Bold By Choice Podcast

National Charter Schools Institute
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

The Bold By Choice Podcast tells the untold stories of the charter school movement—its origins, innovations, and ongoing evolution. Hosted by Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner of the National Charter Schools Institute, each episode brings together bold thinkers, doers, and trailblazers who are shaping the future of public education. Whether you’re an authorizer, board member, school leader, teacher, or education advocate, Bold by Choice offers deep conversations, practical insights, and real-life stories from the frontlines of chartering. From navigating policy and governance to centering students and communities, this podcast is your go-to space for truth-telling, inspiration, and unapologetically bold ideas. Because chartering isn’t just a process—it’s a promise.

  1. 3d ago

    E63: A Movement, Not a Sector

    Chartering was never meant to become another system protecting its place. It was built as a movement—one driven by courage, possibility, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to students. Recorded live at the Public Charter School Alliances Podcast Festival, this episode of Bold by Choice brings hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner together with Patricia Brantley, CEO of Friendship Public Charter School and founding chair of the D.C. Charter School Alliance, for a candid conversation about what it takes to preserve—and keep advancing—the charter movement. Patricia reflects on more than three decades with Friendship, beginning with the organization’s earliest days and the moment she realized this work had become more than a job—it was a calling. She shares the experience of watching families leave an early school lottery without a seat for their children and how that moment strengthened Friendship’s determination to create more high-quality opportunities. Today, Friendship serves thousands of students across Washington, D.C., with alumni returning as parents, teachers, and leaders. The conversation also gets candid about the fights that come with the work. Patricia recounts battles over facilities, funding, compliance, expansion, and decisions that did not always put students first. Her message is clear: great results alone will not protect a school or a movement. Leaders have to tell their story, build community, advocate together, and be willing to challenge rules and assumptions that no longer serve students. That leads to a larger question for the charter community: Have we become too comfortable? Jim and Patricia explore the danger of charter schools becoming the very status quo they were created to challenge. Courage means more than opening a school. Sometimes it means admitting when a model is not working, restructuring, changing course, demanding equitable treatment, or refusing to accept “that’s just how the system works.” At its heart, this episode is an invitation to recover the original spirit of chartering. Kids do not need another sector defending itself. They need educators, leaders, boards, authorizers, advocates, and families willing to keep building what comes next. Show Notes In This Episode When education work becomes a calling Friendship Public Charter School’s 30+ year journey Why families and students must remain the North Star The courage required to open—and sustain—a charter school Why strong academic outcomes are not enough to protect the movement Fair funding, facilities, and regulatory burdens Building advocacy before a crisis arrives Why charter leaders need community and a “posse” Competition, choice, and staying responsive to families The danger of charters becoming the new status quo Challenging rules instead of simply accepting them Knowing when to restructure, merge, change, or let go Why storytelling matters Building schools where students and adults feel they get to be there Courage as acting even when you are afraid Movement Question At your next board or leadership meeting, ask: Are we protecting an institution—or advancing a promise for students? Then go one step further: Where are we behaving like caretakers of what already exists, and where are we acting like builders of what students need next? Key Takeaway Courage is not protecting charter schools simply because they are charter schools. It is staying committed to the purpose that created the movement in the first place: delivering better possibilities for kids. A sector protects its place. A movement protects its purpose. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

  2. Sep 2

    E62: What Are We Preparing Students to Build?

