Shows
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#54 Beyond desks and chairs... operationalizing innovative FF&E upgradesIn Episode 54 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Susan Jenkins and Dr. Earl Metzler of Hertz Furniture to discuss how charter schools can go beyond desks and chairs and operationalize truly innovative FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) upgrades.
They share practical, real-world strategies for reimagining learning spaces—from flexible seating to collaborative layouts—and emphasize that the physical classroom should support how you teach, not just what you teach.
Whether you're working with a new build, a single pilot classroom, or a...2025-07-2534 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#53 Mastering Teacher Onboarding for Lasting Impact With Keith Vigraham, VP of HR at Vertex EducationWhen it comes to teacher retention, onboarding isn’t just the first step—it’s the foundation. In this episode, Keith Vigraham, VP of HR at Vertex Education, shares his two decades of experience working with charter schools across the country to break down what a successful onboarding process really looks like. From the moment a teacher signs an offer letter to their first chaotic day in the classroom, Keith offers smart, tactical advice to ensure your staff not only stays—but thrives.
He and host Daniel Casselli dive deep int...2025-06-2733 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#52 Staffing based on… personalities? Featuring Racheal Sewards, Founder of Solare Collegiate Charter SchoolWhat if staffing decisions weren’t just about qualifications—but also about personalities, team dynamics, and leadership potential?
In this energizing episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Racheal Sewards, Founder and Executive Director of Solare Collegiate Charter School. Racheal shares how her school is challenging traditional staffing models by redistributing leadership roles to classroom teachers and aligning teams based on interpersonal chemistry—not just credentials.
With a bold blend of restorative justice, teacher stipends, and grade-level leadership teams, Racheal is red...2025-06-2029 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#51 Ops Team Essentials: Building Trust & Running Effective Meetings with Jill DunchickGreat operations leaders don’t just get things done—they build teams that trust each other, communicate clearly, and move fast together.
In this episode, Jill Dunchick—veteran educator, school leader, and leadership coach—joins Daniel Casselli to deliver one of the most practical, tactical conversations yet. Jill shares how charter school ops leaders can create aligned, high-functioning teams by investing in trust and organizing their time wisely.
From building psychological safety using Brene Brown’s BRAVING framework to running truly intentional meetings, this episode gives school executives...2025-06-0644 min
CheckBox Pro Series28: Simplifying School ProcurementIn this episode, I sit down with Daniel Casselli, President of BuyQ, to discuss how group purchasing can help schools—especially smaller charter and private schools—stretch their dollars, streamline operations, and build stronger procurement systems. Drawing from his background in education, edtech, and operations, Daniel offers a masterclass in purchasing strategy, explaining how schools can leverage collective buying power, avoid common pitfalls, and set up procurement systems that actually work. Whether you're new to procurement or trying to bring more strategy to your school’s purchasing processes, Daniel shares actionable insights that can save you time, money...2025-06-0344 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#50 Building Systems & Culture from Day 1, featuring Dermoth Mattison,What does it really take to build a charter school from scratch—and do it well?
In this milestone 50th episode, we sit down with Dermoth Mattison, founder of South Shore Charter School, to explore how intentionality in the early days can lay the groundwork for a thriving school culture and academic excellence. From rigorous SUNY authorizer expectations to community-driven design, Dermoth walks us through the highs and hurdles of opening a school that serves both heart and head.
Discover how systems and culture are inseparable, how South Shore hit a 99% st...2025-05-2332 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#49 Mastering Charter School Enrollment: Missteps, Metrics & Marketing TipsWhat do growing charter schools have in common? In this special compilation episode of The Charter School Insider, we’re bringing together the sharpest insights from enrollment-focused conversations with top charter leaders.
Hear from:
Bill Knous on the power of community engagementVanessa Segovia Barry on parent perception and enrollment blind spotsMaria Blencowe on scaling enrollment with limited marketing resourcesDallan Wortham on leveraging SEO, paid search, and platform tools
You’ll walk away with practical answers to questions like:
What are schools getting w...2025-05-1632 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#48 Top Leadership Lessons and Insights from Year One of the Seminar Community with Jen Davis WickensIn this special live episode, recorded at the Colorado League of Charter Schools Conference 2025, host Daniel Casselli sits down with powerhouse education leader Jen Davis Wickens. As the founder of Impact Public Schools and co-founder of Seminar—a national community platform for charter leaders—Jen shares the top leadership insights, trends, and challenges emerging from Seminar’s first year.
