The Charter Voice

2 Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity

NATIONAL HERITAGE ACADEMIES proudly partners with charter school

boards across the country to serve more than 50,000 students in 76 schools.

Our belief is simple: set high standards, make expectations clear, provide

meaningful instruction and watch children excel. With a commitment to hard

work, good citizenship, and personal responsibility, our students experience

a safe learning environment where achievement thrives.

To learn more, visit nhaschools.com

3Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity

Welcome to the 2014 North Carolina Charter Schools Conference! Our theme this year is “Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity.” We will focus on the sea of students across North Carolina, not just those in our schools, but those who do not have access to a charter school. While improving quality in our own schools, how do we grow the charter sector, and how do we enhance the educational futures of the rest? Who are charter schools for? What role do parents play in answering these questions?

Providing thought provoking discussion Thursday on these questions will be a prominent panel including Jim Goenner, President of the National Charter Schools Institute, Kara Kerwin, President of The Center for Education Reform, Buddy Collins, Vice Chair of the State Board of Education, and Darrell Allison, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in NC. Friday, we will have Nina Rees, President of the National Alliance, lend her take on our “oceans of opportunity” as our keynote speaker.

We have 42 breakout sessions, special training in Core Knowledge, Charter Applications, and Digital Learning. Thursday join us on the Riverside Terrace for our “Rock by the River” party with the Spare Change Party Band. Fri-day we’ll start with breakfast in the vendor area and finish the day with a session recognizing some special charter champions and giving away the $1,000 “Closing Cash”. So don’t leave early!

Please thank our sponsors. Our Association is supported largely by this conference and the business members make the event financially feasible. Take time to visit with them.

Thank you for being here. Your continued investment in charter schools will yield an excellent return for your time and dollars. Most importantly, your dedication will yield returns manifested in the lives of North Carolina’s children. There is no substitute for the networking found each year at this conference. Build lasting relationships this week to draw on year around.

From the Association Board of Advisors and staff, special kudos this and every year to you in the classroom, the teachers, those on the front line. Also, to keep the business and pedagogical wheels turning there are the indispen-sible administrators to credit. Lastly, we recognize the members of the boards of directors, where the buck stops. Remember that with the waves of change we’ve experienced, we now have an ocean of opportunity ahead. We can drift or we can set our sails. This conference is about setting our sails! Enjoy yourselves!

Sincerely,

Eddie Goodall Executive Director

NATIONAL HERITAGE ACADEMIES proudly partners with charter school

boards across the country to serve more than 50,000 students in 76 schools.

Our belief is simple: set high standards, make expectations clear, provide

meaningful instruction and watch children excel. With a commitment to hard

work, good citizenship, and personal responsibility, our students experience

a safe learning environment where achievement thrives.

To learn more, visit nhaschools.com


Table of Contents Table of Contents

Welcome to the Conference.................................................................................... 3

Staff ...................................................................................................................... 6 - 7

About the NC Public Charter Schools Association........................................8 - 9

Conference at a Glance ......................................................................................... 10

Charter Advisory Board........................................................................................ 11

Conference Sponsors..................................................................................... 12 - 13

Separating Fact from Fiction about Charter Schools................................ 14 - 15

Value, Voice, Vision – NCPCSA ......................................................................... 16

“Rock by the River” party .................................................................................... 19

Member Schools.................................................................................................... 20

Board of Advisors.................................................................................................. 23

Map of the Conference ................................................................................. 24 - 25

Familiar Faces ................................................................................................ 26 - 27

Grand Ballroom..................................................................................................... 28

Vendors by Table Number ................................................................................... 29

Vendor Services by Category .............................................................................. 30

The Immersive LearningScape at Invest Collegiate ......................................... 31

Charter Funding: Inequity Expands .................................................................. 32

Education Should Be a Varsity Sport ......................................................... 34 - 35

Fun Facts about Wilmington .............................................................................. 36

August 1st, Keynote Speaker ............................................................................... 39

