Charter School Connection

Charter Connect

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EDUCATION
UPDATED WEEKLY

Growing charter schools TOGETHER.

JAN 20

#79 Mālama Honua Public Charter School | Denise Espania

In this episode of “The Charter School Connection” Shawn interviews Denise Espania, Director at Mālama Honua Public Charter School. This is a K-8 Charter School in Waimānalo, HI. This conversation went on a different path than Shawn originally thought. They discuss western education and creating an education that focuses on taking care of the Earth. From the very beginning of her teaching career, Denise began to learn the importance of building relationships with students and their families. This leads into the next phase of wanting to do the best for them. That led Denise to go back to school and learn more about education and how to make school enjoyable and relevant to the kids. The more she learned, the more she realised that our western education practices are replicating colonisation practices and how hurtful that can be. She went back to school again to find the answer. She met Nainoa Thompson and Robert Witt, both pioneers in the Native Hawaiian Education movement that wanted to build a school. She worked with them to relook at schooling and the importance of Native Hawaiian Education. How do we look at schools that value culture and language instead of traditional western education? Mālama Honua Public Charter School opened in 2014 using the values of the Mind of the Navigator and the World Wide Voyage. They looked at how to take these values to build an education system and community that focuses on language and culture to bring everyone together. Looking at the limited resources available to take care of the Earth. The school is about knowing where you come from and where you are headed. There is so much to learn from this episode, be sure to check it out! Time Stamps: 2:20 Who is Denise and how did she get involved in charter schools? 13:40 How have you noticed colonisation in schools and how to counteract it? 21:10 Geographic location and physical location of the school? 24:57 Final Thoughts Show Notes: Mālama Honua Public Charter School https://www.malamahonuapcs.org/

28 min
JAN 13

#78 EdOpt | Dr. Jody Underwood

In this episode of “The Charter School Connection” Dallan interviews Dr. Jody Underwood, the founding president of a non-profit in New Hampshire called “EdOpt.” EdOpt began informally in April 2024. EdOpt stands for Education Options. They help families understand various educational alternatives, including homeschooling, learning centers, charter and private schools, and innovative in-school approaches. Dr Underwood has a PhD in learning sciences/education. In the 80s she got her undergraduate degree in Computer Science and a masters focused on tutoring and AI. 18 years ago she moved to New Hampshire and got involved on a school board. During her time on the board she learned that importance to support families in understanding their diverse educational choices. In this episode, you will learn how EdOpt came to be; some challenges and successes that Dr. Underwood has faced with EdOpt. She also recommends some books and podcasts that everyone can learn from. Show Notes: EdOpt https://edopt.org/ LiberatED Podcast with Kerry McDonald https://www.liberatedpodcast.com/ “How Children Fail ”by John Holt https://a.co/d/5DIvbzw “How Children Learn” by John Holt https://a.co/d/cr5Bjzl

22 min
JAN 6

#77 Radical Dreamers: Race, Choice and the Failure of the American Education System|Joseph Viteritti

Podcast Description: In this episode of “The Charter School Connection” Jenna interviews Joseph P. Viteritti, author of Radical Dreamers: Race, Choice and the Failure of the American Education System. He is currently a professor of public policy at Hunter College in New York. He has been an advocate of School Choice for over 30 years. He first began his interest in the education sector in the 1970s but by the 1990s he focused mostly on school choice. Joseph has written 12 books, this being the most recent. He has been working on Radical Dreamers for over the last few years but it was released in September 2025. He wanted to use the book to tell the history of American Education starting with Brown but ended up looking at it through the contributions of Howard Fuller, James Coleman and Derek Bell. Joseph discusses his book and how it connects with charter schools, school choice and public policy. He shares how he believes equal funding is a key to success for charter schools. Check out the podcast to learn more about Joseph Viterritti and his book Radical Dreamers: Race, Choice and the Failure of the American Education System. Show Notes: “Radical Dreamers: Race, Choice and the Failure of the American Education System” https://a.co/d/1zCkDtW https://www.educationnext.org/are-charter-schools-an-endangered-species-excerpt-radical-dreamers/ https://www.the74million.org/article/derrick-bell-critical-race-theory-and-the-beginnings-of-school-choice/ https://www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/mamdanis-charter-school-dilemma