With over 1,500 school leaders across the country now connected through Seminar, Jen brings a national perspective on the evolving needs of charter leadership today. From succes...2025-05-0924 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#47 Ratings 101 with Blake Cullimore, Vice President - Senior Analyst at Moody's RatingsUnderstanding bond ratings can be a game-changer for charter school leaders navigating facility financing. In this episode, Daniel Casselli sits down with Blake Cullimore, a senior analyst at Moody’s Public Rating Finance Group, to demystify the world of bond ratings and their impact on charter schools. Blake shares insights into the rating process, key financial and qualitative factors that shape ratings, and how schools can prepare for future facility financing. Whether you're considering a bond rating or just want to deepen your financial acumen, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.
...2025-05-0225 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#46 Data-Driven Decision Making with James Cryan, Founder of Willow Education, Former CEO of Rocky Mountain PrepWhat happens when a charter school leader takes a hard look at the data—and doesn’t look away? In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast host Daniel Casselli welcomes James Cryan, founder of Willow Education and former CEO of Rocky Mountain Prep, for a deeply reflective conversation on the power (and pitfalls) of data-driven leadership.
From jaw-dropping statistics about post-secondary outcomes to the tough calls that come with mission-driven leadership, James opens up about what it takes to move beyond surface-level metrics and drive meaningful, lasting change for student...2025-04-2530 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#45 Serving the community IS the goal… enrollment is the byproduct - featuring Brilla Public Schools COO Reyes ClaudioIn this episode of The Charter School Insider, we’re joined by Reyes Claudio, the dynamic Chief Operations and Community Relations Officer at Brilla Public Schools. Reyes takes us deep into what it really means to serve a community — not just in theory, but in day-to-day practice.
She shares Brilla’s powerful philosophy that community engagement is not a tactic but a foundational value — and how that authenticity naturally drives enrollment. From transforming main offices into neighborhood resource hubs to throwing epic Bronx-style block parties, Brilla is rewriting the rules of...2025-04-1838 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#44 The importance of financial storytelling featuring Neil Shah, serial CFOFinancials aren’t just numbers—they tell a story. In this episode, Neil Shah, a seasoned CFO for nonprofits, joins Daniel Casselli to break down the power of financial storytelling and why it’s essential for charter school leaders. From understanding financial data to using it to make strategic decisions, Neil shares practical insights on how to translate financial reports into compelling narratives that drive action. Whether you’re navigating budgeting, forecasting, or fundraising, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways to help...2025-04-0434 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#43 How to increase attendance rates with Al Dawe, COO at University PrepChronic absenteeism has surged in schools post-COVID, creating significant challenges for student success. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast host Daniel Casselli sits down with Alastair Dawe, COO at University Preparatory Schools, to discuss how his team tackled attendance issues head-on. From crafting a school-wide culture of attendance to implementing data-driven incentives and intervention strategies, Al shares the journey that moved University Prep’s attendance rates back toward pre-pandemic levels. Tune in for actionable insights on driving student engagement and attendance in your school community.