LCS Students Share Holocaust Museum ........................................................... 42


Table of Contents Table of Contents

Brown v. Board – 60 Years, May 17th, 1954 ...................................................... 43

State of NC Charter Schools ......................................................................... 44 - 45

Core Knowledge at the Conference .............................................................. 46 - 47

Thursday, July 31st – Breakout Sessions At-A-Glance ....................................... 48

Thursday, July 31st – Breakout Sessions........................................................ 49 - 56

Panel Discussion: Waves of change, Oceans of opportunity................................ 58

Friday, Aug. 1st – Breakout Sessions At-A-Glance.............................................. 60

Friday, Aug. 1st – Breakout Sessions ............................................................. 61 - 64

Academy Sees Test Scores Improvement – Brevard, NC.................................... 66

Individual District Schools Don’t Serve All Students, Either..................... 68 – 69

Millennium Charter Academy: Hidden Educational Gem........................ 70 – 71

Alphabetical Vendor List................................................................................ 72 – 87


Staff

Eddie Goodall, Executive Director

Eddie was North Carolina’s first fulltime person working solely for charter school ad-vocacy. He career included ownership of a CPA firm and serving three terms as a state senator. Eddie was the Vice Chair and co-founder of Union Academy in Monroe, one of the state’s first charters. His senate stint included sponsoring several charter school bills including language that evolved into Senate Bill 8, the legislation that removed the 15-year cap.

Judith Malveaux, Director of Communications

Judith Malveaux has more than 15 years in communications with seven of those years spent working directly with educators and education leaders in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She currently provides communication consultation for education leaders, small businesses and nonprofits. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass media from Hamp-ton University and a master’s degree in strategic and organizational communication from Queens University of Charlotte.

Jim Stegall, Government Relations Consultant

Jim Stegall retired from the US Army in 1996 and taught in the public schools for nine years. During that time he served as president of Professional Educators of North Caro-lina and as a board member of Union Academy, one of the state’s most successful charter schools. From 2005 to 2010 he was the lobbyist for Union County Public Schools, and in 2011 for the NC Alliance for Public Charter Schools. He is now the government rela-tions consultant for the NC Public Charter Schools Association.

Anthony Rodriguez, Director of Advocacy

Anthony Rodriguez is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has been with the NC Public Charter Schools Association since 2012 as their Direc-tor of Advocacy. This year, Anthony serves as the conference director. Previously, he has worked for Young Americans for Liberty as their Southeast Regional Director. In his spare time he enjoys running and catching up on politics. Anthony lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife Brittany, a second grade teacher.

Staff

Mary Catherine Sauer, Director of School Support

Mary is a long time charter school parent and advocate. She has volunteered in her children’s schools since 1999, serving on both PTO and PTA Boards. Recognizing a tre-mendous unmet demand for school choice in her area, Mrs. Sauer founded Cornerstone Charter Academy: CFA which opened in August 2012 with over 500 students. Since then she has worked for the NCPCSA as the Director of School Support and as the in-terim principal of Piedmont Classical High School, a charter school opening in Guilford County in the fall of 2015.


Staff

Special Thanks To:

Dr. Jane Young, ConsultantKerry Crutchfield, CPA, Financial Services Consultant

Samantha Colafrancesco, Program Book DesignDavid Hostetler, Legal Counsel

Julie Ayers, CPA, Partner, and Carol Moore, LB&A

Steve Joyner, Information Technology ConsultantWith over 25 years of technology experience in multiple private and public sector industries Steve Joynerknows how technology impacts an organization. Joyner has a tremendous grasp of “the big picture” anda technical understanding of the details that make a project fail or succeed. He is often asked to translatethis knowledge into layman’s terms so customers know what they should expect from their technology

investment and from suppliers and outside vendors.

Kerry Crutchfield, ISIS ConsultantKerry is the former chief financial officer, now part-time budget director, for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Kerry served on the original State Board of Education Charter School Committee that developed the

initial charter school application in 1997, and he writes and teaches courses all across North Carolina for public school officials.

