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NC Coalition for Charter Schools Board of Directors Archives - North Carolina Coalition for Charter Schools

May 20
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A message to the Class of 2026 from Dave Machado

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Charter school leaders, I commend you on a successful 2025-26 academic year! I know many of you will be celebrating graduation in the coming days, so I wanted to pass along my official congratulations to your students. 

Dear Members of the Class of 2026,

Congratulations on your high school graduation! I know I speak for the Coalition’s Board of Directors when I say, “Well done!”

You’ve likely heard this already, but high school graduation is a major life milestone—the culmination of four years of progressive growth and academic development across the arc of adolescence. Of course, graduation also represents an even longer journey from those early days when you stepped foot into kindergarten classrooms, as freshly scrubbed, eager, and unformed students. You may have forgotten, but I bet your parents remember!

As a former charter school administrator, I can attest to the emotion and pride of high school graduation. At Lincoln Charter School, which I led for 14 years, I loved the pomp and circumstance that marked our graduation week each year. It was so heartening to see our students—some of whom had been with us since kindergarten—walk across the stage as great, contributing citizens.

I know you will soon step into that role, too.

At Lincoln Charter, we also entered graduation week assured that we had prepared our students well. When graduates came back to visit in the fall, they invariably told us their college classes weren’t really so hard after all. They felt prepared. Confident. Capable. That feedback was wonderful to hear, and it inspired us with our next class of students.

Similarly, I know your charter leaders have worked diligently to prepare you for your milestone moment. You’re ready to launch. As you leave high school for the exciting, new terrain of college or career, you can be confident that your charter school experience has positioned and prepared you well. You have the skills, mindsets, and competencies you need to succeed.

My advice to you is simple: Enjoy this moment. Follow God’s plan for your life, wherever it leads. And please go back to your charter schools to visit, letting your school leaders know where you’ve been and what you’ve done. This is the good and great reward for those whose life’s work it is to nurture minds and shape learning.

Godspeed.

Sincerely,

Dave Machado, Executive Director, NC Coalition for Charter Schools

Above: Shutterstock photo.

Feb 19
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Twelve Seniors Graduate Early from Pinnacle Classical Academy

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Congratulations to 12 high school seniors at Pinnacle Classical Academy in Shelby, North Carolina! These students graduated early–at the end of the first semester. We’re so proud of their achievement.

Below, we share the news release from Pinnacle, sent to us by Jeff Ziegler, Pinnacle’s dean of academics.

Twelve seniors graduated from Pinnacle Classical Academy at the conclusion of the first semester.

Ten of the 12 are currently enrolled at Cleveland Community College, and six have already earned an associate’s degree or a certificate from CCC. These students will join their classmates in May at formal commencement exercises.

“Our Pinnacle Board of Directors support an early graduation program for students that are fast-tracking to the workplace and continuing their college education,” said Sen. Debbie Clary, co-founder of Pinnacle Classical Academy and chair of the board of directors. “They’ve earned the ability to move forward a few months early.”

“We are so proud of these seniors, who will be honored with the other members of the class of 2026 at our May 30 commencement ceremony,” said Dr. Shelly Shope, the school’s CEO. “While most of our seniors graduate in the spring, we respect the choice of students who have completed all of our graduation requirements.”

Founded in 2013, Pinnacle Classical Academy is a tuition-free public charter school in Shelby that attracts 1,215 students. U.S. News & World Report ranks the school among the top elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools in the nation. Last spring, the 40 members of the school’s class of 2025 were offered a combined $6.4 million in merit scholarships to college.

Pinnacle’s CEO Shelly Shope also serves as vice chair of the Coalition’s Board of Directors.

Above photo: Shutterstock.

Jun 04
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Incumbent Directors Re-elected to the Coalition Board

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Last week, Designated Representatives from Coalition member schools voted to elect members to the Coalition Board of Directors. Elections filled four seats on the Coalition’s 13-member Board. Coalition Counsel Matthew Tilley announced the election results at the Coalition’s annual meeting on Thursday, May 30.

Here are the nominees who were re-elected to terms on the Coalition Board:

All four nominees are incumbent candidates who previously served on the Coalition Board.
In addition, we want to thank Philip Adkins, Michael Satterfield, and Eugene Slocum for their willingness to step forward as nominees for the Coalition Board. We look forward to working with these talented charter leaders in other significant ways.
Newly elected Board members will be seated at the Thursday, June 13, meeting of the Coalition’s Board of Directors. Congratulations, re-elected Coalition Board members–and thank you for your ongoing service!