    Labor Day is more than a long weekend. It is a reminder that work is deeply connected to dignity, contribution, opportunity, family stability, and civic life. In this special Labor Day episode of Bold by Choice, Vashaunta Harris, Dr. Jim Goenner, Don Cooper, and Heather Wendling use the holiday as a doorway into a bigger question for education leaders: Are we preparing students merely to graduate, or are we preparing them to contribute, work, lead, create, adapt, and thrive in the world they are actually entering? Don Cooper opens the conversation by connecting Labor Day, public education, and the broader American story. He reflects on the Progressive Era, industrialization, the labor movement, and the democratic purpose of public education—preparing people not only for work, but also for citizenship, community participation, and a fuller share in the American dream. From there, Jim connects the conversation to chartering as a movement. Chartering was never meant simply to preserve institutions. It was designed to create the possibility for new and responsive approaches to education. As the nature of work changes, schools must remain focused on the North Star: preparing students for college, work, and life, while giving them the knowledge, skills, and agency to choose their own path. Heather brings the discussion into the Future Ready work, explaining why readiness is about much more than career pathways, credentials, or CTE programs. Future Ready learning includes meaningful exposure to careers and industries, real-world application, strong partnerships, student agency, and durable skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and time management. The challenge is not simply to create another program—it is to design the student experience around the world young people will actually enter. The episode closes with practical moves leaders can make right now: examine student schedules, ask students what feels relevant to their futures, strengthen community and employer partnerships, look for evidence of durable skills, confront emerging questions about AI, and pay attention to whether students and educators feel like they get to come to school—or simply have to. Show Notes In This Episode The deeper meaning of Labor Day for education leaders Work, dignity, democracy, and public education Why schools prepare citizens as well as future workers Chartering as a movement for responsiveness and innovation Preparing students for college, work, and life What “Future Ready” actually means Durable skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking Career-connected and real-world learning The role of employers and community partners Student agency and meaningful career exposure Preparing students to use AI responsibly What boards should monitor beyond traditional academic measures Why culture can either accelerate or undermine strategy Leadership Question Bring this question to your next board, leadership team, staff, or student conversation: What are we doing this year to prepare students not only to graduate, but to contribute, work, lead, create, and thrive in the world they are actually entering? Then ask: What evidence would convince us that students are becoming future ready—not only course-ready, test-ready, or compliance-ready? Key Takeaway The future will not wait for schools to catch up. If work, technology, and communities are changing, education leaders have a responsibility to keep learning, adapting, and designing experiences that help every student discover their gifts and build a meaningful future. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

    E62: What Are We Preparing Students to Build?

  3. Aug 26

    S5 E10 The Future of Board Governance

    What happens when education changes faster than governance practices do? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Kathy L. Smith, CEO and Founder of EdVision LLC Education Consulting and a board member of the National Charter Schools Institute, for a forward-looking conversation about what governance must become to remain responsive, student-centered, and worthy of public trust. Kathy begins with the story of her first days as a high school English teacher, when she was assigned students who had too often been underestimated and given fewer opportunities to succeed. That experience shaped a belief she has carried across the classroom, philanthropy, policy, consulting, and the boardroom: adults have a responsibility to make sure the mission is more than words on paper. From there, the conversation explores what strong board service really requires. Kathy reflects on the importance of intentionally building boards with diverse experiences and skill sets, supporting school leaders while also holding them accountable, and making difficult decisions through the lens of mission rather than convenience. She shares examples of boards choosing long-term community impact over easier solutions and explains why bold governance requires both courage and care. The discussion then turns to the future. As schools navigate artificial intelligence, enrollment shifts, workforce expectations, student mental health, growing competition, and changing community needs, Kathy challenges boards to spend more time looking ahead. Rather than waiting for emerging issues to become crises, she encourages governing teams to study trends, anticipate change, and create space in board meetings for strategic conversations about the world students are preparing to enter. At its heart, this episode is a call for boards to move beyond monitoring what has already happened and become active stewards of what comes next. Show Notes Hosts Vashaunta Harris Dr. Jim Goenner, President & CEO, National Charter Schools Institute Guest Kathy L. Smith, CEO & Founder, EdVision LLC Education Consulting In This Episode How Kathy’s classroom experience shaped her view of adult responsibility The difference between an individual board member and the collective board Why board composition and diverse perspectives matter Balancing leadership support with accountability Making courageous, mission-centered decisions Why boards need to spend more time looking toward the future Navigating innovation, competition, and organizational risk Watching trends in enrollment, achievement, workforce needs, and community expectations Why educator experience matters in board composition Keeping governance connected to the communities schools serve Artificial intelligence as an emerging governance responsibility Preparing students for a rapidly changing future Boardroom Moment Before your next board meeting, identify one future reality your board may not be fully prepared to govern through yet. It might be: Artificial intelligence Student mental health Workforce readiness Enrollment shifts Public trust Facilities Leadership succession Then ask: What decision, discipline, or conversation needs to happen now so our school is not simply protecting what exists, but preparing students for the world ahead? Key Takeaway Great boards do not simply react to change. They anticipate it. The future of governance will require discipline and stewardship, but also adaptability, curiosity, humility, and the courage to reconsider assumptions that may no longer serve students well. The promise doesn’t prove itself. Someone has to decide. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