Staff

Aletha Buck, Director of Administration

Aletha is a 2007 graduate of the Robert E. Cook Honors College at University of Indiana, Pennsylvania and the University of Huddersfield, England with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Prior to joining the Association, Aletha was an instrumental music teacher in both Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Outside of education Aletha owns her own photography business. Aletha, her husband and their Yorkie “Armani” live in Union County.

Christina Mango, Member Services

Christina Mango is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University. She is the newest member of our team here at the association. Previously, she has worked for Acadia Northstar, LLC as an Account Executive for charter schools in North Carolina. She will be working with our business members this year at the conference to help them build relationships with the schools that are attending. In her free time she enjoys crossfit and spending time with family and friends.


About the NC Public Charter Schools Association

The Association is a non-profit North Carolina corporation established in December of 2011, with operations be-ginning in 2012. We are an organization operating exclusively for exempt purposes as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Forms 990 for the calendar years 2012 and 2013 are located on our website at “About Us”.

Our Board of Directors includes Dr. Jane Young, Jim Stegall, Eddie Goodall, and Julie Ayers. Association policy is directed by a school member only Association Board of Advisors (ABA) for 2014-15 that includes: Carroll Reed (Southern Wake), Eugene Slocum (Alpha Academy), Heather Soja (Uwharrie), Rudy Swofford (Summerfield), Simon Johnson (Quality Education), Tom McCarthy (Arapahoe), Natalie Brozy (Roxboro Community), Steve Mc-Adams (Endeavor), Dave Machado (Lincoln Charter), Kirby McCrary (Millennium), Cynthia McQueen (Torch-light) and Antoinette Ellison (INVEST Collegiate).

Our strength and ultimate success, however, lies in the day to day working partnerships we have with volunteers, educators, administrators, policy-makers, legislators, businesses, and public supporters who believe that choice and positive competition using high quality public charter schools are owed the children of North Carolina and represent good public policy!

The mission of the Association is to grow and sustain high quality public charter schools that nourish North Caro-lina’s children and enrich their families.

We are the state’s leading and only fulltime charter advocate organization, providing legislative oversight, training workshops and conferences, communications forums, and leveraging the sector’s buying power working with our almost 100 business partners.

What have we done in the past year?

• Held a statewide conference, attended by 650 in Greensboro July 14-17

• Celebrated National Charter Schools Week

• Held 2 January charter job fairs in Greensboro and Charlotte in conjunction with “National School Choice Week”

• Maintained a vibrant website with nearly 100 content pages and 1,100 posts of relevant charter news since inception

• Issued our comprehensive monthly e-Newsletter, “Matters of Principal”, and other timely and critical news to our 4,000 subscriber list

• Monitored almost every State Board, Advisory Board, and Senate and House Ed Committee meeting

• Consulted with and helped develop charter applicantions for several charter applicants including provid-ing “mock interviews”


• Solicited and placed interested citizens on applicant charter boards

• Attended charter board of directors meetings across the state

• Provided ISIS accounting and financial services for schools

• Worked on charter issues with national and state policy makers including extensive involvement with 2013 state charter legislation

• As a member, worked with the State Leaders Council of the National Alliance, attended the last 5 national conferences in Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Washington DC, and Las Vegas, as well as regional meetings across the US

• Created a business membership network approaching 100 members of companies vowing to support char-ters and add value to our member schools including several “Getting Down to Business” workshops and set up a business member service “Directory”

• Selected by Momentum Ventures as its North Carolina charter buying coalition partner bringing huge discounts to our member schools

• Held training workshops for school leaders and educators

• Spotlighted our “”Charter Champions” during the year, crediting those “moving the ball” for the charter movement in our state

• Used e-surveys, webinars, & teleconferencing to more fluidly communicate with school leaders given their limited time available

• Participated in several community “conversations” panels involving charter education, including UNCC, Greensboro Leadership, Charlotte Leadership, Public School Forum, MeckEd, et al

• Provided TV, radio, and print news from dozens of interviews and press releases

• Visited at least 70 different charter schools since 2010 including speaking at school events, ribbon cuttings, etc., and personally delivered thank you gift cards to 35 schools in June alone

• Directly served member schools with advice and support in facilities, financial, employee benefit, public relations, legislative, dispute mediation, and many other issues

• Selected and recognized “Member of the Month” charters

• Began our “Headmasters’ Head Table” school site meetings that included Raleigh Charter High, Corner-stone, Torchlight, Lake Norman Charter and Sugar Creek

• Created an interactive charter school website map

• Started a member school website “Forum”

• Added a fulltime administrative staff person, membership services representative, and a part time Director of School Support

• Communicated with our Association Board of Advisors weekly to get the members’ advice and direction for our organization


Charter Advisory BoardConference at a Glance

Wednesday, July 30th

4:00pm - 7:00pmRegistration & Vendor Setup

7:00pm - 9:00pmNetworking Reception

Thursday, July 31st

7:00am - 5:00pmRegistration & Vendor Setup

8:00am - 9:50amVendor Fair & Networking

10:00am - 10:50amBreakout #1


12:00pm - 12:50pmLunch- Vendor Area

1:00pm - 2:00pmOpening General Session

Panel Discussion with Darrell Allison (Parents for Educational

Freedom), Kara Kerwin (Center for Education Reform), and A.L. Collins (State Board of Education): “Oceans of Opportunity”

2:00pm - 5:00pmDigital Learning Lab

2:15pm - 5:00pmCharter Application Workshop

2:15pm - 5:00pmCore Knowledge Workshop

2:00pm - 2:50pmBreakout #3


3:50pm - 4:15pmVendor Snack & Prize Giveaways


5:00pm - 7:30pmNetworking Reception

7:30pm - 11:00pmRock by the River Partywith “Spare Change”

Friday, August 1st

7:00am - 8:30amBreakfast- Vendor Area




11:30am - 12:15pmLunch- Vendor Area

12:30pm - 2:00pmClosing General Session, Awards and “Closing Cash”

Keynote Speaker: Nina Rees, Presi-dent & CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools


The North Carolina Public Charter School Advisory Board (CSAB) recommends policies for adoption by the State Board of Education regarding all aspects of charter school operation, including timelines, standards, criteria for acceptance and approval of applications. The council also monitors charter schools and grounds for revocation of charters. The council will undertake any of the duties and responsibilities directed by the State Board of Education.

The CSAB is supported by the Office of Charter Schools, directed by Dr. Joel Medley.

Senate Bill 8, in 2011 created what became the Council, comprised of 15 members. This advisory body was re-placed by Senate Bill 337 with an 11 voting member Board in 2013. The Advisory Board (CSAB) initial meeting was Oct. 15, 2013.

Voting Advisory Board members:

Alan Hawkes [email protected] Quigley [email protected] Mitchell [email protected] Taylor [email protected] Turner [email protected] Sanchez [email protected] Nance [email protected] Maimone [email protected] Norcross [email protected] Walker [email protected] Sutton [email protected]

Charter Advisory Board

Dr. Joel MedleyDirector, Office of Charter Schools

Helen NanceChair of the Board

Conference at a Glance


Conference Sponsors

Vice President Sponsors

ChairNational Heritage Academies & Charter Schools USA

Lunch SponsorK12, Inc.

Grand Canyon University

Signage Sponsor

Acadia NorthStar

CEO SponsorsLB&A CPAsTeam CFA

Camcor

PresidentBB&T Capital MarketsBusiness Interiors by

StaplesHertz Furniture

NCOSHR/NCFlexBanyan Consulting

GroupMetLife

Party SponsorZiegler


Conference Sponsors

Vice President Sponsors

Breakfast SponsorHoughton Mifflin Harcourt

Program SponsorPotter & Company

Snack SponsorAtlantic Coast Playgrounds

Reception SponsorsDavidson and Jones Construction

Company, IncFunding The Gap

Tote Bag SponsorsDixie Equipment Company

New Hope Technology Foundation


Americans are fans of fantasy and myth — the resound-ing success of franchises like “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” offer strong evidence to support this claim. But when it comes to our education system, Americans must distinguish fact from fiction.