Interested in...2025-03-2637 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#43 Ratings 101 with Blake Cullimore, Vice President - Senior Analyst at Moody's RatingsUnderstanding bond ratings can be a game-changer for charter school leaders navigating facility financing. In this episode, Daniel Casselli sits down with Blake Cullimore, a senior analyst at Moody’s Public Rating Finance Group, to demystify the world of bond ratings and their impact on charter schools. Blake shares insights into the rating process, key financial and qualitative factors that shape ratings, and how schools can prepare for future facility financing. Whether you're considering a bond rating or just want to deepen your financial acumen, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.2025-03-2125 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#42 Making sense of board committees with Mike Mizzoni, Chief Governance Officer at BoardOnTrackCharter school boards are responsible for overseeing multimillion-dollar organizations, yet most only meet for 20 hours a year. So how do the best boards ensure effective governance? The answer: committees. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast welcomes Mike Mizzoni, Chief Governance Officer at BoardOnTrack, to break down the key role committees play in school leadership. Mike shares practical strategies to move beyond “paper committees” and establish high-functioning teams that drive real impact. From finance and governance to CEO support, we explore the committees every charter school needs—and how to make t...2025-03-0722 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#41 The most beautiful school in… the world? Facilities management strategies with Raymie Fernandez, COO at DREAM Charter SchoolManaging school facilities isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about creating spaces that inspire learning and reflect a school's mission. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast welcomes Raymie Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer at Dream Charter School, to unpack the strategic side of facilities planning. With a background in operations and instructional leadership, Raymie shares how Dream transformed an abandoned ice factory into one of the world’s most stunning school campuses and offers insights into navigating capital projects, facility design, and long-term maintenance planning.
From p...2025-02-2137 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#40 What leaders can learn from THE job board for transitioning teachers with Josh Czupryk from Josh's K12 Jobs BlastFinding and retaining great educators is one of the biggest challenges in charter schools today. In this episode, Daniel Casselli sits down with Josh Czupryk, the creator of Josh’s K12 Job Blast, a go-to resource for educators exploring new career opportunities. Josh shares his journey from being a teacher and charter school leader to running a widely used job board that connects transitioning educators with their next role.
The conversation dives deep into why teachers are leaving, what they truly want beyond higher salaries, and how school leaders can be proactive in...2025-02-1425 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#39 From 15% staff retention to 95%... shifting mindsets to turn around school performance with Dr. Sarper TurkerIn this captivating episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Dr. Sarper Turker, a visionary leader in education, to discuss his impressive turnaround story at Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools. Dr. Turker shares how he took a struggling school with a 15% staff retention rate and transformed it into a thriving institution with an astonishing 95% retention rate. With a focus on leadership and shifting mindsets, this episode dives deep into the strategies and tactics that led to a cultural transformation, improved staff morale...2025-02-0742 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#38 Rebuilding the people team of one of the largest charter networks in the country with Ru SharmaIn this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Ru Sharma, Chief People Officer at Achievement First. With a professional background spanning global giants like Coca-Cola and Amazon, Ru brings a fresh perspective to the unique challenges of building and leading a people team at one of the nation’s largest charter school networks. Ru shares candid insights into navigating leadership gaps, fostering a high-functioning people team, and reimagining talent management strategies for the charter school sector. Tune in to explore a flywheel ap...2025-01-1738 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#37 Managing procurement across 9,000+ square miles with no physical classrooms… featuring Tom Tafoya from Visions in EducationIn this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli dives into the intricate world of charter school operations with Tom Tafoya, Chief Operating Officer at Visions in Education. Spanning 9,200 square miles without a single physical classroom, Visions has redefined procurement processes to serve over 7,500 students annually. From adopting innovative technologies to partnering with vendors like Amazon Business, Tom shares how Visions scaled operations, optimized efficiencies, and eliminated barriers for families and teachers across Northern California. This conversation is a masterclass in overcoming logistical challenges with entrepreneurial spirit and...2024-12-2037 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#36 The 5 things that actually drive teacher retention and sustainability with Zainab AliIn this conversation, Daniel Casselli and Zainab Ali discuss the critical issue of teacher retention in K-12 education, particularly within charter schools. Zainab shares insights from a recent research report conducted by the Charter School Growth Fund, highlighting the importance of executive team culture, effective change management, and the need for ongoing support and development for principals and teachers. The discussion emphasizes that retaining teachers requires a multifaceted approach, including listening to staff feedback, investing in leadership, and maintaining high standards for recruitment.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out...2024-12-1337 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#35 $100M for charter schools about to expire… your crash course in E-Rate with CDWDid you know over $100 million in E-Rate funding for charter schools is about to disappear? This episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast is your ultimate crash course on E-Rate. Host Daniel Casselli dives into this critical topic with experts Cari Warnock and Dave LeNard from CDW, a BuyQ-awarded vendor specializing in education technology. Together, they demystify E-Rate, explaining its two funding categories, eligible services, and the step-by-step process schools need to follow to secure funding.