    S5 E10 The Future of Board Governance

  4. Aug 19

    S5 E9 Renewal Is Always Happening

    Renewal is not an event. It is a pattern. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined again by Heather Wendling, Vice President of Professional Services at the National Charter Schools Institute, for a conversation about what it means to govern with renewal readiness in mind long before renewal ever arrives. Heather shares the story of a school that entered its renewal cycle feeling confident. Meetings were consistent, audits were clean, enrollment was strong, and no major crisis was looming. But as the board began preparing for renewal, it realized it had plenty of information without enough shared clarity. Dashboards were full, committees were active, and reports were being received—but much of the work was disconnected from the school’s strategic priorities and the authorizer’s accountability framework. That realization became a turning point. Instead of treating renewal as a compliance exercise, the board began using it as a governance mirror. It sharpened its focus on mission, priorities, performance, and people; aligned meetings and dashboards to measurable goals; strengthened onboarding; and created clearer systems for understanding academic and financial data. The conversation also explores the difference between receiving information and actually building governance understanding. Heather, Jim, and Vashaunta discuss why every board member—not just the treasurer, academic expert, or longest-serving trustee—needs enough knowledge to engage meaningfully with the data and decisions in front of them. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that strong renewal outcomes are not built in the renewal year. They are built through the habits, systems, questions, and decisions a board practices throughout the entire charter term. Show Notes In This Episode Why renewal begins long before the renewal year Using renewal as a governance mirror The difference between information and understanding Aligning dashboards with mission and strategic priorities Monitoring academic and financial performance over time Building board-wide knowledge and accountability Strengthening onboarding and committee structures Conducting annual board self-evaluations Understanding authorizer expectations before renewal Building governance systems that outlast individual personalities Boardroom Moment At your next board meeting, ask: If renewal happened tomorrow, what evidence would clearly demonstrate our effectiveness as a governing board? Not just compliance. Not just activity. But evidence of strategic clarity, disciplined oversight, organizational alignment, and long-term stewardship. Key Takeaway Renewal readiness is ultimately about stewardship. The strongest boards do not wait for renewal to prove the promise—they build the evidence every year through consistent, disciplined governance. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

    S5 E9 Renewal Is Always Happening

  5. Aug 12

    S5 E8 Beyond the Board Table

    Governance does not end when the meeting adjourns. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Alyson Murphy, Director of Partner Services at the National Charter Schools Institute, for a conversation about the part of governance that happens beyond policies, dashboards, budgets, and board meetings: building trust, relationships, credibility, and public belief. Alyson shares the story of a board that appeared to be doing everything right internally. Meetings were organized, financials were clean, policies were current, and academic reports were reviewed. But outside the school walls, public trust was eroding. Families were unclear about the school’s mission, local leaders rarely heard from the board, misinformation was spreading, and the school leader was carrying nearly all external relationships alone. A facility issue and potential school expansion eventually exposed the cost of that inward focus. The board realized it had governed the organization but neglected the ecosystem surrounding it. That realization changed how members understood stewardship. They began attending community meetings, building relationships with local leaders, engaging families more intentionally, learning to tell the school’s story, and becoming active advocates for students and the mission. Vashaunta, Jim, and Alyson also unpack what authentic advocacy looks like for board members. It is not simply lobbying or public relations. It is showing up, listening, building bridges, elevating student and family voices, and developing relationships before they are urgently needed. They also explore how simple governance habits—such as opening meetings with a mission moment—can help boards keep people, purpose, and impact at the center. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that strong boards do more than oversee schools. They help create the conditions in which schools can flourish. Show Notes In This Episode Why governance extends beyond the boardroom The difference between governing an organization and stewarding a mission Building public trust before it is needed The board’s role in advocacy Creating authentic community relationships Telling the school’s story with clarity and credibility Recruiting board members who can serve as community bridge-builders Elevating student, family, and educator voices Why visibility and presence matter Using mission moments to strengthen board culture Boardroom Moment At your next board meeting, ask: How are we actively building trust, visibility, and relationships beyond our board meetings? Where are we showing up? Who hears our story? Who experiences us only from a distance? And what relationships might we need to strengthen in order to better serve students and families? Key Takeaway Strong governance is not only measured by what happens inside meetings. It is also reflected in how boards build trust, strengthen relationships, listen to communities, and advocate publicly for students and families. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

