Great Leaders = Great Schools
by Dana Vignale
Dana Vignale of the Charter Support Unit is thrilled to bring to you Great Leaders = Great Schools, the ultimate formula for success . Based on Jim Collins’ theory that Level 5 Leaders build and transform enterprises that outperform all others, her goal is to bring to you their insight and inspiration.
Episodes
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Ep. 26: Leading Strong Special Education Systems
As schools begin planning for the new school year, few conversations are more important than how we support students with disabilities and the educators who serve them. In this technical episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, Jessica Chapman sits down with Reagan Chalmers, Director of…
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Ep. 25: The Relationships that Shaped Spring Creek
In Episode 25 of Great Leaders, Great Schools, Jessica Chapman sits down with Wesley Locke, principal and CEO of Spring Creek Charter School in Paisley, Florida. Spring Creek was Florida’s first conversion charter school. Wesley shares the story behind Spring Creek’s deep community roots and the...
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Ep. 24: A Castle, A Community, and a First-Year Charter Principal
In this episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, FCI's Jessica Chapman and special co-host Ramsey speak with Dr. April Smith, first-year principal of Treasure Village Montessori in Islamorada, Florida. Dr. Smith reflects on stepping into leadership at a K–8 Montessori charter school housed in a...
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Ep. 23: Inside FCI Educate- Supporting Success
In this episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, Jessica Chapman takes a behind-the-scenes look at the work happening through FCI Educate with guest Kathryn Perkins, leader of FCI’s Educate division. Together, they explore how meaningful professional learning can move beyond inspiration and into...
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Ep. 22: More Than A School: Purpose & Possibility
In this episode of Great Leaders. Great Schools., Jessica Chapman sits down with Carlos Alvarez, principal of SLAM Miami and President of the CIVICA Educational Foundation, for a powerful conversation on what it means to build more than a school. Carlos shares his journey from paraprofessional to...
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Ep 21: Inside the Collegiate Charter School Model
In this episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, host Jessica Chapman of the Florida Charter Institute sits down with two mission-driven education leaders who are transforming what high school can look like. Dr. Karen Peck, Head of School at the State College of Florida Collegiate School in…
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Ep 20: Excellence Through Connection
Join Jessica Chapman of the Florida Charter Institute as she sits down with Patricia Pagozalski and Ahmet Akyurek from the Tallahassee School of Math and Science - TSMS, -- a shining example of excellence in Florida’s charter schools. They explore how strong connections—between students…
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Ep 19: From Teacher to Turnaround Leader
What does it take to move from the classroom to leading a school through meaningful change? In this episode of Great Leaders = Great Schools, host Jessica Chapman of the Florida Charter Institute sits down with Jessica Hill, Principal of Pinellas Preparatory Academy, to explore her inspiring...
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Ep 18: Goodness in Action: Newberry's Conversion Story
Host Jessica Chapman of the Florida Charter Institute welcomes Lacy Roberts and Derek Danne of Newberry Community School to Great Leaders = Great Schools for a conversation about their journey through the charter conversion process. A charter school conversion happens when an existing public…
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Ep 17: One Tank Trips & Transformational Leadership with Joseph Gatti and Nevin Seifert of Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology
New host Jessica Chapman sits down with Joseph Gatti and Nevin Seifert of Gulf Coast Academy of Science and Technology, an “A”-rated Florida charter school known for its hands-on, field-based learning. They share how staying true to their mission and leading with purpose has fueled lasting impact…
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Ep 16: The Goal Without a Plan is Just a Wish w/ Dr. Tom Miller of The Seaside School
Dr. Miller is a nationally recognized expert in charter school leadership, governance, and strategic planning, whose career epitomizes the relentless pursuit of excellence and impact. As the author of The Ten Indicators of High-Performing Charter Schools and a Global Gurus Top 30 Education…
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Ep 15: It Starts with You with Johna Giordano of the Hollywood Academy of Arts & Science
Johna Giordano has been the principal of the Hollywood Academy of Arts & Science (HAAS) for the past four years yet has been with HAAS for nine years.Hollywood Academy of Arts & Science (HAAS) is committed to educational excellence every time. HAAS is relentless in pursuing excellence in visual…
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Ep14: Making the Box Bigger with Jeff Skowronek of Pepin Academies
In this episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, host Dana Vignale welcomes Jeff Skowronek, Executive Director of Pepin Academies, to discuss how this innovative charter school network empowers students with learning disabilities to thrive. Jeff shares his philosophy of "making the box...
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Ep 13: Passion, Twinkle, and a Sense of Humor with Ann Eisenberg of Palm Beach School for Autism
Ann Eisenberg is a founder and executive director of Palm Beach School for Autism. Ann is fiercely committed to providing an innovative education and behavioral support to individuals with ASD. Palm Beach School for Autism was founded in 2003 by a group of parents who were seeking a better...