If your school hasn't tapped into these funds, now's the time...2024-12-0625 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#34 Developing a tiered approach for your organization’s budget with Yeime Valle, CEO of Brilla Public Charter SchoolsJoin Yeime Valle, Executive Director of Brilla Public Charter Schools, as she shares how her team tackled financial challenges by developing a tiered budgeting strategy. In this episode, Yeime and host Daniel Casselli explore the power of transparency, stakeholder engagement, and staying mission-focused in the face of tough decisions. Perfect for school leaders seeking actionable insights on sustainability and leadership.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-11-2234 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#33 Operationalizing school moves with Julie Anne Garretson, Network Director of Operations and School Support at Public Preparatory NetworkIn this episode of The Charter School Insider, host Daniel Casselli talks with Julie Anne Garretson, Network Director of Operations and School Support at Public Prep. Julie shares her extensive experience managing complex school relocations across New York City, focusing on three major moves Public Prep has navigated over the past two years. These include closing a flagship campus, managing temporary spaces, and the challenges of opening a new facility. Julie offers practical insights into the operational, logistical, and communication strategies that helped the team tackle these significant changes while maintaining high standards of school...2024-10-2533 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#32 Building ops team infrastructure with Tina Dass & Stacy-Ann Brissett, Sr. Ops Directors for Prospect Schools (NY)In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, we sit down with Tina Dass and Stacy-Ann Brissett, Senior Operations Directors at Prospect Schools (NY), to explore the critical role of operational infrastructure in driving the success of charter schools. Tina and Stacy-Ann share their insights on how they’ve helped shape efficient operations, focusing on everything from resource allocation and technology integration to data-driven decision-making. Whether you’re an executive looking to enhance operational strategies or improve day-to-day efficiencies, this episode offers practical solutions that can transform the way charter schools function behi...2024-10-1139 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#31 Spending $$ on Google & Facebook for your enrollment marketing with Dallan Wortham, Founder & CEO at Charter ConnectIn this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Dallan Wortham, CEO and Founder of Charter Connect, to explore the essentials of digital marketing for charter schools. They discuss the importance of setting appropriate ad budgets, the differences in spending on Google versus Facebook ads, and how to determine cost per enrollment. Dallan shares practical tips for optimizing digital marketing efforts, including the significance of understanding your school's marketing needs, leveraging tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, and focusing on key metrics to maximize enrollment success.
2024-10-0429 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#30 From 8,000 to 10,000… enrollment marketing lessons from the largest virtual charter school in Georgia, with Maria BlencoweIn this episode, we chat with Maria Blencowe, Director of Communications & Marketing at Georgia Cyber Academy, about how they grew enrollment from 8,000 to 10,000 students. Maria breaks down the strategies behind their digital marketing success and how charter schools can drive growth in a competitive educational landscape.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-09-1327 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#29 Why succession planning is a mess with Mollie MitchellIn episode 29 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, Mollie Mitchell, Founder of The K12 Search Group, sheds light on why succession planning in charter schools often falters. With her expertise in executive recruitment, Mollie highlights the need for transparency, stakeholder involvement, and redefining the CEO’s role. Whether you're a board member, CEO, or aspiring leader, this episode offers practical advice for navigating leadership transitions.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-09-0537 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#28 You don’t have to do it all, leadership lessons with Executive Coach MK FlynnIn Episode #28 of The Charter School Insider Podcast, “You don’t have to do it all: Leadership Lessons with Executive Coach MK Flynn,” host Daniel Casselli sits down with MK Flynn, an expert in executive coaching and education consulting. They delve into the art of effective leadership, emphasizing that it’s not about knowing everything but about continuous learning and strategic delegation. Discover key insights on balancing expertise, embracing humility, and leading with impact.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-08-2737 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#27 The Merger with Tricia Noyola, CEO at Rocky Mountain PrepIn this insightful episode, Tricia Noyola, CEO of Rocky Mountain Prep, reveals the behind-the-scenes details of their groundbreaking merger with Strive Prep. She discusses the strategic motivations driven by declining enrollment and financial challenges, and how setting clear goals led to a unified vision. Noyola offers valuable advice on managing mergers, emphasizing the importance of embracing challenges, focusing on the mission, and addressing emotional impacts on staff. She also shares her favorite books for additional inspiration and strategic insights.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-08-0843 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#26 What’s missing in your enrollment strategy with Vanessa Segovia Barry, Founder of Mariposa Consulting GroupIn this episode, Vanessa Segovia Barry from Mariposa Consulting Group unpacks the secrets to mastering enrollment marketing for charter schools. She emphasizes critical elements often overlooked: goal setting, strategic resource allocation, and adapting to the seasonality of parent behavior. Learn how to enhance the parent experience and leverage automation to streamline communication.