This is especially true of our nation’s charter schools. Despite the fact that more than 2.5 million children are served by more than 6,500 charter schools across the country, the majority of Americans have been swayed by tall tales and misinformation about the role of char-ter schools in our public education system.

One of the most common misconceptions is that char-ter schools are privately funded institutions. A recent survey from the Center for Education Reform found that only 20 percent of Americans correctly identified charter schools as public schools. Charter schools are, in fact, independent public schools and held account-able for student results.

Another myth asserts that charter schools take money and resources away from the public school system. This could not be further from the truth.

Like district public schools, they are funded according to enrollment and receive dollars from the district and the state according to the number of students attend-ing. In fact, charter schools actually do more with less, receiving 36 percent less revenue on average than tradi-tional public schools.

When a student’s family relocates and moves from one public school system to another, the public school sys-tem itself does not lose any money. The same can be said of a student moving from a conventional public school to a charter school. When a child leaves for a charter school the money follows that child. This benefits the

public school system by instilling a sense of account-ability into the system regarding its services to the stu-dent and parents and its fiscal obligations.

Additionally, research shows that charter schools have a positive impact, or a ripple effect, on neighboring pub-lic schools. A Harvard University study found that in Arizona, public schools located near charter schools saw increases in math achievement of more than three times that of public schools with no charter schools in their communities. As the focus continues to shift from the needs of the system to the needs of children and parents, our students are better served.

Separating Fact from Fiction about Charter Schools

By Kara Kerwin, President, The Center for Education Reform


Separating Fact from Fiction about Charter Schools

Critics are quick to claim that because charter schools operate independently, they have lower teaching stand-ards and less accountability than conventional public schools. This is pure fantasy. Charter schools design and deliver programs tailored to educational excellence and community needs. Because they are schools of choice, charter schools are held to the highest level of account-ability — consumer demand. If they fail to deliver, they are closed.

Another common myth is that charter schools take in more advantaged students from traditional public schools. The reality, however, is that a majority of char-ter school students are non-white, or minority students. Only 45 percent of charter students are white, while 52.5 percent of public school students are white. Addi-tionally, 61 percent of charter schools serve a student population where more than 60 percent qualify for free- and reduced-priced lunch.

Seventy-three percent of Americans support the con-cept of charter schools. The short story is that charter schools work and are an asset to a public education sys-tem that is slow to embrace innovation despite an ever-changing and increasingly global world.

It is important for parents, teachers, students and all of those involved with charter schools to share their suc-cesses so that all Americans can learn more about in-stitutions committed to accountability and choice in education, and for lawmakers to take note so they can improve charter school laws and public education in their state.

For information during the conference

Dial: **charters


Value

Member schools receive discounted registration fees for conferences and workshops, magazine subscrip-tion to “The Charter Voice”, ”Matters of Principal” e-newsletters, other timely information about local, state, and national education and charter news, consulting and Association staff assistance on an “as-requested” basis, participation in exclusive communication forums such as the Headmaster Head Table meetings, legisla-tive roundtables, and the member only “Forum” blog. Competitive contracted ISIS fees with 1 year terms and quality service, access to Staples and the Momentum Ventures buying consortium with 20 plus other states’ association charters, plus the service and knowledge of the over 100 business partners ready to make your school more successful.

Voice

When a citizen group, a legislator, or a county com-missioner asks the question, “Why have charters?”, who answers the question? When a news article attacks charters who responds? When prospective charter laws are being discussed in the NC Senate’s Education Com-mittee and questions are asked, who is there to answer them?

