Charter laws created permission, but people created possibility.
In this episode of Bold by Choice, co-hosts Vashaunta Harris, Jim Goenner, Ember Reichgott Junge and Don Cooper spotlight the first generation of charter founders who didn’t just respond to the system — they reimagined it.
These leaders turned ideas into schools, blueprints into movements, and challenges into opportunities. Their approaches were diverse — entrepreneurial, justice-driven, classroom-centered — but all were bold by choice.
Dave Levin – Co-founder of KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program), who turned one Houston classroom into a national model for academic rigor and character education.
J.C. Huizenga – Founder of National Heritage Academies, who brought a business-minded approach to scaling quality and sustainability across public schools.
Don Shalvey – Founder of Aspire Public Schools, one of the first CMOs, who partnered with entrepreneurs like Reed Hastings to pioneer scalable innovation.
Linda Brown – Founder of Building Excellent Schools, who built leaders, not just schools—training hundreds of founders through her rigorous fellowship model.
Roblin Webb – Founder of Freedom Prep in Memphis, who grounded her work in justice, equity, and the unwavering belief that Black students deserve excellence.
Leadership Lessons
Vision Meets Execution: The founders proved that laws don’t change lives — people do.
Scale Requires Design: From CMOs to fellowships, structure became a tool for sustainability.
Equity Is Innovation: Justice-centered schools redefined what it means to serve every child.
Courage Is Contagious: Each founder’s risk paved the way for thousands of others.
Reflection & Challenge
As Jim and Vashaunta reflect, the first wave of charter founders reminds us that real innovation isn’t uniform — it’s courageous.
The question for today’s leaders:
Are we still as bold as they were?
Show Notes & Resources
Explore the stories and interviews mentioned in this episode through the Founders Library and the resources below:
