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NC Association for Public Charter Schools Archives - North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools

CharterFolk Spotlights Glenn Byrum of Mountain Island Charter School

By News

Glenn Byrum of Mountain Island Charter School. Photo courtesy of CharterFolk.

CharterFolk has a new spotlight story out on Glenn Byrum, the executive director of Mountain Island Charter School in Mount Holly, North Carolina. In the article, he references the importance of advocacy along with the Coalition and the North Carolina Association of Public Charter Schools, where he serves as a board member.

We share an article excerpt below.

Glenn Byrum had big dreams for his career. Firmly rooted in his values and a deep sense of responsibility, he was sure he was going to do humanitarian work abroad. He even earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish to help prepare.

After graduating college, he took a slight detour on his route to humanitarian work—he and his wife started a family, and he worked at a high school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The detour got a little longer after a stint as an elementary school Spanish teacher.

Still “figuring out” what he wanted to do, Glenn got a master’s degree in Spanish literature. He was hired at age 27 to be Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ world languages curriculum specialist—supervising language programming at more than 40 elementary and middle schools in Mecklenburg County. In that role, he helped spearhead a federal grant program bringing Arabic to the district—the first time in-person Arabic instruction had been offered in North Carolina.

‘Start-up energy’

But working at a large district—Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools serves nearly 150,000 students—presented challenges to Glenn.

“I felt like it was hard to get traction in a central office role in a large district,” he said. “So with care and skepticism, I approached a charter school.”

Read the rest of the article from CharterFolk here.  Mountain Island Charter School is a Coalition member school.

Mountain Island Charter School. Courtesy of MICS/Facebook.

Sup. Truitt Wins Champion for Charter Schools Award

By Awards, News

On Tuesday, state charter leaders presented Superintendent Catherine Truitt with a “Champion for Charter Schools” award. Lindalyn Kakadelis, executive director at the Coalition, and Rhonda Dillingham, the executive director for the NC Association for Public Charter Schools, presented Truitt with the award at the Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh.

Rhonda Dillingham (left) and Lindalyn Kakadelis (right) present State Superintendent Catherine Truitt (center) with a “Champion for Charter Schools” award on October 29, 2024.

A press release from the NC Association for Public Charter Schools noted:

This annual award honors bipartisan state policymakers who are making an exceptional difference for charter school families and communities in their state and who go above and beyond to shape students’ futures for the better.

…”Our state’s charter schools are grateful for Superintendent Truitt’s support, particularly her advocacy on behalf of charter schools with the State Board of Education and the General Assembly during her tenure,” said Rhonda Dillingham, Executive Director of NCAPCS.

“In both word and deed, Superintendent Truitt has supported the diversity of education options that public charter schools offer children and parents. We’re grateful for her partnership, and for helping create an environment in which parents can choose a school that best helps students meet their full potential,” said Lindalyn Kakadelis, Executive Director of the NCCS.

“It is imperative for lawmakers at all levels of government to support policies to create and sustain high-quality charter schools if they want to make a difference for students and the future of our country. The National Alliance is grateful for the ways these elected officials have been responsive to the students and families they serve by promoting more public school options, robust flexibility and accountability for those options, and increased funding and resources for these unique public schools. Without their support, the charter school movement would not be where it is today. This year’s honorees have fought for our students and deserve our gratitude and praise,” said Todd Ziebarth, Senior Vice President for Advocacy and State Support at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Adopt a School Impacted by Hurricane Helene

By News

Many of you may be wondering how you can help the 20 public charter schools in Western North Carolina that have been impacted by Helene. We know of a clear and tangible way: The North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools and the Coalition are partnering together to launch “Adopt a WNC School.”

Adopters will be paired with a school and given a list of items the school has requested. If you adopt a school, please plan for a way to send donated items to that school. Thank you in advance!

Sign up here to adopt a school.

Click here or on the image below to access the flyer.