Any association of people with like interests can do more together than they can individually. That’s why the Association is critical to our current charters and the future of the charter movement. Your Association not only is directed by a 15 person member school board of advisors, but we also participate in a State Leaders Council with some 40 other state groups by meeting several times a year, including attendance at national conferences, and share best charter support organiza-tion practices.

Vision

Leadership. Seeing and shaping what lies ahead for you. Encouraging and gathering your ideas and goals and channeling them to bring about positive change in the charter environment and the ultimate success of your students.

Although the Association is here to serve you, you should also ask: “What can we do for our Association?” It is in the charter school’s collective interest to have a strong and consistent support organization and voice in the state!

The Association has only one interest, the success of the students in your school. There is only one organization with that dedicated and lone fulltime mission in North Carolina, the NC Public Charter Schools Association.

Success by Association

Value, Voice, Vision - NCPCSA


Value, Voice, Vision - NCPCSA

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt™ and HMH® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. 06/14 MS111128

Your Charter School’s Complete Education Program Starts with HMH®

HMHeducation

Ask us to tailor a proposal to your vision.

hmhco.com/charterschools

Russell Sellers p:704-559-9518e: [email protected]

Proudly serving NC and the upstate of SC.Providing the best in audio/video

technology for your classroom since 2008.

Interactive Projectors

MimioMoblie AppMimioTeach

NEW! MimioDisplay

Charter Schools Provide the POWER OF CHOICE in education

ATD American brings CHARTER POWER

To your learning environment!

ATD American has been providing furniture to educational facilities for 80 years. Our experienced

team will provide free space planning, budget planning and financing options to help you realize

your vision for your charter school.

Contact Info: JESSI JACOBS

800-523-2300 ext 2236 [email protected]

We are the “Source for Experience”

For Charter Schools!

Elevate student achievement.180+ ONLINE DEGREE AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

Pursue a respected Education degree, visit www.StudyatAPU.com/education


Bob HakakianClient Relationship Manager

800-526-4677 x [email protected]

As a NC Charters member, you can buy on contract with Hertz. Saving you time and money! No need to go to bid and discounts up to 70% off! Call today for your free quote.

Managing your Employee Benefits just got Easy.

You’ve got more than a broker.

You’ve got a Team.Contact David Dow to Find Out How We Can Benefit Your

School

[email protected]

336.510.5433

www.banyaninc.com



Member Schools

A.C.E. AcademyAlpha Academy Anderson CreekArapahoe Charter School Aristotle PrepBrevard Academy Bridges Charter School Cabarrus Charter Academy Cape Fear Center for Inquiry Cardinal Charter AcademyCarolina International School Carter G. Woodson School of Challenge Charlotte Choice Charter Charlotte Learning AcademyChatham Charter School Clover Garden College Preparatory and Leadership Community Charter SchoolCornerstone Charter Academy Crosscreek Charter Crossroads Charter High Endeavor Charter School Expedition SchoolFalls Lake AcademyForsyth Academy Francine Delany New School for Children Gaston College Preparatory Greensboro AcademyInstitute for the Development of Young LeadersHeritage Collegiate LeadershipINVEST Collegiate Charlotte INVEST Collegiate ImagineKestrel Heights School Lake Lure ClassicalLake Norman Charter School Langtree Charter Academy

Learning Center Lincoln Charter School Longleaf School of the Arts Metrolina Regional Scholars’ Academy Millennium Charter Academy Mountain Island Charter New Dimensions North Carolina Leadership Academy North East Carolina Prep Oxford Preparatory Piedmont Community School PreEminent Charter School Quality Education Academy Queen’s Grant Community School Raleigh Charter High Reaching All Minds Academy Research Triangle Charter Academy Roxboro Community School Southeastern AcademySouthern Wake AcademySTEM Education for a Global Society Sugar Creek Charter SchoolSummerfield Charter AcademyThomas Jefferson Classical AcademyTorchlight Academy TRIAD Math & Science Triangle Math and Science Academy Uwharrie Charter Academy Veritas Community School Voyager AcademyWake Forest Charter Academy Water’s Edge Village School Willow OakWilson Preparatory Academy ZECA School of Arts and Technology


www.insightarch.com

Application Consulting

Existing Building Assessments

Site Evaluations

Building Space Programming

Budget Analysis

Master Planning

Facility Design

A R C H I T E C T S

... Because buildings are built with IDEAS

Designing school facilities that help improve learning.

