Bold By Choice Podcast

E3 E6 Neurodiversity in Action

Guest: Dr. Matthew Tyson, CEO, Tapestry Public Charter SchoolHosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim GoennerPowered by: National Charter Schools Institute
What if schools were designed around real children—their strengths, their differences, their pace, and their potential?
In this episode of Bold by Choice, we travel to Georgia to spotlight Tapestry Public Charter School, a middle and high school where neurodiversity isn’t just accepted—it’s celebrated. Founded by parents seeking something better for their children, Tapestry was built as a fully inclusive learning environment where neurotypical and neurodivergent students learn side by side, supported by co-teachers, small class sizes, individualized learning plans, and a deep culture of belonging.
Hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Dr. Matthew Tyson, Tapestry’s CEO, whose journey—from special education teacher to charter leader—has been shaped by a lifelong belief that a child’s zip code or learning style should never define their future. Growing up in a neurodiverse family and moving frequently across states, Dr. Tyson saw firsthand how uneven educational systems can be—and why schools must evolve.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Tyson shares powerful stories that bring Tapestry’s model to life, including:
A former student once written off academically who went on to master college-level math
Why “every classroom is a special education classroom—in the best way possible”
How co-teaching, double planning periods, and student ownership fuel teacher retention and joy
What it took to advocate at the Georgia State Capitol—and win bipartisan support—to expand charter access after years of district denials
Why inclusion isn’t a program, but a belief system that shapes every decision
With a 100% graduation rate, a long waiting list, and a second campus opening in Clayton County, Tapestry shows what’s possible when schools center dignity, flexibility, and high expectations for every learner.
As Dr. Tyson reminds us, “It’s never the kids—it’s on us.” And when educators design with love, courage, and persistence, students don’t just succeed—they belong.
This is a true #SchoolBrag episode—one that challenges assumptions, honors student voice, and reimagines what inclusive public education can be.
Listen in and share with anyone who believes schools should work for all kids—not just some.
Learn More
Tapestry Public Charter School: https://www.tapestrycharter.org
Diverse Charter Schools Coalition: Schools like Tapestry are proud members of DCSC

S3 E5 STEM, Think Big. Build Big

Bold by Choice, powered by the National Charter Schools Institute, is hosted by Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner. In this episode, they travel to Utah to spotlight a school that proves what’s possible when STEM education, diversity, and belonging come together with purpose.
Our guest is Halis Kablan, Secondary Principal at Beehive Science and Technology Academy—a school that began nearly 20 years ago with just 150 students in the basement of an office building and has grown into a thriving K–12 STEM community serving nearly 880 students.
Beehive was founded on a bold belief: science and technology education is for everyone—especially immigrant, multilingual, and underrepresented students. Today, the school serves families from 48 countries, speaking 60+ languages, making it one of the most diverse school communities in Utah.
In this conversation, Halis shares his personal journey—from studying biology in Turkey and discovering teaching by chance, to dedicating 18 years to Beehive’s mission of equity through STEM. He reflects on what keeps educators committed for decades, why students want to come to school, and how hands-on learning unlocks joy, confidence, and passion.
You’ll hear powerful stories from inside Beehive’s classrooms, including:
Students designing, testing, and launching hot air balloons and rockets
Robotics teams competing at state, national, and international levels
Alumni returning to mentor current students
Teachers integrating STEM across every subject—from kindergarten through high school
A culture where being “into STEM,” robotics, or D&D is celebrated, not sidelined
Beehive’s results speak for themselves: the school has been named a U.S. News & World Report Best High School multiple years in a row and ranked #1 in Utah for five consecutive years—all while staying rooted in community, collaboration, and love for students.
As Halis reminds us, the real measure of success isn’t just rankings—it’s when students come home excited to talk about their day, when shy learners find their voice, and when passion turns into purpose.
If you believe excellence doesn’t require perfect conditions—only clarity of mission—this episode is for you.
Share this conversation with an educator, leader, or parent who believes in STEM for all, culturally responsive education, and schools built on belonging.
And don’t forget to share your own #SchoolBrag story—we want to hear how your school is building possibility for students.
Stay bold. Stay curious. Stay in the community.