35 min
12/17/2025

#76 Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School | Dr. Kristina Kyles-Smith

In this episode of “The Charter School Connection” Shawn speaks with Dr. Kristina Kyles-Smith, CEO at Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School (LMCJ) in Baltimore, MD. Shawn and Dr. Kyles-Smth have gotten to know each other over the last few years over many networking calls. This time Shawn gets to dive a little deeper into Dr. Kyles-Smith’s history and what makes LMCJ so unique. Dr. Kyles-Smith never dreamt of being a teacher as a child but still has become a lifelong educator. She has done so many things in the education field in Boston and Maryland. Check out the episode to see all the incredible things she has done. LMCJ opened in 2015 and Dr. Kyles-Smith has been CEO there for the last 3 years. LMCJ is an all girls 5th - 8th grade middle school in Baltimore. It is the only public school in the United States that was founded/incubated/funded by a private school. Their forever home location is full of history, and they use this to their advantage. Community, connection and purpose are key to the success of LMCJ. To be a successful leader, you need to be knowledgeable and be able to unblock anything that could be hindering the learning for the students. The biggest challenge that LMCJ has faced was a decline in enrollment post covid. They have dove head first into fixing this issue. A school can only be successful if the classroom works. Knowing and understanding your model is key. Fall into your mission not out of it. If you lose track of the mission/model of the school, talk to students and families to find your way home. There is a lot of valuable information in this episode so we hope you enjoy! Time Stamps: 1:35 Background on Dr. Kyles-Smith 4:20 How did your experience help you and the history of LMCJ? 10:30 Challenges and how did you overcome them? 18:48 How have you built your school model? 25:10 Final Thought Show Notes: Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School https://lilliemay.org/

28 min
12/09/2025

#75 Bridge Charter Academy | Matthew Shumski

In this episode of “The Charter School Connection” Dallan sits down with Matthew Shumski, High School Director at Bridge Charter Academy. They explore his journey into the world of charter schools and the unique path that led him to Oregon. He shares what initially drew him to Bridge Charter Academy and what makes the school stand apart in the charter landscape. Matthew offers valuable insights for administrators, including practical tips and tricks that can make a meaningful difference in school operations. He also dives into strategies high schools can use to keep 8th graders engaged and enrolled as they transition into the next phase of their education. We wrap up with final reflections and a few book recommendations that have inspired Matthew both personally and professionally. Time Stamps: 00:30 How did Matthew get involved in charter schools? 2:00 How did Matthew end up in Oregon? 3:05 What made Bridge Charter Academy stand out? 4:00 What makes Bridge Charter Academy unique? 6:50 Tips and Tricks for other administrators. 9:45 Tips for high schools to keep 8th graders enrolled. 13:00 Final thoughts 15:15 Book Recommendations Show Notes: Bridge Charter Academy https://www.bridgecharter.com/ “Radical Candor” by Kim Scott https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Kick-Ass-Without-Humanity/dp/1250103509 “Reality Based Leadership” by Cy Wakeman https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Based-Leadership-Restore-Workplace-Excuses/dp/0470613505

17 min
12/02/2025

#74 East Mountain High School | Miller Millea

This week is different from anything we have done. In this episode of “The Charter School Connection” podcast, Shawn sits down and talks with a student, Miller Millea, at East Mountain High School in New Mexico. Miller has been around charter schools his whole life because his mom is a teacher at East Mountain but did not attend a charter school until high school. Miller is a senior and part of many different activities at East Mountain. Miller and Shawn talk about what challenges East Mountain faces being in a rural area. They also discuss some of the positives with the area as well. The bulk of the episode is discussing student advocacy. East Mountain opened in 2000 and one of the classes was called “advisory” - a class dedicated to student advocacy. This class is used for students to share their voices and opinions to help improve the school. Miller and the student advocacy board have spent a lot of time going to board meetings and meeting with legislators to help support charter schools and charter school growth. Miller also shares his future dreams where he intends to continue to focus on charter school success. By getting a degree in public policy education or political science - so he can continue to help charter schools get the community support they deserve. This is an episode you do not want to miss! Show Notes: East Mountain High School https://eastmountain.org/