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-07-2528 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#25 Building an operations leadership pipeline with Trey Vernaci, Sr. Director of Operations at RePublic SchoolsIn this episode of The Charter School Insider, Daniel Casselli talks with Trey Vernaci, Sr. Director of Operations at RePublic Schools, about the shortage of qualified operations professionals in charter schools, focusing on Mississippi. Trey discusses his innovative solution: an operations leadership residency program covering key areas of operations and offering practical advice for replication. Gain valuable insights to enhance your school's operational efficiency.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-07-1826 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#24 5 Best Practices to Turn Procurement into a Pillar of Financial StabilityIn this episode, Daniel Casselli outlines five best practices to make procurement a financial stability pillar. He stresses procurement's role in tough financial times and covers its four core pillars: strategic sourcing and cost management, policies, compliance and risk management, technology and data, and stakeholder engagement. The best practices are: revisiting the purchasing policy, listening to data, developing supplier relationships, standardizing and consolidating, and measuring performance.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-07-1224 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#23 How executives can get started with AI, featuring Seminar Co-Founders Jen Davis Wickens & Kristen McCawJen Davis Wickens & Kristen McCaw are the Co-Founders of Seminar, a national community for charter school leadership development. As school leaders and founders themselves, Jen & Kristen speak to the need for tactical/practical support for executives and we explore how Seminar is tackling this challenge using AI as an example of a hot-button item leaders are currently navigating.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-06-0330 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#22 Partnering with your board with Dr. Garland L. Thomas-McDavid, CEO of Brooklyn Lab Charter SchoolWhat's the role of the board? How can CEO's and boards best collaborate to achieve shared goals? We sit down with Dr. Garland Thomas-McDavid to answer these questions and more. She highlights the importance of building relationships, open communication, and leveraging the resources and knowledge of the board. Dr. TM also addresses common challenges, such as navigating the transition from a founder/startup phase to a more mature organization, uncovering and addressing sacred cows, and recruiting the right board members.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-05-1634 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#21 Day one readiness planning with Ops for Impact Founder, Megan ThomsenWe sit down with Megan Thomsen to talk all things "day one readiness". It's never convenient to start prepping for next years opening, but with no plan things get messy fast. Megan shares her experiences as the former director of operations at Ednovate driving day one readiness strategy and optimization. If you are an ops enthusiast who is eager to learn more about process improvement methodologies and systems codification, this is a can't miss episode.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-05-1036 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#20 Rooted in community with Jemia Cunningham-Elder, CEO at North Lawndale College Prep High SchoolIn this conversation, Jemia Cunningham-Elder, CEO of North Lawndale College Prep, discusses the importance of being part of the community and developing strong community partnerships. She cites the Peace Warriors program and Phoenix Hall as successful collaborations, underlining the significance of external affairs and ongoing evaluation in partnership sustainability.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-04-1933 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#19 Developing shared language amongst your leadership team with Chad Miller, CEO at Pinnacle Charter SchoolChad Miller, CEO of Pinnacle Charter School, explores the importance of shared language in leadership, tackling barriers and fostering collaboration. Discover strategies for alignment and growth.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-04-1230 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#18 From Operator to Authorizer with Lana Ewing, Executive Director of the Maine Charter CommissionWe sit down with Lana Ewing, Executive Director of the Maine Charter Commission, to discuss her experience as a former operator now running the state authorizing body for Maine charter schools.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-03-2928 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#17 Getting the people right as you scale with Jason Watts, CEO of Scholarship Prep, and Jason Sitomer, Managing Director at Charter ImpactHiring is hard. Hiring rapidly to support growth of your organization is even harder. We break down pitfalls and learnings to get hiring right as your school grows into new communities.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-03-2244 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#16 Top 7 myths going from 'fully insured' to 'self-funded' with DSST's Nick Plantan (COO) and Ashley Wiegner (CPO) alongside HUB's Gary ClarkWe sit down with the Chief Operating Officer and Chief People Officer of DSST to discuss their experience taking the organization from "fully insured" to "self-funded" as a strategic cost-saving and value creating initiative.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-03-1643 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#15 Renegotiating your SaaS contracts... here's what you need to know (solo episode)If I had to cut $100,000 out of my school/network's subscription costs, here is the 7 step process that I would follow and exactly what your team should know if you want to do the same.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-02-2320 minCharter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#14 The strategic role of the Chief of Staff with Dan Soleimani, Chief of Staff at Aspire Public SchoolsWhat exactly does a Chief of Staff do? How about one that serves in this role at one of the largest charter networks in California? Tune in to find out!
