AGENDA
2024 Charter Advocacy Summit
Hosted by the North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools
Friday, March 8, 2024
7:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Advocacy and action that help YOUR school!
7:30 AM: Breakfast Opens
8:15 AM: Welcome
- Lindalyn Kakadelis, Executive Director, North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools
The color guard team from Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy performs. Students from Triangle Math & Science Academy sing the Star Spangled Banner and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
8:30 AM: Opening Remarks
The chair of the Senate Appropriations on Education/Higher Education and Education/Higher Education Committees shares her perspective on charter funding and growth.
9:00 AM: The New Charter Schools Review Board (Panel)
- Bruce Friend, Chair, Charter Schools Review Board
- John Eldridge, Vice Chair, Charter Schools Review Board
- Ashley Baquero, Director, Office of Charter Schools
State charter leaders explain what to expect from the Charter Schools Review Board, newly created to oversee North Carolina charter schools.
9:30 AM: Charter Perceptions & Misconceptions
- Donald Bryson, CEO, John Locke Foundation; Publisher, Carolina Journal
A state policy leader shares the latest polling data, and what it reveals about public perceptions of charter schools.
10:00 AM: The Democratic Perspective on Charter Schools
A senior Democratic senator explains how most Democrats view charter schools, and what charter supporters must do to retain or win back support.
10:15 AM: Break
10:30 AM: Construction & Your Charter School (Panel)
- N.C. Senator Steve Jarvis
- N.C. Representative Jeff Zenger
- Steve Hubrich, President, Hubrich Contracting
- Preston Sloane, Senior Project Manager, Choate Construction
A Senate sponsor of new legislation and a leading charter supporter in the House–along with top industry representatives–offer insights about impacts to the charter construction permitting process.
11:00 AM: Understanding Shifts in Your State & Local Funding (Panel)
- Aaron Beaulieu, Partner, School Operations Specialists
- Andrew Smith, Assistant State Superintendent, Office of Innovation, N.C. DPI
- Christy Berry, Finance Director, Lincoln Charter School
Industry and state education leaders provide updates on shifts in state funding determinations as well as the local funding protocol—and what changes mean for your school.
11:30 AM: New Avenues for Facility Funding (Panel)
- Dr. Jason Wray, Superintendent, Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy
- Dr. Shelly Shope, Headmaster, Pinnacle Classical Academy; Member, Charter Schools Review Board
- Dr. Melissa Blackwell, Superintendent, Neuse Charter School
Charter heads of school share how to build relational capital in your community–and engage in effective outreach to county commissioners as you seek facility funds.
12:00 PM: Lunch with a National Education Leader
- Jeanne Allen, Founder & CEO, Center for Education Reform
Longtime education advocate Jeanne Allen speaks about the power of advocacy and its implications for charter growth. She’ll also offer insights about her work on the Yass Prize, known as the “Pulitzer of Education.”
Lunch will be followed by a dessert reception.
1:30 PM: Keeping Your Students Safe (Panel)
- Tony Pustizzi, Former Chief of Police, Coral Springs, Florida; Founder, Four Star Strategies
- Karen Fairley, Executive Director, Center for Safer Schools
Chief Pustizzi, who led law enforcement response to the 2018 Parkland school shooting, shares lessons learned and proactive ways to optimize school safety. Karen Fairley provides the latest information about school safety grants.
2:00 PM: Politics, Policy & Your Advocacy Role (Panel: Coalition’s Government Relations Team)
- Matthew Tilley, Coalition Counsel; Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson
- Harry Kaplan, Partner, McGuireWoods
- Dylan Reel, Vice President, State Government Relations, McGuireWoods
- Lee Teague, Chief Advocate, Teague Advocacy Group
Coalition lobbyists and leaders analyze primary election results, outline the Coalition’s upcoming legislative goals, and share ways you can help advocate for charter schools.
2:45 PM: Closing Remarks
- Lindalyn Kakadelis
The Coalition’s founding leader shares what to expect in 2024 for the state’s charter movement.
3:00 PM: Summit Concludes
For more information about the 2024 Charter Advocacy Summit, please contact:
Lindalyn Kakadelis, Executive Director, NC Coalition for Charter Schools
Phone: 704.231.9767 | Email: lkakadelis@nc.chartercoalition.org
