In this installment of the National Charter Schools Institute's Bold by Choice Podcast, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper sit down with education journalist Richard Whitmire, author of The Founders — a deep, human story of how collaboration, not competition, built the nation’s most successful charter school networks.
Commissioned by The 74 Million and drawn from the archives of the National Charter Schools Founders Library, The Founders traces the rise of networks like KIPP, Uncommon, and Achievement First. Whitmire reveals that their shared success came from an open-source culture rooted in generosity — a legacy that began in Harriet Ball’s Houston classroom.
“The founders didn’t guard their playbooks—they swapped them.”
— Richard Whitmire, Inside The Founders (Charter Library Interview)
Key Takeaways
1. Curiosity Sparked Connection
Whitmire’s project began after a casual conversation with Don Shalvey, who encouraged him to look past test scores and policies. What started as a journalistic curiosity became a national chronicle of the people and relationships driving educational transformation.
“Don Shalvey said, ‘If you really want to know what happened, talk to the people who built it.’ That changed everything.” — Richard Whitmire
2. Cooperation Over Competition
Whitmire found that the most effective charter networks didn’t compete — they shared everything: lesson plans, data, mistakes, and breakthroughs. Instead of guarding intellectual property, they lifted one another up.
“They were rivals for teachers and funding, but they shared their secrets anyway. It was collaboration that made them successful.” — Richard Whitmire, The Founders Interview Transcript
3. The Harriet Ball Legacy
The culture of sharing began with legendary teacher Harriet Ball, whose mentorship of Dave Levin and Mike Feinberg inspired KIPP’s creation. Her only request: “Share what I’ve taught you.”
That mindset became the DNA of the entire charter sector — generosity as a design principle.
Through these networks’ collaborative models, Whitmire witnessed schools where low-income students of color achieved at levels matching their affluent peers — what he called “one of the most hopeful, under-told stories in American education.”
Supported by an Emerson Collective Fellowship, Whitmire used the Founders Library archives to document a movement still unfolding. His conclusion? The future of education depends on leaders who share what works.
Closing Reflections
“Movements endure when people choose to collaborate instead of compete.” — Don Cooper
“When we share what works, every child wins.” — Vashaunta Harris
In this episode, Whitmire reminds us that the real innovation behind chartering wasn’t just autonomy or accountability — it was community.
The spirit of sharing, mentorship, and learning together remains one of public education’s most transformative forces.
Listen now, and explore The Founders Collection at the Charter Library.
Show Notes & Resources
Explore these featured resources from the episode:
