and stability. In this episode, Daniel sits down with John Sun, CEO of Blueprint (formerly Pacific Charter S...

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 (D...

Strong authorizer relationships are the foundation of long-term charter school success — but they can also be one of the most misunderstood. In this episode of T he Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Kathryn Connell-Esp...

On Episode #59 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Missy Couch, Founder & CEO of Checkbox Pro LLC, to discuss one of the most pressing challenges in charter school leadership: time. Missy shares how Checkbox Pro h...

Enrollment isn’t just about filling seats—it’s about building a culture where every staff member understands their role in sustaining and growing a school community. In this episode of The C harter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President of BuyQ, sits down with SarahGennie Colazio, Director of Finance & HR at Windsor Charter Academy. What happens when a charter school dares to rethink one of its bigg...

Is your charter school board stuck in operational weeds instead of leading with vision? In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli speaks with Carrie Irvin of Bellwether and John Troy of WorkTogether, two national exper...

In Episode 55 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Dr. Richard Seigler-Carter, Managing Director of the LeveragED Foundation, to unpack a powerful truth: schools don’t thrive on curriculum alone—they thrive on peop...

In Episode 54 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Susan Jenkins and Dr. Earl Metzler of Hertz Furniture to discuss how charter schools can go beyond desks and chairs and operationalize truly innovative FF&E (furni...

When it comes to teacher retention, onboarding isn’t just the first step—it’s the foundation. In this episode, Keith Vigraham, VP of HR at Vertex Education, shares his two decades of experience working with charter schools across the country to break d...

What if staffing decisions weren’t just about qualifications—but also about personalities, team dynamics, and leadership potential? In this energizing episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down wit...

Great operations leaders don’t just get things done—they build teams that trust each other, communicate clearly, and move fast together. In this episode, Jill Dunchick —veteran educator, school leader, and leadership coach—joins Daniel Casselli to deli...

What does it really take to build a charter school from scratch—and do it well? In this milestone 50th episode, we sit down with Dermoth Mattison, founder of South Shore Charter School, to explore how intentionality in the early days can lay the ground...

What do growing charter schools have in common? In this special compilation episode of The Charter School Insider, we’re bringing together the sharpest insights from enrollment-focused conversations with top charter leaders. Hear from: Bill Knous on th...

In this special live episode, recorded at the Colorado League of Charter Schools Conference 2025, host Daniel Casselli sits down with powerhouse education leader Jen Davis Wickens. As the founder of Impact Public Schools and co-founder of Seminar —a na...

Understanding bond ratings can be a game-changer for charter school leaders navigating facility financing. In this episode, Daniel Casselli sits down with Blake Cullimore, a senior analyst at Moody’s Public Rating Finance Group, to demystify the world ...

What happens when a charter school leader takes a hard look at the data—and doesn’t look away? In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast host Daniel Casselli welcomes James Cryan, founder of Willow Education and former CEO of Rocky Mountain P...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider, we’re joined by Reyes Claudio, the dynamic Chief Operations and Community Relations Officer at Brilla Public Schools. Reyes takes us deep into what it really means to serve a community — not just in theory...

Financials aren’t just numbers—they tell a story. In this episode, Neil Shah, a seasoned CFO for nonprofits, joins Daniel Casselli to break down the power of financial storytelling and why it’s essential for charter school leaders. From understanding f...

Chronic absenteeism has surged in schools post-COVID, creating significant challenges for student success. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast host Daniel Casselli sits down with Alastair Dawe, COO at University Preparatory Schools, to ...

Charter school boards are responsible for overseeing multimillion-dollar organizations, yet most only meet for 20 hours a year. So how do the best boards ensure effective governance? The answer: committees. In this episode, The Charter School Insider P...

Managing school facilities isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about creating spaces that inspire learning and reflect a school's mission. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast welcomes Raymie Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer at...

Finding and retaining great educators is one of the biggest challenges in charter schools today. In this episode, Daniel Casselli sits down with Josh Czupryk, the creator of Josh’s K12 Job Blast, a go-to resource for educators exploring new career oppo...

In this captivating episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Dr. Sarper Turker, a visionary leader in education, to discuss his impressive turnaround story at Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools....

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Ru Sharma, Chief People Officer at Achievement First. With a professional background spanning global giants like Coca-Cola and Amazon, Ru brings a fresh perspect...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli dives into the intricate world of charter school operations with Tom Tafoya, Chief Operating Officer at Visions in Education. Spanning 9,200 square miles without a single physi...

In this conversation, Daniel Casselli and Zainab Ali discuss the critical issue of teacher retention in K-12 education, particularly within charter schools. Zainab shares insights from a recent research report conducted by the Charter School Growth Fun...

Did you know over $100 million in E-Rate funding for charter schools is about to disappear? This episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast is your ultimate crash course on E-Rate. Host Daniel Casselli dives into this critical topic with experts Car...

Join Yeime Valle, Executive Director of Brilla Public Charter Schools, as she shares how her team tackled financial challenges by developing a tiered budgeting strategy. In this episode, Yeime and host Daniel Casselli explore the power of transparency,...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider, host Daniel Casselli talks with Julie Anne Garretson, Network Director of Operations and School Support at Public Prep. Julie shares her extensive experience managing complex school relocations across New ...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, we sit down with Tina Dass and Stacy-Ann Brissett, Senior Operations Directors at Prospect Schools (NY), to explore the critical role of operational infrastructure in driving the success of charter...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Dallan Wortham, CEO and Founder of Charter Connect, to explore the essentials of digital marketing for charter schools. They discuss the importance of setting ap...

In this episode, we chat with Maria Blencowe, Director of Communications & Marketing at Georgia Cyber Academy, about how they grew enrollment from 8,000 to 10,000 students. Maria breaks down the strategies behind their digital marketing success and how...

In episode 29 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, Mollie Mitchell, Founder of The K12 Search Group, sheds light on why succession planning in charter schools often falters. With her expertise in executive recruitment, Mollie highlights the need for ...

In Episode #28 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, “You don’t have to do it all: Leadership Lessons with Executive Coach MK Flynn,” host Daniel Casselli sits down with MK Flynn, an expert in executive coaching and education consulting. They delve in...

In this insightful episode, Tricia Noyola, CEO of Rocky Mountain Prep, reveals the behind-the-scenes details of their groundbreaking merger with Strive Prep. She discusses the strategic motivations driven by declining enrollment and financial challenge...

In this episode, Vanessa Segovia Barry from Mariposa Consulting Group unpacks the secrets to mastering enrollment marketing for charter schools. She emphasizes critical elements often overlooked: goal setting, strategic resource allocation, and adaptin...

In this episode of The Charter School Insider, Daniel Casselli talks with Trey Vernaci, Sr. Director of Operations at RePublic Schools, about the shortage of qualified operations professionals in charter schools, focusing on Mississippi. Trey discusses...

In this episode, Daniel Casselli outlines five best practices to make procurement a financial stability pillar. He stresses procurement's role in tough financial times and covers its four core pillars: strategic sourcing and cost management, policies, ...