S3 E4 Beyond College Prep

Guest: Steven Palmer, Leader, Valor Collegiate Academies (Nashville, TN)Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim GoennerPowered by: National Charter Schools Institute
What happens when a school refuses to choose between academic rigor and student well-being?
In this episode of Bold by Choice, we travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to spotlight Valor Collegiate Academies—a nationally recognized, high-performing charter network designed around one bold belief: students thrive when their minds, bodies, and spirits are developed together.
Steven Palmer, a Teach For America alum and longtime Valor leader, shares how Valor was intentionally designed to address three urgent challenges facing students today:
the academic opportunity gap,
the student mental-health crisis, and
growing polarization in our communities.
Rather than treating these as competing priorities, Valor built a student-centered, whole-child model that integrates rigorous academics with deep social-emotional learning, strong relationships, and student voice .
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
How Valor empowers students through student-led “Changemakers” coalitions that elevate student voice and agency
Why, daily feedback loops, coaching for every adult, and real-time support outperform waiting for year-end test scores
How the Compass Model (mind, body, spirit) shows up in classrooms, circles, and culture every single day
A powerful student story that illustrates what happens when educators refuse to blame children and instead ask, “What do they need right now?”
Why families rate Valor so highly—and what a 9.08/10 family recommendation score says about trust, belonging, and joy
Steven also reflects on one of the simplest—and hardest—truths in education, passed down from a veteran teacher early in his career:
“Love the kids. You’ll figure the rest out.”
Why This Episode Matters
This conversation reminds us that great schools are not built on compliance or shortcuts. They’re built through intentional design, relentless care, and teams that refuse to give up on students—even when the work is hard.
As Steven puts it, when schools are at their best, they become places where students can say:
“I think I’m starting to love this school again.”
That’s not accidental. That’s leadership. That’s design. That’s Bold by Choice.
Join the Conversation
If this episode inspired you, share it with an educator or family member who believes schools can be places of joy, rigor, and belonging. And tell us your own #SchoolBrag—we want to hear about schools doing right by kids.

S3 E3 Designed With Students

Guest: Dr. Sundai Riggins, Head of School — Inspired Teaching Demonstration School (Washington, D.C.)Hosts: Vashaunta Harris & Jim GoennerPowered by the National Charter Schools Institute
What happens when students aren’t just served by a school, but help design it?
In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Dr. Sundai Riggins, Head of School at Inspired Teaching Demonstration School in Washington, D.C., for a powerful conversation about student voice, belonging, joy, and whole-child design.
Dr. Riggins shares her journey as a career educator and the beliefs that shape Inspired Teaching’s model—where students are treated as co-designers, learning is inquiry-based, and joy is viewed as an act of resistance. From student-led theatrical productions and intersession experiences to small learning environments, two adults per classroom, and open feedback loops, this episode brings listeners inside a school community intentionally built with students, not just for them.
You’ll hear:
How Inspired Teaching empowers students with agency, responsibility, and confidence, including backstage student leadership in school productions
Why children’s individuality and energy are assets, not obstacles
How academics and whole-child learning are balanced through inquiry, feedback, and flexible design
Why mentorship, open practice, and community engagement are central to the school’s mission
How love, relationships, and belonging serve as the school’s true “secret sauce.”
Dr. Riggins reminds us that students won’t be students forever—they’re future citizens. Schools, at their best, prepare young people not just to succeed academically, but to know their voices matter, to advocate for themselves, and to carry confidence beyond school walls
S3 E3
This is a conversation about designing schools that honor humanity, cultivate joy, and expand what’s possible when we trust students with real responsibility.
If this episode inspired you, share it with an educator or parent who believes schools should be built around curiosity, community, and care—and tell us your own #SchoolBrag story.
Stay bold. Stay mission-driven. Stay in the community.