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-02-0244 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#13 Let’s talk school food with Emily Chatelain, CEO and founder of School Food and Wellness GroupIn this conversation, Emily discusses the importance of school food programs and the challenges that school leaders face in providing healthy meals to students
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2024-01-2629 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#12 Operations project deep dive with Ellen Lin, COO of Green Dot Public SchoolsEllen Lin, COO of Green Dot Public Schools National, discusses the implementation of a help desk ticketing and knowledge-based solution at Green Dot. The project aimed to streamline operations and improve efficiency by replacing the use of email for ticketing across departments. Ellen shares the challenges faced, the evaluation process for selecting a vendor, and the fast onboarding and implementation timeline. She also highlights the impact of the ticketing system on agents and the organization as a whole. Ellen encourages operational leaders to prioritize projects that align with organizational goals and to think strategically about system redesign.
2024-01-0531 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#11 Responsible financial management with Raj Thakkar, Founder & CEO of Charter School Business ManagementWe sat down with Raj Thakkar, Founder & CEO of Charter School Business Management, to discuss financial principles for charter schools that have stood the test of time and his new book “Fiscally seCURE: prepare, protect and propel your CHARTER SCHOOL with responsible financial management”.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-12-1547 min
Biz Mafia : Where Business Gets MadeEP 2: Unveiling the Journey of a Powerhouse Entrepreneur with Christine RafanelliEver considered shifting gears from being the messenger to becoming the mastermind behind a thriving business? Imagine the transition from narrating news stories on TV to assuming the role of the ultimate decision-maker, the boss steering an entire company. It's akin to mastering a new language—a departure from merely discussing the news to orchestrating significant decisions, leading a team, and ensuring the overall success of the business. Now, you're not just speaking the language of news; you're delving into the intricacies of profit generation, market dynamics, and the orchestration of a company's operations.Jo...2023-12-0559 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#10 Developing a framework for grant management with Kim Tarin, Finance & Grant Management Consultant, CIESA five part framework any charter school can use to manage grants.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-12-0141 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#9 Founding & growing a CMO aimed at significance with Colleen Mullen, Founder and Executive Director of PropelWhat's it like building a Charter Management Organization? We sit down with Colleen Mullen, Founder and Executive Director of Propel to hear about her journey since founding the org in 2019.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-11-2831 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#8 More than the numbers... ensuring finance is mission-aligned while navigating the ESSER cliff with Daniel Bell, Deputy Chief of Finance at Mastery Charter SchoolsFederal funds are sunsetting. Services and staff have been added to support students the last three years. Now what? We sit down with Daniel Bell of Mastery Charter Schools to discuss how they are working to be mission-aligned as they turn the ESSER cliff into a "gentle hill".
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-11-1732 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#7 How to “talk the talk” of operations with Anders LindgrenIf you work in operations you have to manage critical functions across a host of service provides while also balancing internal and external needs. In this episode, Daniel Casselli and Anders Lindgren discuss how to manage vendor relationships and “talk the talk” of food service, IT, transportation, and more (even if you are not an expert).
