Join in the back to school celebration!

It's back to school time, and we're taking this opportunity to tell the stories of leaders from 15 schools across the country who have transitioned from a career in a traditional public school to a charter school. Click the links below to read the stories and share them on your social networks with #ChartersBack2School.

Monday, September 14: Robert Stannard, Jr, Wings Aerospace Academy

As the third largest employer in the U.S. for the aerospace industry, Colorado is taking an exciting new step to help grow the next generation of future engineers, astronauts, pilots, rocket scientists, mechanics and more. This fall, the Wings Aerospace Academy (WAA), a new aerospace-focused public charter school, will open in Denver, Colorado to grades six, seven, and eight. It will add one new grade each year until the school us fully enrolled through 12^thgrade. Read more here.

Friday, September 11: Becky Magnuson, Tesfa International Academy

This fall, Tesfa International Academy will open its doors to students entering kindergarten through sixth grade. Tesfa means hope in Amharic, a language spoken in Ethiopia and it is the hope and goal of those leading the opening of this new school to institute transformational change in education. The school aims to become an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) in order to prepare students to become internationally-minded learners who recognize their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet. Read more here.

Thursday, September 10: Cyndi Burnstein, New School High

This fall, in the town she has called home for the last 37 years, Cyndi will open a teacher-led public charter high school that will offer students a safe and healthy education experience built upon research about the most effective ways to educate teenagers. New School High will offer students a later start time that is aligned to young adults’ sleep cycles, a flexible daily schedule, a commitment to project-based learning, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), standards-based assessment, restorative practice, and a strong focus on health and wellness. Read more here.

Wednesday, September 9: Katy Ridnouer, M.Ed., VERITAS Community School

As a 22-year educator who has worked with a wide variety of students aged 5 to 75, Katy Ridnouer, M.Ed. knows the importance of a well-rounded curriculum and peaceful learning environment for helping students excel academically. This fall, she’s bringing that vision to life with the opening of her new school, VERITAS Community School, CFA in Charlotte, NC. Starting with 130 K-3 students this school year, with 4^th and 5^thgrades being added in the next two, the school will focus on developing a full child who is not only academically successful but one who can excel athletically. Read more here.

Tuesday, September 8: Dr. Emanuel Vincent, Furlow Charter School

Today, preparing students with the skills necessary to be competitive in a diverse global economy is starting as early as kindergarten. The Furlow Charter School in Americus, Georgia, led by Principal Dr. Emanuel Vincent, is among the new charter schools opening this year that will offer multi-disciplinary curriculum in all grades from kindergarten through 12^th grade. This includes Spanish language education, as well as service learning and the study of fine arts. Read more here.

Friday, September 4: Jeff Duncan-Andrade, Roses in Concrete

When East Oakland High School suddenly closed its doors in 2007, Jeff Duncan-Andrade, along with a few of his former students, hoped for the opportunity to build new and innovative education options for public school students in Oakland. As a public school teacher in Oakland and an Ethnic Studies professor that has worked with teachers, school leaders and district officials around the world for the past 20 years, Jeff understood the value and need for a lab school that would encourage teachers to become innovators in their classrooms. This fall, the education model that they envisioned will come to life in the form of Roses in Concrete Community School – a public charter school and lab school located in East Oakland for K-8 students. Read more here.

Thursday, September 3: Rebecca Halonen and Angela Pinholster, Create Academy

Creativity and ingenuity have helped drive success within the charter movement. Across the country, students are offered unique and innovative choices in education that equip them with the fundamental skills necessary to excel academically. Among the many unique schools opening this fall is the Create Academy charter school in Phoenix, AZ., which will offer arts-integrated, project –based learning to students in kindergarten through second grade, as well as fifth and sixth grades. They will eventually grow to serve kindergarten through 12^th grade. Create Academy teaches its students about social justice through arts in order to help students understand how to have a positive impact on persistent social issues. Read more here. 

Wednesday, September 2: 
Brenda McDonald, PRIDE Prep School of Technology and Science

This August, Brenda McDonald will partner with the Spokane School District to open PRIDE Prep School of Technology and Science in Spokane, Washington. Brenda grew up in the Spokane Public School system and her dedication to public education proudly follows the footsteps of her father who is finishing his 56th year as an educator. Read more here.

Tuesday, September 1: Beth Anderson, Phoenix Charter Academy Network

Phoenix Charter Academy Network is the only alternative network of charter schools in all of Massachusetts serving high-risk young adults, many of whom have dropped out of traditional public high schools, with the goal of getting them to and through college. This fall, Phoenix will open the doors of its three high schools in Chelsea, Lawrence and Springfield to over 500 students. Beth Anderson, founder and CEO, and her team set the bar high with rigorous academics, and follows up with relentless supports to ensure that Massachusetts students who face unique challenges, such as teen pregnancy and early parenting, low or no English skills and other life changes, have the opportunity to access college. Read more here.

Monday, August 31: Adel Sefrioui, Excel Public Charter School

According to the State of Washington, by 2017 approximately 30,000 jobs in the state will go unfilled by Washington’s own students due to lack of qualified STEM candidates. Last year, only 12 African-American students in the entire state took the AP computer-science exam. Recognizing the abundant job opportunities available in Washington and the lack of minority students pursuing STEM education, Adel Sefrioui saw a need to provide students new and innovative choices in education. This year, Adel will open Excel Public Charter School in Kent, WA. Read more here.

Friday, August 28: Nathan Kalasho, KEYS GRACE Academy Charter School

Not many school leaders in the country can say that their school was created to preserve the Chaldean, Assyrian and Syriac cultures. Nathan Kalasho may be one of the few, if not the only one. The child of two long-time public school educators who immigrated to the United States in the 70s, Nathan understood from a very early age the importance of education in diverse communities. This fall, he is applying his understanding of unique public education needs in Michigan by opening the KEYS GRACE Academy Charter School in Detroit. Read more here.

Thursday, August 27: Arlena Ford, Aspire Richmond Technology Academy

This fall, nearly 300 Bay Area students have started learning at the new tech-focused Aspire Richmond Technology Academy, a public charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade. This new school, launched by founding Principal Arlena Ford as part of Aspire Public Schools, offers innovative and independent learning through cutting-edge technology. Read more here.

Wendesday, August 26: Robyn Viloria Wiens, Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls

Across the country, less than 20 percent of those who received computer science degree are women. The number of minority students with STEM degrees is even lower: eight and nine percent respectively for black and Hispanic students. Robyn Viloria Wiens, Ed.D, is all too aware of this gender and ethnic gap. That’s why this fall, she’s leading Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls – the first-ever all-girls STEM school in St. Louis. Read more here.

Tuesday, August 25: Kathryn Rice, Baton Rouge College Preparatory Charter School

This August, Kathryn Rice will launch the new Baton Rouge College Preparatory Charter School for fifth and sixth grade students. Coming out of the Building Excellent Schools program, Ms. Rice will serve as School Director, bringing many years of experience as an educator to her new role. Working as a public school educator for over a decade in the greater Baton Rouge area, Ms. Rice has experience in traditional public schools as a teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal and principal. Ms. Rice has also worked for three years in turn around schools. Read more here. 

Monday, August 24: Maggie O’Sullivan, Rainier Prep Public Charter School

Maggie O’Sullivan is a long-time public school educator who has dedicated more than 18 years to improving educational opportunities for students in the state of Washington, including founding Rainier Prep Charter School. Read more here.