S3 E2 Human First, Excellent Always

Bold by Choice, powered by the National Charter Schools Institute, is hosted by Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, and in this episode, they’re joined by Sarah Anderson, CEO & Superintendent of Blackstone Valley Prep, for a conversation about what it truly means to expand opportunity for students and communities.
Season 3 of Bold by Choice is all about schools worth bragging about—and this episode delivers.
We head to Rhode Island to spotlight Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP), a charter school network intentionally designed to bring together students from four neighboring but historically unequal communities. Across six campuses, BVP blends rigorous academics, joyful school culture, and a deeply rooted college-going mindset that begins early and lasts well beyond graduation.
Sarah Anderson shares how BVP’s integrated model, co-teaching approach, strong family partnerships, and intentional design help expand the circle of success for more students—academically, socially, and culturally.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
Going beyond college prep to prepare students for life
Designing integrated public schools with purpose
Creating belonging alongside academic rigor
Supporting teachers through collaboration and coaching
Leading with pragmatism, optimism, and heart
Listen in, share with a colleague, and join us this season as we celebrate bold schools, bold leadership, and bold choices.

S3 E1 School That Reflects the World

The Bold by Choice podcast returns for Season Three — and this time, we’re celebrating schools worth bragging about.
In this premiere episode, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Sonia Park and Ashley Heard, Executive Director and Deputy Director of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition (DCSC). Together, they explore how DCSC is leading a movement to design public schools that reflect the richness and diversity of their communities.
From its 281 member schools in 26 states and D.C. — serving over 120,000 students — to its 22 Communities of Practice and leadership programs (the Fellows and Explorers), DCSC is redefining what it means to be diverse by design.
Segment Highlights
1. The Leaders’ Journeys
Sonia and Ashley share how their backgrounds — from Philadelphia classrooms to Teach For America — shaped their calling to lead this coalition. Their “why” stories reveal how courage and clarity fuel bold leadership in education.
Jim’s Reflection: “When you know your calling, it gives you courage — and courage is contagious.”
2. About the Organization
DCSC is a member-driven network focused on peer learning, equity, and sustainability. Sonia and Ashley explain how they use data, research, and storytelling to strengthen schools and grow leaders who build belonging through design.
Key stats:
281 member schools across 26 states + D.C.
120,000 students served nationwide
22 Communities of Practice for shared problem-solving
19 new schools launched through the Fellows Program
Annual Convening “Better Together” — an energizing national gathering of educators
3. Spotlight on Schools
DCSC’s member schools span diverse models — from IB to project-based learning — united by shared commitments to excellence, culture, and love. Sonia and Ashley introduce DCSC’s High-Quality, Inclusive, Diverse (HQID) framework, developed with members to define what “excellent and equitable” really looks like.
4. Community & Future
The coalition is more than an organization — it’s a movement of practitioners. Sonia and Ashley share how listeners can get involved, from joining Communities of Practice to attending DCSC’s next Annual Convening in Washington, D.C.
Bold Question: “What’s the boldest choice you’ve made as a school leader to keep your promise to students — and what did it teach you?”
Closing Reflections
“Chartering at its best is about community, vision, and equity. Sonia and Ashley remind us that being bold together means designing schools that don’t just reflect our world — they help build a better one.” — Vashaunta Harris
As Season Three begins, Bold by Choice will continue to spotlight diverse-by-design schools across the nation — schools that prove what’s possible when leaders choose courage, community, and creativity.
Until next time — stay bold, stay mission-driven, and stay in community.

