"More Great Seats 4 Kids": A SUNY Charter Schools Institute Podcast

What does it really take to lead bold organizational change — and make it stick?

On this episode of More Great Seats 4 Kids, Mike Lesczinski, Director of Strategy and Communications at the SUNY Charter Schools Institute, sits down with Tresha Ward, Chief Executive Officer of Prospect Charter Schools, for a conversation about leadership, equity, talent, and school transformation.

Since stepping into the CEO role in 2021, Tresha has led a major effort to redesign systems and structures to create equity for both students and staff. She shares how Prospect Schools rethought staffing models, strengthened leadership development, improved compensation practices, rebuilt culture, and dramatically increased employee retention while reducing disparities by race and role.

This is a practical discussion about making difficult decisions, navigating resistance, staying grounded in values, and building an organization where excellence, diversity, and belonging can thrive together.

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In this episode of the State University of New York (SUNY) Charter Schools Institute’s More Great Seats 4 Kids podcast, the Institute’s Mike Lesczinski is joined by Kalila Hoggard, Chief People Officer at DREAM, and Ana Rader, Director of Seasonal and Fellowship Recruitment at DREAM, for a conversation on building sustainable teacher pipelines from within school communities. They discuss the origins and growth of the DREAM Teaching Fellowship, why DREAM prioritizes alumni and community members as future educators, and how the fellowship supports both teacher development and long-term student success. The episode explores recruitment, retention, mentorship, and professional growth, while highlighting how investing in homegrown talent strengthens school culture and advances DREAM’s commitment to generational impact.

About DREAM 

Founded in 1991 in East Harlem, DREAM began as a baseball program for neighborhood youth. Today, it is a network of seven schools in East Harlem and the South Bronx serving young people from birth through early adulthood — through 0-4 early childhood programs, extended-day and extended/year school model for students in grades K-12, and six years of alumni support after high school graduation. DREAM serves more than 3,000 students and alumni across East Harlem and the South Bronx. With strong academic results, free afterschool and summer programs, deep family partnerships, and healthy school meals cooked on-site, DREAM supports the whole child — so young people are prepared for school, college, and career. 

More Information

• State University of New York (SUNY) Charter Schools Institute 
• DREAM 
• DREAM Teaching Fellowship 

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Natalie Lozada, the founding Executive Director of Haven Charter High School, joins the podcast to discuss the STEM-based CTE high school’s launch this past August. Natalie discusses the inspiration behind Haven and how the school built ties within the local Bronx community and successfully navigated initial challenges and the pre-opening process. 

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Keegan Prue, the SUNY Charter Schools Institute’s Managing Director for Strategy and Communications, joins the podcast to break down the 2026 Request for Proposals (RFP) for new charter schools. He explores the new provisions to this year’s RFP, explains the rationale behind the updates, and offers insights into the proposal review process. Keegan also shares practical advice for applicants looking to position themselves for success. 

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Dermoth Mattison, founder and Executive Director of South Shore Charter School, and Mark Crusante, founder and Executive Director, Diamond Charter School, join the podcast to discuss how they are working together to overcome challenges and share insights and best practices to create a strong foundation for future success for both of their Long Island public charter schools.  

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Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy’s Head of School, Nicia Fullwood, and Dean of Postsecondary Success, Cassie Magesis, share how the all-girls charter high school empowers students for future success through a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, personalized student and family counseling, alumni support, and more. 

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The Academy Charter School's founder and CEO Bishop Barrington Goldson and his team join the podcast for an engaging discussion on The Academy's Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, their process for recruiting instructional expertise and aligning curricula with industry standards, and how they are using feedback from families, students, and the community to design future plans. The conversation concludes with advice for public schools seeking to replicate The Academy's CTE program success. 

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Ascend Charter Schools is a not-for-profit charter school education corporation with authority to operate 10 charter schools rooted in Brooklyn. Beyond a reputation for rigorous inquiry-based curricula and a responsive school culture, Ascend is known for its robust professional growth and development. CEO Recy Dunn joins the podcast to discuss Ascend’s approach to PD, the Science of Reading, and what advice he has for public schools seeking to develop a strong internal leadership pipeline. 

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Erin Allen, Senior Analyst, SUNY Charter Schools Institute, joins the podcast to discuss the Institute's new white paper, Accelerated Learning in Practice: 
Promising Practices from the SUNY Charter Schools’ 2021-22 School Visit Season.  Allen discusses the four exciting and promising strategies, the strengths and weaknesses of each, and the hope that these strategies affirm and inspire work to address unfinished learning.

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Kristie Swanson, Experiential Learning Coordinator at Finn Academy Charter School, joins us to discuss introducing hands-on activities in the classroom to connect academic learning to real-world situations and build cultural competency. 

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