Charter Chat Podcast

For Episode 9, I interviewed David Porter, the Executive Director of University Preparatory Academy in the Silicon Valley in San Jose. This is a special edition Covid-19 episode and David speaks about their transition to virtual learning. 

University Preparatory Academy is a seat based charter school that has strong community support. The main mission of the school is to help prepare students to succeed in college. All students are required to take two AP classes before they graduate. 

Thank you to David Porter for taking the time to sit down with me tell us about their school and the wonderful programs they have available. David is also willing to share best practices with other schools to help out during the Covid-19 pandemic. You can find out more about University Preparatory Academy by visiting their website at

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GUESTS: David Porter of University Preparatory Academy

For Episode 8, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jennifer Cauzza, the Executive Director of Julian Charter School. This is a special edition Covid-19 episode. 

Julian Charter School is a hybrid program that has recently switched to total independent study during the global pandemic. Jennifer discusses the resources and technology they are utilizing to support distance learning. 

Thank you to Jennifer Cauzza for taking the time to sit down with me tell us about the changes they have implemented during the Covid-19 at Julian Charter School. You can find out more about Julian Charter School by visiting their website at www.jcs-inc.org

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GUESTS: Jennifer Cauzza of Julian Charter School

For Episode 7, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jody Graf, the Executive Director of Visions In Education. VIE is a home school program in Northern CA in 9 different counties, including Sacramento.

Jody and I discussed their unique program and how their teachers will make home calls to the elementary student's homes. Their teachers really take the time to build relationships with their families and students. 

Visions In Education also started an internship program and Jody invites people that want to become teachers to join in their program. 

Thank you to Jody Graf for taking the time to sit down with me tell us more about their home school and independent study program at Visions In Education. You can find out more about Visions In Education by visiting their website at www.viedu.org.

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GUESTS: Jody Graf of Visions In Education

I sat down with Carrier Wagner, Founder & Executive Director of Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS) for Episode 6. GALS is a free, all girls public charter school in Panorama City, CA.

GALS is collocated on a beautiful LAUSD campus. The students at GALS get access to the Olympic sized swimming pool as well as the other athletic facilities. Each morning the students and staff start their day with movement doing yoga.

Carrie and I discussed the social emotional component of their program and how it is very important to not only teach the kids about math and science, but to educate the girls on how to deal with their emotions as well. These are all very important qualities our future leaders must possess.

Thank you to Carrier Wagner for taking the time to sit down with me tell us more about the fantastic personalized learning program at Girls Athletic Leadership School. You can find out more about GALS by visiting their website at www.galsla.org.

You can support the Charter Chat Podcast by subscribing to the podcast on iTunes, rating the episode and leaving a review.

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GUESTS: Carrie Wagner of Girls Athletic Leadership School (GALS)

For Episode 5, I sat down with Claudia Weintraub, Executive Director of River Oaks Academy, a TK through 12th grade, independent study, or personalized learning as they like to call it, charter school that has two locations in Westlake Village and Oxnard.

This school has concurrent enrollment available at the local junior college so students can be earning college credit while in high school. A very unique thing that River Oaks has is they are dual accredited with WASC and the NCAA. Since they have that NCAA Accreditation they get a lot of student athletes that enroll in their program.

Thank you to Claudia Weintraub for taking the time to sit down with me tell us more about the fantastic personalized learning program at River Oaks Academy. You can find out more about River Oaks Academy by visiting their website at www.riveroakscharter.com.

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GUESTS: Claudia Weintraub of Rivers Oaks Academy

For Episode 4, I headed on over to Thousand Oaks, CA to Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School, or MATES for short. I interviewed Brenda Olshever the Executive Director and Kristin Walker, the Assistant Director.

MATES is a conversion school, which means it was once a district school that later converted into a charter school. The school was going to be shut down by the district due to low student enrollment, but instead they turned it into a thriving charter school.

Learn about how MATES integrates art and technology into their curriculum. Also find out how MATES partners with Cal Lutheran University to have undergrad student volunteers help out on their campus.

Thank you to Brenda Olshever & Kristen Walker for taking the time to sit down with me tell us more about MATES. You can find out more about MATES by visiting their website at www.matescharter.org

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GUESTS: Brenda Olshever & Kristen Walker of Meadows Arts and Technology Elementary School

I spoke with a couple of the Founders of Redwood Preparatory Charter School, located in Humboldt County for the third episode of the Charter Chat Podcast. I had the pleasure of interviewing Krista Croteau & Melanie Downing who are both a couple of the founders of the school.

Hear about how Krista and Melanie got started in education and how they decided to start a charter school in their small community. They have a great story about how Redwood Prep started and how the community really came together to help. 

We discussed the school's Five Core Values:

1. Academic Rigor

2. Social Responsibility

3. Community

4. Shared Leadership

5. Educating the Whole Child

Redwood Prep's core values have evolved and have expanded their program to focus on STEAM.

Thank you to Krista Croteau & Melanie Downing for taking the time to sit down with me tell us more about Redwood Prep. You can find out more about Redwood Prep by visiting their website at www.redwoodprep.org

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GUESTS: Krista Croteau & Melanie Downing of Redwood Preparatory Charter School

For the second episode of the Charter Chat Podcast, I visited with Christine Kuglen from Innovations Academy, located in San Diego. Christine has a great story about how she started her charter school. She also speaks about how she home-schooled her kids prior to starting a school.

Innovations Academy has various personalized learning options. Christine speaks about the types of programs they have including homeschooling, a hybrid classroom based program and a full five day classroom program.

Lastly Christine speaks about the behavior modification methods they use or don't use at their school. Connection before correction is one of their mantras.

Thank you to Christine Kuglen for taking the time to sit down with me tell us more about Innovations Academy. You can find out more about Innovations Academy by visiting their website at www.innovationsacademy.org

You can support the Charter Chat Podcast by subscribing to our channel on iTunes, rating the episode, and leaving a review.

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GUESTS: Christine Kuglen of Innovations Academy

I sat down with Ana Chavez from Value Schools, located in Los Angeles, CA for the first episode of the Charter Chat Podcast. She tells us about how she got started in charter schools and education.

Ana spoke about their values-based model and how the kids build character and learn the importance of community.

We discussed some of the challenges Value Schools faces with facilities and their current ongoing fundraiser to raise money to build a permanent home for one of their campuses.

Ana continues to talk about the Five Core Values of Value Schools. These core values are:

1. Academic excellence is the means to a full life.

2. Each student can develop to his or her fullest potential.

3. Each individual is unique and deserves respect.

4. A safe, nurturing community is essential to academic excellence.

5. Service to others and the community is a responsibility of an educated person.

Thank you to Ana Chavez for taking the time to sit down with me tell us more about Value Schools. You can find out more on Value Schools by visiting their website at www.valueschools.com.

You can support the Charter Chat Podcast by subscribing to our channel on iTunes, rating the episode, and leaving a review.

You can Follow Charter Chat at:

GUESTS: Ana Chavez of Value Schools