    S5 E8 Beyond the Board Table

  6. Aug 5

    S5 E7 Built to Last

    Strong organizations are not sustained by passion alone. They endure because governing boards make intentional decisions about strategy, leadership, finances, facilities, and mission alignment. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner welcome back Mary Bradley, Chief Operating Officer of the National Charter Schools Institute, for a conversation about strategic planning as a discipline of long-term stewardship. Mary explains why strategic planning should never become a polished document that sits on a shelf. The real value comes from turning strategic thinking into a clear plan, moving that plan into action, and adjusting thoughtfully as conditions change. Drawing from her work with boards and school organizations across the country, Mary shares how strong planning begins with honest reflection: celebrating what is working, naming where the organization has drifted, revisiting the mission, and defining the future state the school is trying to create. She also emphasizes the importance of including board members, school leaders, staff, students, and community voices so that the plan becomes a shared commitment rather than a board-only exercise. The conversation explores how boards can align strategic direction with the promises made in their charter contract, clarify roles and responsibilities, structure committees around priorities, and monitor progress without drifting into day-to-day implementation. Vashaunta, Jim, and Mary also examine the importance of preparing for future student needs rather than simply preserving practices that worked in the past. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that the most important product of strategic planning may not be the plan itself. It is the shared clarity that helps boards and leaders navigate difficult decisions, align resources, and build an organization capable of lasting impact. Show Notes In This Episode Strategic thinking versus strategic action Why strategic plans should be living documents Reflecting honestly on the organization’s current state Revisiting mission, charter promises, and long-term direction Defining a shared future state Including student, staff, family, and community voices Aligning budgets, facilities, leadership, and priorities Clarifying board and school-leader responsibilities Structuring committees around strategic goals Turning planning into disciplined execution Building long-term organizational sustainability Boardroom Moment At your next board meeting, ask: Are we making decisions that simply solve immediate pressures, or decisions that strengthen long-term sustainability and mission alignment? Strategic planning is not ultimately about creating a document. It is about building enough shared clarity to guide difficult decisions over time. Key Takeaway The strongest organizations are rarely sustained by passion alone. They last because boards choose disciplined stewardship, align around a shared direction, and turn bold ideas into thoughtful action. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