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-11-0336 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#6 Values based leadership in an ever-changing landscape with Kennedy Hilario, CEO of ACE Charter SchoolsHow do you make decisions and prioritize strategic initiatives through the lens of your organizations mission? We sit down to talk leadership principles with Kennedy Hilario the CEO of ACE Charter Schools in California.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-10-2029 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#5 Strategic planning and the role of the board with Peter Gudmundsson, President of the Board for International Leadership of TX Charter SchoolsWhat's the role of the board in setting strategic goals for your charter school? How should the board think about keeping leadership accountable while also understanding the needs of students and staff inside the classroom? Tune in to hear us discuss these questions and more with Peter Gudmundsson, President of the board for International Leadership of Texas.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-10-1335 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#4 Listen to your teachers....! Top 5 learnings for administrators from the National Alliance's teacher sentiment survey with Debbie Veney, SVP Communications & MarketingThe National Alliance for Public Charter Schools recently conducted a nationwide survey of public school teacher sentiment. Tune in to get the Top 5 Takeaways from Debbie Veney, SVP Communications & Marketing at the Alliance - and the author of the report! If you like this episode follow @charteralliance on social media to get the latest from the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-10-0429 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#3 How an operational challenge became an EdTech product with David Berg, Director of Digital Innovation at Big Picture LearningEver come across an operational challenge at your school and thought to yourself, "I could build a product to solve this and save thousands of schools time, energy, and effort..." Tune in as David Berg shares his personal story of building ImBlaze as an incubated project within Big Picture Learning.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-09-2251 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#2 Why community engagement should be the foundation of your enrollment strategy with Bill Knous, Director of School Growth at CO League of Charter SchoolsIf your school is wondering how to develop a comprehensive enrollment plan, this discussion will be a valuable place to start. We sit down with Bill Knous to talk current trends in the landscape of school enrollment (declining birth rates, distrust in educational institutions, charter growth, etc.) and how community engagement can, and should, be the bedrock of an enrollment strategy.
We get into:
Defining community engagementDeveloping a school NPSDoing vs. driving as a leaderHow to focus and pull your top 1-2 leversWhether AI can play a role in your engagement efforts
+Much more!
2023-09-1147 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#1 Lessons from $100M in bond financing with Mark Kalpakgian, COO at The Classical AcademiesIn this episode, we host Mark Kalpakgian, COO at The Classical Academies, and he shares his lessons learned from ~$100M in bond financing...
We dig into:
The pros & cons of owning vs. renting your school campuses
Due diligence tips when you decide to pursue a purchase
The benefits of bond financing: rates, money down, etc.
What the bond process might look like for your org
Potential risks to consider if pursuing bonds
Why you should hire a financial advisor
+Tips for evaluating said a...2023-09-0534 min
Charter School Connection#27 BuyQ | Daniel CasselliIn this episode, Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, gives great insights into how charter schools can save time and money with smart, group purchasing. He also gives great advice in regards to balancing work and family for a strong lifestyle.
Make sure to check out their new podcast "Charter School Insider!"2023-08-2429 min
Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators#0 What to expect from Charter School Insider?In less than 3 minutes, here's what you should know about the show and what you can expect from each of our episodes.
Interested in sponsorship? Reach out to us at podcast@buyq.org2023-08-1002 min
Marketing Transformation Podcast#126 mit Jens Jokschat // PrimeUpDeepdive Amazon Werbung
Nach unserem Ausflug in den Meta-Kosmos widmen wir uns nun mit Amazon dem nächsten Big Player der Medienplattformen. Jens Jokschat beantwortet in dieser Folge als Experte Fragen zum Werbegeschäft auf Amazon, sowie Trends, Konkurrenten und Zukunftsaussichten des Tech-Giganten:
Was sind Erlösarten im Werbesegment von Amazon und wie sieht die Wachstumstendenz aus?
Inwiefern kann Amazon in Zukunft mithilfe von Streaming & Co. seine immense Reichweite Advertisern zur Verfügung stellen?
Könnten sich Streaming-Plattformen bei stagnierender Reichweite von TV zu einem weiteren Kanal für Mid- & Upper Funnel-Marketing entwickeln?
...2022-02-1443 min