Providing Choice: A Florida Charter School Alliance Podcast

A conversation with Marisol Gomez, FCSA Charter School Hero Award winner 2026 For more than 25 years, Marisol Gomez has been a valued leader within the Mater Academy network of charter schools. She started as a classroom teacher at Mater East in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, working with immigrant students and families. In XXX, she was asked to serve as the founding principal of Mater Beach Academy, guiding the K–6 school to high-performing status and establishing it as one of the top schools in the state. We spoke with Ms. Gomez about her leadership journey and what drives her to continue to serve students.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org

On this episode, we feature Jonathan Hage, founder and CEO of Charter Schools USA. For three decades, he has focused on expanding school choice and developing charter schools designed to give families more educational options. We spoke to Jon about the inception of charter schools in Florida, how parents drive the movement, the lessons he's learned building schools and communities across the country, and the future of K–12 education.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org

On this episode of Providing Choice, we turn the reigns over to the incredible students at SLAM Charter Middle/High School and SLAM! Radio - Larry Milian's incredible students talk to Dr. Andrea Zayas, The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools' Chief of Engagement & Partnerships, live on SiriusXM and we've for the fantastic recording of it. SLAM Radio is the first satellite radio station in the country run by high school students - and this is not only a great and fun conversation - this is an example of ground breaking education transforming the way students learn.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org

From Educator to Leader: How Doral College's Master's & Modified Programs Fast-Track Your Path to Florida Principal Licensure Cristina Romero, VP for Student Affairs at Doral College, talks with us about their innovative Master's in Educational Leadership program and Modified Educational Leadership Curriculum—designed to prepare educators who already hold graduate degrees in the field. These programs provide a pathway to becoming highly effective educational leaders, successfully passing the FELE, and earning Level 1 Leadership licensure in the State of Florida.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org

On this episode of Providing Choice, we hear from Rob Warholic, the founder of BRJ Restoration. Specializing in asbestos abatement, water damage, mold remediation, and demolition, they handle multiple trades in-house—cutting delays and keeping projects moving. Their approach is safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible, serving schools across Florida. Rob is the one you call when the job has to be done right.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org

For more information on RBJ Restoration visit: https://brjrestoration.com/

Join the FCSA for episode 2 of a new three-part series on transforming school facilities into vibrant community hubs. Guests Geri Chaffee (Dreamers Academy), Alma Ollva (United Way Suncoast), Tina Smith (Highmark School Development), and Suzanne Metzgar (Leadwell Partners) share expert insights on designing educational spaces that promote academic achievement and community well-being.

To learn more about our guests and access the resources mentioned in this episode, click the links below.

Dreamers Academy

Highmark School Development

Leadwell Partners

National Family Support Network

Newtown Family Center

United Way Suncoast, Alice Report 2025

United Way Suncoast

Join FCSA for a new three-part series on transforming school facilities into vibrant community hubs.

In Episode 1, hear from Geri Chaffee (Dreamers Academy), Alma Ovalle (United Way Suncoast), Tina Smith (Highmark School Development), and Suzanne Metzgar (Leadwell Partners) as they share expert insights on designing educational spaces that promote academic achievement and community well-being.

Throughout the series, we'll explore trends in school facility use, strategies to expand community support, and practical steps to fund and implement high-impact initiatives.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from leaders who are making school-centered communities a reality—boosting equity, access, health, and student success.

On this episode of Providing Choice, we learn about Special Event Risk Management from the experts at the Florida Insurance Alliance and Egis Insurance and Risk Advisors, Ryan Rupnarian & Brent Grimmel. This is an important topic for charter school leaders who plan proms, fundraisers, and special events on and off campus.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org

Grades aren't the only measure of success. While they offer a familiar performance benchmark, they don't capture the full picture. On this episode of Providing Choice, Dr. Jessica Barr contextualizes NAEP scores and explores charter school achievements and learning gains that recent NAEP data doesn't reflect.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org

March 2025 marks five years since the COVID-19 lockdowns began. While many headlines focus on what's not working in education, we will highlight what is working at Florida charter schools. In this episode, Adriana Diaz-Garcia, Principal of Somerset Academy Palms in Miami-Dade, talks about student achievement and acceleration on campus and their journey to becoming a "High Performing" school and earning a"Florida School of Excellence" award.

The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is a member-driven organization focused on influencing legislative policy and environments with unrivaled success in advocating for and protecting charter schools and parental choice. The FCSA advocates for, defends, supports, and collaborates with public charter schools that serve close to 400,000 students statewide.

#FloridaCharterSchoolAlliance #FCSA

www.flcharteralliance.org