24 min
11/18/2025

#73 York Preparatory Academy | Brian Myrup

In this episode, Jenna interviews Brian Myrup, Managing Director, at York Preparatory Academy in Rockhill, SC. With over 20 years of experience, Brian shares his journey and what makes York Preparatory Academy unique. He also shares some tips and tricks on things charter school administrators could benefit from. Over 20 years ago in Colorado, Brian started as a 4th/5th grade teacher. While going to school for his masters degree and writing a paper on school choice, he fell into the world of charter schools. Starting at Raegan Academy in Springville, UT for 10 years before transitioning to a director position at York Preparatory Academy 10 years ago. York Preparatory Academy is a K-12 charter school. One thing that makes them unique is the fact that students stay there for all 13 years of school. This creates strong relationships with students and their families. The teachers at York Preparatory Academy uniquely target individual student needs. One focus of York Preparatory is to make sure the students graduate with the knowledge and experience they need to succeed. Not only is student success important, but so is teacher success. There is a teacher wellness program in place that helps to remove some stressors off the teachers. Focusing on physical, emotional, mental and financial wellness. Thriving in place is a goal for the staff at York Preparatory Academy. From understanding local charter school laws to building strong relationships. There are so many pieces of good advice in this episode, it is one you do not want to miss! Time Stamps: 00:23 How did you get started in the charter school world? 1:23 How did you end up in South Carolina? 2:28 What makes York Preparatory Academy Unique? 3:45 Challenges and how you overcame them? 5:07 How do you hire the right teachers? 6:36 How do you make sure your vision is followed? 9:27 Have you seen increased teacher retention from your wellness program? 9:50 Any advice for people looking to start a teacher wellness program? 10:48 What big changes have you seen while you have been there? 12:30 How do you encourage the parent relationship? 13:50 Tips for Charter School Administrators? 15:30 What changes in laws have you seen? 16:39 If you could change anything in the last 20 years of your journey, what would you change? 17:59 What changes do you hope to see in the next 10 years at York Preparatory? 19:30 How do you implement life skills with students? 21:06 Any book recommendations? 22:20 Final thoughts/advice? Show Notes: York Preparatory Academy https://www.yorkprepsc.org/ “Teach Like A Champion” by Doug Lemov https://www.amazon.com/Teach-Like-Champion-Techniques-Students/dp/0470550473 “Good to Great” by Jim Collins https://a.co/d/iNjvRlF “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall

24 min
11/12/2025

#72 BChex | Ken Monroe

In this episode, Dallan sits down with Ken Monroe, CEO of BChex and host of The Bad Hire Podcast. This conversation has been months in the making — after first connecting at the NC Association of Public Charter Schools Conference in July, Dallan traveled to Huntersville, NC to record both podcasts in person! Ken shares valuable insight into how BChex helps charter schools ensure a safe and secure environment through effective background screening. As he explains, people are the key to every organization’s success — and making the right hiring decisions starts with knowing who you’re bringing on board. Learn how BChex’s innovative platform, Screening Hero, empowers schools to confidently and correctly screen staff and volunteers, and why Ken believes every school should have an expert in screening. BChex’s mission is simple but powerful: to create safer schools through prevention and education. Don’t miss this episode filled with practical advice, industry expertise, and actionable steps to strengthen your school community. Show Notes: BChex https://www.bib.com/

23 min

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Growing charter schools TOGETHER.

Creator

Charter Connect
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

79
Rating

Clean
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