S2 E14 Building Excellent Schools

In this episode of Bold By Choice Podcast, Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper continue the Founders Library series with a tribute to one of the most influential builders in the charter school movement—Linda Brown, founding CEO of Building Excellent Schools (BES).
From the earliest days of Massachusetts’ charter experiment, Linda Brown saw what was missing: a system to ensure that new schools were not just open, but excellent. She founded BES to meet that need—developing rigorous fellowships, training future leaders, and creating schools built on discipline, love, and results.
“Excellence is not accidental—it’s engineered through vision, discipline, and belief in what’s possible.” — Linda Brown
Brown’s philosophy pushed beyond authorization or enrollment numbers; she believed success was only real when students achieved world-class academic outcomes. Through her leadership, BES has launched and supported more than 50 schools nationwide, and her imprint can still be felt in classrooms where high expectations meet deep care.
“Poverty is not a limit on potential. The limits we accept are the ones we place on ourselves.” — Linda Brown, Founders Library Interview
Key Takeaways
1. Founders Create What Didn’t Exist Before
Linda Brown didn’t wait for permission. When she saw no clear pathway for ensuring excellence in new charter schools, she built one—from scratch.
“If it doesn’t exist, build it. That’s what founders do.” — Linda Brown
2. Excellence Requires Structure and Accountability
Brown rejected the idea that innovation alone was enough. For her, rigor, accountability, and consistency were non-negotiables. She championed longer school days, family engagement, and relentless follow-through.
3. Poverty Is Not a Limit on Potential
She challenged deficit thinking head-on. Her mission: to prove that literacy, access, and opportunity were the real game-changers, not circumstance.
4. Leadership Is Learned Through Commitment
BES’s Fellowship model was demanding by design—long hours, constant feedback, and the requirement to move to where the need was greatest. Those who finished the program emerged ready to found and sustain great schools.
5. Winning Means Student Mastery
For Linda, the win wasn’t authorization or funding—it was when third-grade reading and math scores outpaced district averages. Student results were the measure of excellence.
Host Reflections
Don Cooper:
“Linda Brown’s story reminds us that excellence doesn’t emerge by accident—it’s engineered through vision, discipline, and belief in what’s possible.”
Vashaunta Harris:
“Her legacy lives on in every BES-trained leader and every classroom where high expectations meet deep care. To be bold by choice is to build systems that last.”
Show Notes & Resources
Interview: Interview of Linda Brown
Collection: The Linda Brown Collection
Organization: Building Excellent Schools (BES)
Founders Library – Main Archive: charterlibrary.org
Call to Action:If Linda Brown’s story inspired you, share this episode with a fellow educator or leader who believes in the power of excellence. Visit Building Excellent Schools or explore her oral history in the National Charter Schools Founders Library to learn more.
Closing Line:“Until next time, stay bold, stay mission-driven, and stay in community.”

