Ilimi Hasken Rayuwa

This week, Ryan sits down with education reformer Curtis Valentine. Curtis is the Deputy Director, Reinventing America’s Schools at the Progressive Policy Institute and is also an at-large board member for the Prince George’s County Public School District. Last month, Curtis was a panelist at the "Is School Choice the Black Choice" Atlanta town hall hosted by Roland Martin and sponsored by The 74. On this episode, Curtis recaps the panel and provides insightful perspective on the historical roots and modern outlook of school choice and charter education in the Black community. Curtis also talks about his work as his school board member and provides actionable strategies to find common ground with other education policymakers and enact effective education policy. You can watch the "Is School Choice the Black Choice" panel by clicking here: https://www.the74million.org/article/watch-live-is-school-choice-the-black-choice-atlanta-town-hall/ Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, Ryan sits down with NAPCS Senior Director of Government Relations Ron Rice, Jr.. Ron talks about his work at the National Alliance and what it means to advocate for pro-charter policy at the federal level with a Congress that seems more polarized than ever. Ron and Ryan also discuss how charter education policy affected the 2018 mid-term elections and how it is poised to influence the 2020 presidential race. Ron also discusses his annual School Leaders of Color event and his admirable work to amplify the minority voice in charter education. Find out more about Ron's work by visiting www.publiccharters.org. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, Ryan sits down with principal Wendy Shirey of Pinecrest Academy Horizon charter school in Henderson, Nevada. Back in December, Principal Shirey won the prestigious Milken Educator Award, an honor frequently referred to as the "Oscars of Teaching." Ryan talks to Wendy about what the award means to her, how she uses data and stakeholder engagement to effect school turnarounds, her strategies for effective grant writing, and how her background in special education influences her leadership philosophy. You can find out more about our guest's school by visiting www.pinecresthorizon.org and find out more about her award by visiting www.milkeneducatorawards.org. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, Ryan sits down with charter school teacher Ralph Krauss (Pinecrest Academy of Nevada) and charter school support administrator Michael Smythers. This year, Ralph and Michael built a competitive e-sports league featuring charter schools from Florida and Nevada. Students are competing as teams and representing their schools in the league featuring the "Rocket League" video game, and the program has garnered incredible interest from the competing schools. Ralph and Michael talk about why e-sports programs are good investments for schools and why they are valuable for students. Our guests also talk about their league, what the future holds for their program, and how other schools can create e-sports programs at their campuses. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, we are joined by four very special guests, high school seniors Santiago, Nathaniel, Pedro, and Juliette at the Doral Academy Charter High School. These four excellent students talk about their experience attending their Blue Ribbon-winning charter school and how their charter school education has helped them receive admission at prestigious colleges around the country. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Michael Hernandez (@edtechmichael)

This week, Charter School Superstars is recording on-location at the Blue Ribbon-winning Doral Academy Charter High School in Doral, Florida to talk to high-performing teachers Michael Hunter and Domingo Montenegro. Mr. Hunter and Mr. Montenegro are the science and English department chairs respectively at Doral Academy and have championed an AP program that has achieved incredible results while embracing open enrollment throughout the student body. These two wonderful teachers offer insight on how schools can foster a college prep curriculum that embraces both high enrollment and academic quality. Our guests also have some great stories to tell on how they were able to work directly with their administration to implement school-wide initiatives to help Doral Academy enjoy continued success. Give CSS a listen this week and get inspired! If you would like to speak with our guests to find out more about their programs, visit www.doralacademyprep.org. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Michael Hernandez (@edtechmichael)

This week, Charter School Superstars is recording on-location at the Blue Ribbon-winning Doral Academy Charter High School in Doral, Florida to talk to high-performing teachers Michael Hunter and Domingo Montenegro. Mr. Hunter and Mr. Montenegro are the science and English department chairs respectively at Doral Academy and have championed an AP program that has achieved incredible results while embracing open enrollment throughout the student body. These two wonderful teachers offer insight on how schools can foster a college prep curriculum that embraces both high enrollment and academic quality. Our guests also have some great stories to tell on how they were able to work directly with their administration to implement school-wide initiatives to help Doral Academy enjoy continued success. Give CSS a listen this week and get inspired! If you would like to speak with our guests to find out more about their programs, visit www.doralacademyprep.org. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair) Producer: Michael Hernandez (@edtechmichael)