    S5 E7 Built to Last

  7. Jul 29

    S5 E6 Governing Through Crisis

    Crisis does not create governance culture. It reveals it. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Mark Weinberg of the National Charter Schools Institute for a practical conversation about how boards respond when pressure rises. Enrollment declines, leadership transitions, financial strain, political tension, and public scrutiny can quickly expose whether a board has the discipline, trust, and systems needed to govern well. Mark explains why written policies, clear roles, succession planning, and strong communication routines matter most before a crisis ever begins. The conversation includes the story of a board that transitioned away from a management organization while confronting declining academic performance. The board was able to navigate the change because it had a strong school leader and took time to clarify responsibilities, revise policies, and build internal capacity. But when that leader later departed, the organization’s lack of succession planning exposed a deeper vulnerability. Vashaunta, Jim, and Mark also examine the board’s role in risk management, including risks involving people, property, programs, leadership, finances, and mission. They discuss how strong boards remain calm and strategic without drifting into operations—and why school leaders need clarity and support rather than several competing opinions during difficult seasons. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that governing through crisis is not about reacting perfectly. It is about remaining anchored in mission, values, policy, transparency, and student-centered decision-making when the path forward is uncertain. Show Notes In This Episode Why crises reveal the true health of governance culture Written policy as a guide during uncertainty Leadership transitions and succession planning Managing organizational change without losing strategic focus The board’s role in risk management Protecting people, property, and programs Supporting school leaders without taking over operations The connection between mission, budget, and priorities Habits that help boards remain steady under pressure Keeping decisions centered on students Boardroom Moment At your next board meeting, identify one governance risk your board may be underestimating: Financial Leadership Strategic Cultural Reputational Then ask: Do we have the relationships, clarity, and systems necessary to navigate pressure well? Because crisis does not create governance culture. It reveals it. Key Takeaway Strong governance during crisis is not about perfection. It is about steadiness. The best boards remain grounded in mission, relationships, transparency, and disciplined decision-making—even when the pressure is high. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

    S5 E6 Governing Through Crisis

  8. Jul 22

    S5 E5 Trust in the Tension

    Healthy governance is not defined by the absence of tension. It is defined by a board’s ability to move through tension with clarity, trust, and shared commitment to the mission. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Heather Wendling, Vice President of Professional Services at the National Charter Schools Institute, for a candid conversation about governance maturity and the patterns that can quietly weaken a board over time. Heather shares the story of a charter school board that began with a close-knit group of passionate founders. Their trust, loyalty, and willingness to do whatever it took helped launch the school successfully. But as the school grew, the board’s governance practices did not mature with it. Power became concentrated, new voices struggled to emerge, accountability felt personal, and important conversations were increasingly avoided. The conversation explores how even strong relationships can become unhealthy when boards rely on personalities instead of structures. Heather, Jim, and Vashaunta discuss founder dependence, succession planning, board onboarding, communication routines, power-sharing, and the danger of treating constant contact with a school leader as a substitute for clear governance systems. Listeners will also hear practical guidance for creating healthier board cultures, including strengthening bylaws and committees, defining communication expectations, mentoring new members, opening meetings to student and family voices, and making board meetings more strategic and forward-looking. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that trust and loyalty are valuable—but they are not enough. Sustainable governance requires the courage to ask difficult questions, share responsibility, welcome new perspectives, and build systems that can carry the mission forward beyond any one founder, board chair, or school leader. Show Notes In This Episode How healthy boards can slowly develop unhealthy patterns Founder dependence and concentrated decision-making Why new board members sometimes struggle to contribute The difference between loyalty and stewardship Leadership transitions and succession planning Building sustainable governance beyond founding personalities Healthy communication routines between boards and school leaders Board onboarding, mentoring, and power-sharing Creating space for student, family, and educator voices Moving from relationship-based governance to institutional strength Boardroom Moment At your next meeting, ask: What structures, routines, or habits are we intentionally building to strengthen trust, clarity, and healthy governance over time? Healthy board cultures do not emerge by accident. They are built by choice. Key Takeaway The strongest boards are not the ones that avoid tension. They are the ones that have the trust, discipline, and maturity to move through it together while staying focused on students, mission, and long-term sustainability. Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute.

    S5 E5 Trust in the Tension
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About

The Bold By Choice Podcast tells the untold stories of the charter school movement—its origins, innovations, and ongoing evolution. Hosted by Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner of the National Charter Schools Institute, each episode brings together bold thinkers, doers, and trailblazers who are shaping the future of public education. Whether you’re an authorizer, board member, school leader, teacher, or education advocate, Bold by Choice offers deep conversations, practical insights, and real-life stories from the frontlines of chartering. From navigating policy and governance to centering students and communities, this podcast is your go-to space for truth-telling, inspiration, and unapologetically bold ideas. Because chartering isn’t just a process—it’s a promise.

Information

  • Creator
    National Charter Schools Institute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Bold By Choice Podcast

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