S2 E13 The Birth of Aspire Public Schools

In this episode of the National Charter Schools Institute's Bold By Choice Podcast, we spotlight another great story from the Founder Library. Hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper sit with the story of Don Shalvey, the California superintendent-turned-founder who helped launch the nation’s first charter management organization — Aspire Public Schools.
Beginning in San Carlos, California — home of the state’s first charter — Shalvey describes how an unexpected lunch with Reed Hastings, then a tech entrepreneur and future Netflix CEO, turned into a decades-long partnership that changed public education. Together, they formed Californians for Public School Excellence, wrote new charter legislation, and set the stage for scalable, high-quality innovation in public schools.
From that collaboration came a quiet but revolutionary innovation: allowing a single nonprofit board to oversee multiple schools — an idea that would forever reshape how charters could operate and grow.
“An infinite number of charters all needing a board… was both inefficient and probably could create more problems with governance.” — Don Shalvey, Founders Library Interview
Key Takeaways
1. Structure Unlocks Scale
Don Shalvey’s policy insight — enabling multiple schools under one governing board — made Aspire Public Schools possible. That framework became the foundation for charter management organizations (CMOs) across the country.
“I think anybody who ever does school work has to be open to uncertainty as well as the sort of art of possibility.” — Don Shalvey
2. Coalitions Build Change
Shalvey didn’t work alone. He brought together teachers, policymakers, and innovators like Reed Hastings to turn policy into practice. It’s a model of bipartisan, collaborative reform still relevant today.
“It wasn’t just about law — it was about leadership, relationships, and being willing to try something new.” — Don Shalvey
3. Humble Leadership as a Force Multiplier
Throughout his career, Shalvey saw himself as a learner first — curious, adaptable, and generous in sharing what worked. That humility created the conditions for scale without losing soul.
“She asked us for only one thing in return ever. And she’s like – just share everything openly with everybody.” — Don Shalvey, referencing the ‘share everything’ ethos that also shaped KIPP and Aspire.
4. Movement > Moment
The Aspire story is not just about a network — it’s about momentum. Shalvey’s work at Aspire, and later at the Gates Foundation, reminds us that sustainable reform starts with shared purpose, not just structure.
Reflections from the Hosts
Vashaunta Harris:
“Don Shalvey didn’t just build schools; he built a bridge between sectors. His ability to see innovation not as a threat, but as an invitation, is something every leader can learn from.”
Don Cooper:
“That one clause — one board, multiple schools — may seem small, but it transformed the entire field. Don’s story is proof that policy design and human vision have to work hand in hand.”
Show Notes & Resources
Interview: A School Founder’s History: Don Shalvey, Aspire Public Schools
California Context: California’s Charter Schools Story
1992 Enabling Law: Senate Bill 1448, Chapter 781 (1992)
Policy Background: Hart, Gary K. & Burr, Sue. “The Story of California’s Charter School Legislation.” Phi Delta Kappan (1996). Access required
Founders Library – Full Archive: charterlibrary.org

S2 E12 Passing the Baton

In this episode of the National Charter Schools Institute Bold By Choice Podcast, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper continue the Founders Library series with one of the most personal and powerful stories yet — the story behind KIPP: The Knowledge Is Power Program, and the teacher whose wisdom and love shaped its DNA.
David Levin, co-founder of KIPP, shares how one extraordinary educator, Harriet Ball, changed the course of his life — and in doing so, changed the course of public education. From his early struggles as a first-year teacher in Houston to his partnership with Mike Feinberg, Levin recalls the lessons Harriet taught him: “It’s never the kids,” “Meet them where they are,” and “Teach with love.”
What began as mentorship became a movement. Harriet’s famous classroom chant —
“You gotta read, baby, read. The more you read, the more you know. Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.”— inspired not only the name of KIPP, but a national philosophy of empowerment through learning.
Levin’s reflections remind us that at the heart of every bold reform is a human connection — one teacher passing the baton to another.
Key Takeaways
1. Mentorship That Sparked a Movement
When a struggling teacher met a master educator, magic happened. Harriet Ball didn’t just teach lessons — she modeled joy, rigor, and unconditional love. Her mentorship turned frustration into inspiration and helped launch one of America’s most recognized charter school networks.
“She taught in 45 minutes what I had failed to teach all year long.” — David Levin
2. The Lessons of Harriet Ball
Levin credits Harriet with teaching him three enduring truths:
It’s never the kids — success begins with the teacher’s mindset.
Meet students where they are — academically and emotionally.
Teach with love — even when students don’t make it easy.
These principles became the moral framework of KIPP, and countless schools were influenced by its model.
3. From Song to System
Harriet’s chant — “Knowledge is power. Power is freedom.” — became KIPP’s name and mantra. It also symbolized the larger idea behind chartering: that knowledge liberates, and educators have the power to reimagine how students learn.
4. Sharing, Not Competing
Harriet’s only request was simple: “Share what I’ve taught you.” Levin and Feinberg carried that ethos forward, creating an open-door policy where any educator could visit KIPP schools, observe, and learn. That spirit of collaboration extended to partnerships with Uncommon Schools, Achievement First, and the creation of Relay Graduate School of Education — a modern relay of teaching excellence.
5. The Baton Keeps Moving
From Harriet’s fourth-grade classroom to KIPP’s national network and beyond, this story is about legacy — educators passing wisdom, courage, and compassion from one generation to the next.
“It’s never the kids. It’s on us.” — David Levin
Reflection from the Hosts
Vashaunta Harris:
“This story resonates with me deeply as a former TFAer. Dave’s realization that ‘it’s not the kids — it’s me’ is one of the most powerful shifts any teacher can make. That mindset is where leadership begins.”
Don Cooper:
“Harriet Ball’s mentorship didn’t just shape KIPP — it reshaped the movement. Her lessons on joy, rigor, and love became the DNA of great teaching everywhere.”
Together, the hosts reflect on how mentorship, humility, and shared purpose continue to define the best of the charter movement — and how Harriet Ball’s legacy remains a guiding light.
Show Notes & Resources
Explore the stories and archives mentioned in this episode:
A School Founder’s History: Dave Levin
Interview of Richard Whitmire – The Founders
The Founders – eBook PDF
The Linda Brown Collection
Pioneers and Practitioners: Freedom Preparatory Academy
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a fellow educator who believes that knowledge is power — and that power is freedom.Subscribe to keep learning from the founders and the teachers who keep the torch lit.
 