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Ep 12: Student Empowerment as the Central Focus with Michelle Nunez of Galileo School for Gifted Learning
In 2011, Galileo School for Gifted Learning opened its first campus. The school's model brings gifted learning practices to all of its students to provide them with opportunities to engage fully in their education. Galileo is currently two campuses in Orlando and Sanford, serving almost 1, 400...
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Ep 11: Leading with Grit: The Dr. T Story of Educational Transformation
Live at the 2024 Impact Summit and Awards we are diving deep into the inspiring journey of Dr. Dogan Tozoglu, the visionary behind River City Science Academies. Known affectionately as Dr. T, he shares his unique path from a newcomer evaluating programs in Leon County to founding a network of...
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Ep 10: The Drive to Want to Do Better & Learn More w/ Suzanne Legg, Dayspring Academies
In 2000, Suzanne Legg, founder and CEO opened the Dayspring Academy, the first charter school in Pasco County and remains the highest-performing school in the Tampa Bay area. Dayspring's growth story is nothing short of impressive, now accommodating over 1,200 students from pre-kindergarten to…
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Ep 9: Cultivating Community Connections through Project-based Learning with Shannon Treece of Babcock Ranch Schools
In 2017, Shannon Treece, founder and executive director, opened Babcock Ranch Schools in Babcock Ranch, the first solar-powered town in America. Learn how Shannon cultivates community connections through authentic project-based learning while engaging her students in truly innovative approaches....
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Ep 8: Lead with Love with Cameron Frazier of Becoming Collegiate Academy
In 2022, Cameron Frazier, founder and principal, opened Becoming Collegiate Academy in Jacksonville, Florida -- the first charter school in the state that mirrors the experience of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) by providing a supportive, nurturing, and self-empowering...
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Ep 7: Be Willing to Open Yourself Up with Mrs. Vera Hirsh of Academy for Innovative Education
Academy for Innovative Education is the first District-managed charter school in the country. With less than two months to open on three campuses, Mrs. Vera Hirsh, the founding principal and now Head of School made the impossible possible through her wise leadership that supports growth in all of...
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Ep 6: Small Changes Create Cascading Effects with Doug Lemov, author Teach Like a Champion
" We often assume that the size of the solution has to match the size of the problem, and that's not true. Sometimes very small changes can have cascading effects in a complex environment. And suddenly so many things that look like they are larger and more intransigent and more nebulous suddenly...
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Ep 5: Don't Lower Your Expectations with Dr. Daniel Sandberg of Franklin Academy Charter Schools
"Don't lower your expectations depending on where you're serving or who you're serving. Your results can yield just as high expectations as if you were serving students in a Title I school or serving students in West Pembroke Pines." -- Dr. Daniel Sandberg Dr. Daniel Sandberg is the…
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Ep 4: Trust Your Gut with Ms. Sherry Watts of Minneola Charter School
" If it is about students first, then I know that we're on the right track. And so for me, I think it's trust your gut." -- Ms. Sherry Watts Ms. Sherry Watts is the very proud principal at Minneola Charter School, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. Founded in 2004 as a…
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Ep 3: Win Every Minute We Possibly Can with Carlos Gonzalez of HIVE Prep
Carlos Gonzalez is the founding principal and now Director of Schools of HIVE Preparatory, where the mission is to create a Highly Inquisitive Versatile Education that will facilitate a student-centered, adaptable learning environment. Opened in 2009 with 132 students in grades K-5, HIVE has now...
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Ep 2: Be Champion and a Cheerleader with Dr. Tamara Moodie of South Florida Autism Charter School
"They're my babies and I am their champion, and I'm their biggest cheerleader. And I just wanna find other cheerleaders for them." -- Dr. Tamara Moodie Dr. Tamara Moodie is the founding principal and executive director who saw a need to provide the highest-quality education and social services to...
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Ep 1: Creating Climate, Culture, and Community with Jeannette Acevedo-Isenberg of Downtown Doral Charter Schools
Downtown Doral Charter Elementary Schools and Upper School are two of the most sought after schools in South Florida and two of the highest performing in the entire state. Serving almost 2700 students in PK3- Grade 12. DDCS offers fully bi-lingual programs in Spanish, French or Portuguese....
About this show
Dana Vignale of the Charter Support Unit is thrilled to bring to you Great Leaders = Great Schools, the ultimate formula for success . Based on Jim Collins’ theory that Level 5 Leaders build and transform enterprises that outperform all others, her goal is to bring to you their insight and inspiration.
Hosted by
Dana Vignale
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