To celebrate School Choice Week, Ryan sits down with noted education reformer, lawyer, author, and policymaker Kevin Chavous. Kevin talks about what charter school parents can do to help advocate for their schools and the future of the charter school movement (and virtual charter schools in particular). Find out more about Kevin's incredible work in the ed reform space, and his excellent books, by visiting www.kevinpchavous.com. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, Ryan sits down with education consultant and policy expert Liza McFadden of Liza & Partners. A big policy focus for Liza is adult education, and particularly the role that charter schools can play in expanding adult education opportunities. She tells us about some successful adult education charter programs in the U.S. and also discusses what policymakers and advocates need to do to allow these programs to expand and serve more people. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, Ryan sits down with teacher and sports radio personality Larry Milian. Larry is the director of the SLAM Radio program at the SLAM Academy charter high school in Miami, Florida. SLAM Radio is a SiriusXM satellite station and is the first such radio station run by high school students. Larry talks to Ryan about this groundbreaking initiative and provides some insight on what motivates students and the value of project-based learning. You can check out SLAM Radio by tuning in to SiriusXM channel 145 and you can find out more about the station by visiting https://www.siriusxm.com/slamradio. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, Ryan sits down with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Kamalani Academy Charter School in Wahiawa, Hawai'i. Operating charter schools in our 50th state presents unique challenges and opportunities, and our guests have some great insights to share. They also talk about some of Kamalani's innovative programs, including its focus on Hawaiian culture across the curriculum, its arts integration programs, and its leadership initiatives. Our guests also discuss the charter school movement in Hawai'i generally and the challenges in recruiting and retaining teachers in the state. Find out more about Kamalani Academy by visiting www.kamalaniacademy.org. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, we interview a very special guest: 2019 Miss America Nia Imani Franklin. In addition to her pageant success, Nia is also an accomplished teacher and a devoted education advocate. Nia talks to Ryan about the role that arts education has played in her life, and how she has devoted herself to advancing this important cause through her work with organizations like ArtistCorps and the Success Academy Charter Schools network. You can find out more about Nia's education advocacy by visiting www.missamerica.org. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

This week, Ryan chats with Pamela Blizzard, the Founder and Managing Director of the Research Triangle High School in North Carolina. RTHS is an acclaimed public charter school that places a heavy emphasis on personalized learning, project-based learning, and technology. It does not look like, or operate like, a typical high school--and that contributes to its success. Pamela talks about what makes her school unique and provides some advice on how to implement personalized learning strategies in your own school. Find out more about Pamela's school by visiting www.researchtrianglehighschool.org. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Our guest this week is Joy Prescott. Ms. Prescott teaches fourth grade math at the Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School in Glades County, Florida. In May of this year, Joy was named the 2019 Florida Teacher of the Year, the first charter school teacher to receive this award. On the show, Joy talks to Ryan about her unique charter school, which is located on a Seminole Reservation and specializes in using immersion-based instruction to teach its students the Creek language. Joy also reflects on her teaching philosophy, giving excellent advice on subjects like teaching math with relevancy, and how to survive your first year as a teacher. You can follow our guest on Twitter at @2019FLTOY. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Our guest this week is Juan Infante. Juan is a 2005 graduate of Doral Academy Charter High School and the charter-founded Doral College. Today, Juan is a senior at Harvard University and serves on the Doral College Board of Trustees. In the interview, Juan reflects on his education journey and the role that his school and community played to help him achieve success in and out of the classroom. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Our guest this week is Miranda Murillo. Miranda is a charter school alum who is currently a senior at New York University. Miranda talks to Ryan about how her experience at Doral Academy Charter High School and the charter-founded Doral College helped prepare her for success at one of America's elite universities. Upon graduation, Miranda will be starting a position at Goldman Sachs. Miranda's story will inspire you, as she serves as a prime example of the promise of the charter movement. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Our guest this week is Alexandra Prieto, principal of the Somerset Miramar charter school in Broward County, Florida. This month, Somerset Miramar will be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018. Ms. Prieto shares her insight on the strategies she employs at her school that have led to student success. Investing in faculty retention and parent involvement play a big role. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Our guest this week is Florida Charter School Alliance Executive Director Lynn Norman-Teck. Lynn talks about her career in charter school advocacy. She also offers some impressive insight on the evolution of the charter school movement in her home state of Florida and gives her outlook on the future of education reform. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)

Welcome to Charter School Superstars! Each week, we will bring you interviews with the incredible school leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, students, and advocates that have made the charter school movement a powerful force for change. On our first episode, host Ryan Kairalla sits down with Judy Marty (CAO, Mater Academy, Inc.) and Carrie Montano (Principal, Pinecrest Glades Academy) at the Florida Charter School Conference (our apologies for the background noise in the exhibit hall during the recording). Ms. Marty and Ms. Montano are both fantastic school leaders who have experience running high-performing charter schools. They talk to Ryan about fostering student success in high-poverty and ELL schools, selecting the right faculty and staff members, and busting myths about charter education. Host: Ryan Kairalla (@ryankair)