REGISTER NOW! The 2022 Georgia Charter Schools Conference takes place THIS FRIDAY and SATURDAY and is a hybrid of in-person, virtual content and networking. Day one will be held at Lake Oconee Academy, in Greensboro, Georgia. Day two will be held virtually on the Whova virtual platform.
This year’s conference features RaShauun Holliman Kemp, Executive Director of the Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools, as the keynote speaker and Dr. Ebony McGee, Professor of Diversity and STEM Education at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. See the complete conference agenda and breakout session information below.
DAY ONE AGENDA
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast and Registration
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Georgia’s Charter School Authorizing Standards
The Georgia Principles & Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing, adopted by the State Board of Education in December 2021, are designed to guide local boards of education, the State Board of Education and the State Charter Schools Commission in meeting high-quality authorizing practices. Join SCSC Executive Director Lauren Holcomb and SCSC Chief Operations Officer Morgan Felts for a review the standards and to learn about the next phase of authorizer accountability. – Participants in this session will learn about how the Authorizer Standards will be implemented now that they have been approved by the State Board of Education.
Charter Replication: It’s Not THAT Daunting
Join Gregg Stevens, GCSA’s VP of New School Development, and successful charter school leaders to discuss how to replicate high-quality charter school models. While learning about authorizer expectations for charter replications, we will explore case studies of strong (and not-so-strong) charter replications, policies and practices that promote success, and how GCSA’s New School Development programs support charter replication.
From Surviving to Thriving: Strengthening Executive Function Skills
As we try to cope with the unrelenting mental stress of living through an ongoing pandemic, the word “burnout” is once again on track to top the charts in 2022. Given the very real challenges that students, teachers, parents, and leaders are confronting daily during our “new normal“ of learning during flux, ordinary worries about academics, extracurricular activities, and social relationships seem to be ballooning into troublesome anxiety. Educators need an infusion of transcending hope and a new approach to helping students manage their anxiety and re-engage in learning to help bridge the gap of unfinished learning and move forward with confidence.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
2022 GCSA Legislative Update
This session will focus on the current GCSA Legislative Agenda with updates on current bills.
Economic Impact Study
This session will discuss a multi-part research series requested by the State Charter Schools Commission in 2016 and performed by the Center for State and Local Finance that analyzed the economic impact of start-up charter schools. The series of studies focused on the economic impact start-up charter schools have on the individuals who attend them, the communities they serve, and the state of Georgia as a whole. A primary focus of this session will be to highlight new research that estimates the impact that start-up charter schools might have on students’ later-life earnings.
Telemedicine in Schools
How one school is winning the battle against the pandemic. This session will focus on how Lake Oconee Academy is using a Georgia-based telemedicine service to keep students and staff healthy and in school. Hear from Dr. Otho Tucker, CEO about the benefits of leveraging telemedicine to address not only COVID-19, but a range of medical and mental health issues. LOA’s school nurse will provide a first-hand account of how she provides medical care efficiently and effectively to staff and students, which has minimal impact on her schedule.
12:00 p.m.
Lunch & General Session
Keynote Speaker: RaShaun Holliman Kemp
During the general session, we will hear from Keynote Speaker, RaShaun Holliman Kemp, Executive Director of the Freedom Coalition for Charter Schools.
1:00 p.m.
Leading Schools When Wellness Matters
Encouraging wellness can be overwhelming when leaders are charged with ensuring that learning is happening. This session will give school leaders the freedom to implement practical steps that promote a healthy school community. Together, we will unpack how wellness can occur while learning continues.
1:45-3:00 p.m.
Protecting Charter School Autonomy
This panel will provide strategies for navigating the balance between charter school autonomy and regulatory oversight, with the primary focus on local authorizer practices. We will also discuss the State Board of Education’s role as a third party to the charter agreement and the political challenges of navigating new superintendents and elected boards of education.
Infusing Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Content in STEM Courses
Guest Lecturer: Dr. Ebony McGee, Professor of Diversity and STEM Education, Vanderbilt University
This session will challenge the assertion that knowledge and knowledge production are neutral, objective, and unconnected to power relations. Through examples that deconstruct biases in the classroom, Dr. Ebony McGee proposes a bold shift to the incorporation of culturally rich and anti-racist creative STEM curriculum.
3:00-3:45 p.m.
Post Session Dialogue with Dr. Ebony McGee
Join Dr. McGee for continued dialogue on the topic of Infusing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Content in STEM Courses.
Virtual Exhibitor Visits
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Day 1 – Closing Reception
DAY TWO AGENDA
8:30-9:00 a.m.
Virtual Exhibitor Visits
9:00-10:30 a.m.
Board-Leader Relationship: Onboarding School Leaders for a Strong Start
You are thoughtful about onboarding new board members. Your school leaders are intentional about orienting new staff members. Who onboards school leaders? This session will explore the actions and conversations that boards and school leaders can prioritize to facilitate a strong onboaording process. During this panel, three executive directors will share insights about the onboarding process. Their unique contexts will offer insights from turnaround environments, leading multiple schools and transitioning from a non-education career into a school leader role. Attendees will be able to ask questions during the session.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Money Matters: What your board needs to know about financial oversight.
This session is ideal for a newer board members, or anyone seeking a foundational understanding of the requirements and best practices for charter school boards. Participants will leave this session with tools they can use right away to improve their governance practice.
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Today’s Economy
This session will focus on how charter schools are navigating a fiercely competitive job market and the potential impact that might have on your school’s budget? We will explore this issue with a panel of school leaders, school finance experts, and an active audience of stakeholders. Facilitator: Terence Washington, Business Development Manager, EdTech Charter School Specialists.
12:14-12:45 p.m.
Virtual Exhibitor Visits
12:30-3:30 p.m.
Best Practices in Charter School Governance
This session is ideal for a newer board members, or anyone seeking a foundational understanding of the requirements and best practices for charter school boards. Participants will leave this session with tools they can use right away to improve their governance practice.
12:45-2:15 p.m.
School Culture Development – What is needed now?
School leaders have expressed noticing changes in the school culture – higher rates of discipline issues, higher levels of transparency around issues of wellness, the benefits of restorative practices, etc. since returning to the building. This session will explore the approaches school leaders are taking to address school culture in ways that have been impactful for the school community. You will also hear considerations about due diligence processes and refreshers on documenting the strategies being used.
2:30-4:00 p.m.
Financing and Developing a School
Finding and Financing an appropriate facility can be one of the most challenging endeavors for a charter school. During this presentation, schools will receive information regarding their access to capital markets and their pathways to lending and charter school development. Participants will also garner a better understanding of questions to ask their lenders and questions to consider when developing a facility strategy.
