Charter Moms Chats

The Rise School San Antonio is an early childhood program that will open in August 2024 to help children with developmental delays succeed in a school setting. Carter English and his wife Taylor are motivated to bring the Rise School model to San Antonio to serve children like their daughter Isabelle, who has Down syndrome. Carter English and Vanessa Lacoss Hurd, founders of the Rise School San Antonio, join us to share about the benefits of an immersive, fully-integrated experience for children with disabilities and traditional learners.

The Haven is a co-learning center that offers students a range of services, including facilitated courses of study, to help students and their families stay on track with their academic goals. The team from Pathways Home Education, including Maricela Luna, Executive Director, and Marilyn Danae, President, joins us to describe the learning spaces at The Haven, including a podcast studio, a maker space, and a fashion design studio, and describe daily activities that help students stay on track with their learning goals. They will also explain how families can set up a consultation and tour The Haven.

Celebrate Dyslexia Schools is an open enrollment charter school designed to provide a transformative educational experience for learners with dyslexia. The school will open in August 2024 serving students in second grade in a temporary location at The DoSeum. Flor Gutierrez, Superintendent of Celebrate Dyslexia Schools, and Jasmin Dean, Board Chair, join us to share about design elements including structured literacy-centered education and social-emotional learning grounded in conscious discipline. She will also offer tips for families who want to learn more about the school and enroll their students for the coming school year.

The Foundation School for Autism—San Antonio is an open enrollment charter school that serves students from ages 3 to 7 who are on the autism spectrum. They receive expert care, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and applied behavior analysis, from teachers and specialists who help them build communication skills and prepare for learning in a general education setting. Peggy Derby, Campus Director at the Foundation School for Autism—San Antonio, joins us to talk about they are providing the best education possible for young students on the autism spectrum, and how families can enroll their students.

Are there any new conversations to be had about school safety? Mary Field, a board member at the International School of San Antonio and a thoughtful commentator about parenting and education, joins us to discuss her research into tough subjects like gun violence and bullying. She tries to evaluate which safety strategies actually work and offers hope for parents who are trying to keep our children safe and make our communities safer.

Founders Classical Academy of Schertz offers students a classical, liberal arts education with a grounding in United States history, character education, and fine arts. Founders Schertz is located on the Northeast Side of the San Antonio metro area, and is part of a larger network of classical education charter schools. Kelly Hunt, Headmaster at Founders Classical Academy of Schertz, and Dawn Willitt, Assistant Headmaster, join us to talk about the classical education curriculum and offer advice about enrolling your students.

Promesa Academy nurtures its students' love of learning and provides them with rich experiences. Located on the West Side of San Antonio, Promesa has indoor and outdoor learning spaces and a culture of caring for their students. Isaac Williams, Interim Superintendent of Promesa Academy, Ana Aguilera, Principal, and Julie Rothlauf, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, join us to share about how they build strong relationships with each student and support them with love. They will also offer tips for how to learn more about the campus and enroll your student at Promesa Academy.

Harmony Public Schools offers STEM education and project-based learning for students who want a rigorous education that will prepare them for college and careers. We will speak with a team from Harmony Public Schools South Texas, including Guadalupe Ruiz, Student Recruitment and Retention Specialist at Harmony Science Academy—San Antonio, Megan Parrish, District Director of Communications and Marketing, and Claire Haller, PreK–2 District Coach, to learn about how Harmony students work with robots, drones, solar cars, and more on their paths towards understanding the natural world and making our lives better. We will also talk about campus improvements and how to apply for enrollment at Harmony Public Schools.

Compass Rose Public Schools is a network of charter schools where academic achievement coupled with personal growth is their “True North.” Join us for a discussion with Ryane Burke, Chief Schools Officer at Compass Rose Public Schools, Melissa Sanchez, Vice President of Student Support Services at Compass Rose Public Schools, and Myeisha Haywood, Principal of Compass Rose Journey Elementary. They will share what's unique about each campus and explain how families can apply for their students to enroll at Compass Rose in the San Antonio region.

Over the past decade, BASIS Texas Charter Schools have established themselves as the #1 district in Texas by offering students a world-class, liberal arts education. Ken Tyrrell, Vice President of School Operations at BASIS Ed Texas, and David King, Associate Vice President of Academics for BASIS Ed Texas, join us to discuss the strengths of the BASIS Charter Schools model—offered at five campuses in the San Antonio area—and offer tips about the upcoming enrollment season.