S2 E11 Power of Sharing

In this installment of the National Charter Schools Institute's Bold by Choice Podcast, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper sit down with education journalist Richard Whitmire, author of The Founders — a deep, human story of how collaboration, not competition, built the nation’s most successful charter school networks.
Commissioned by The 74 Million and drawn from the archives of the National Charter Schools Founders Library, The Founders traces the rise of networks like KIPP, Uncommon, and Achievement First. Whitmire reveals that their shared success came from an open-source culture rooted in generosity — a legacy that began in Harriet Ball’s Houston classroom.
“The founders didn’t guard their playbooks—they swapped them.”— Richard Whitmire, Inside The Founders (Charter Library Interview)
Key Takeaways
1. Curiosity Sparked Connection
Whitmire’s project began after a casual conversation with Don Shalvey, who encouraged him to look past test scores and policies. What started as a journalistic curiosity became a national chronicle of the people and relationships driving educational transformation.
“Don Shalvey said, ‘If you really want to know what happened, talk to the people who built it.’ That changed everything.” — Richard Whitmire
2. Cooperation Over Competition
Whitmire found that the most effective charter networks didn’t compete — they shared everything: lesson plans, data, mistakes, and breakthroughs. Instead of guarding intellectual property, they lifted one another up.
“They were rivals for teachers and funding, but they shared their secrets anyway. It was collaboration that made them successful.” — Richard Whitmire, The Founders Interview Transcript
3. The Harriet Ball Legacy
The culture of sharing began with legendary teacher Harriet Ball, whose mentorship of Dave Levin and Mike Feinberg inspired KIPP’s creation. Her only request: “Share what I’ve taught you.”That mindset became the DNA of the entire charter sector — generosity as a design principle.
4. Closing the Learning Gap
Through these networks’ collaborative models, Whitmire witnessed schools where low-income students of color achieved at levels matching their affluent peers — what he called “one of the most hopeful, under-told stories in American education.”
5. The Founders as Living Legacy
Supported by an Emerson Collective Fellowship, Whitmire used the Founders Library archives to document a movement still unfolding. His conclusion? The future of education depends on leaders who share what works.
Closing Reflections
“Movements endure when people choose to collaborate instead of compete.” — Don Cooper“When we share what works, every child wins.” — Vashaunta Harris
In this episode, Whitmire reminds us that the real innovation behind chartering wasn’t just autonomy or accountability — it was community.The spirit of sharing, mentorship, and learning together remains one of public education’s most transformative forces.
Listen now, and explore The Founders Collection at the Charter Library.
Show Notes & Resources
Explore these featured resources from the episode:
Interview of Richard Whitmire (Founders Library Collection)
The Founders – eBook PDF
A School Founder’s History: Dave Levin
The Linda Brown Collection
Pioneers and Practitioners: Freedom Preparatory Academy