Teachers and students are excited about the format of the programs, their ease of use and the valuable resources that are provided:

- Students receive a set of 9 unit notebooks aligned with course standards

- Teachers receive all instructional materials for each unit including: - Electronic presentations - Tests and quizzes - Pacing guides - Activity rubrics/keys

www.learnednotebooks.com(704) 998-7151

LearnEd Notebooks is a curriculum resource company that provides teachers with innovative lessons to promote organization and scientific inquiry. Cover your curriculum in a unique and streamlined format while encouraging your students to love and explore science!

up to 50%

profit

free

shipping

www.mixedbagdesigns.com

Member Schools


How Can We Help You?

LB&A, Certified Public Accountants, PLLC is proud to provide full service accounting and payroll services for prospective and established NC charter schools through the NC Public Charter Schools Association.

If you are beginning the process of the application, our staff is ready to help you with preliminary budgets and forecasts. After your charter school begins we are ready to start your monthly accounting, payroll, payroll tax administration and tax preparation.

We have a full-time accounting staff trained in ISIS, one of the state approved accounting software options for charter schools, that you will have complete access to.

LB&A also works with prospective and established charter schools in providing audit services. With an experienced team, LB&A is ready to handle your audit needs.

The ISIS Partner of the NC Public Charter Schools Association

Please contact Partner Julie Ayers, CPA, CGMA at [email protected] or by phone at 704-841-1120 ext. 103 or the Association at 704-236-1234 for a

no-cost consultation!

www.LBA-CPA.com

Special Offer: Stop by our booth and pick up the “7 Essentials For A

Successful Charter School Audit”

Board of Advisors


Board of Advisors

Antoinette Ellison (INVEST Collegiate)

Carroll Reed (Southern Wake)

Eugene Slocum (Alpha Academy)

Cynthia McQueen (Torchlight)

Heather Soja (Uwharrie)

Dave Machado (Lincoln Charter)

Kirby McCrary (Millennium)

Natalie Brozy (Roxboro Community)

Simon Johnson (Quality Education)

Steve McAdams (Endeavor)

Rudy Swofford (Summerfield)

Tom McCarthy(Arapahoe)


Map of the Conference


Map of the Conference


Shannon Stein John Hage Judith Malveaux

Linda Cruz Steve Joyner

Rep. Paul Stam

Sen. Jerry Tillman Jim Stegall

William Cobey, ChairState Board of Education

FAMILIAR FACES FAMILIAR FACES

Jennifer Lucas A.L. Collins (Buddy)


Rep. Paul Stam

FAMILIAR FACES FAMILIAR FACES

LB&A, CPAsKate Alice Dunaway and INVEST Collegiate

Tuscarora “Nation” Leaders Hear about Charters North East Carolina Prep Leadership Team

2014 National Alliance ConferenceBeginnings of a Waxhaw Charter School


Vendors by Table Number


1 - Signature Learning Resources2 - S&S Worldwide3 - Thinking Maps4 - E-Therapy5 - TE21 Inc.6 - Focus Audio Video7 - HUB International Southeast8 - New Hope Technology Foundation9 - M SPACE10 - R.J. Leeper Construction11 - American Public University12 - All Seasons Commercial13 - ISIS by Education Management Systems14 - Hertz Furniture15 - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt16 - Funding The Gap17 - Davidson and Jones Construction Company, Inc18 - MetLife19 - Business Interiors by Staples20 - NCOSHR/NCFlex21 - Camcor22 - Potter & Company23 - Charter Schools USA24 - BB&T Capital Markets25 - K12, Inc.26 - Grand Canyon University27 - Time Warner Cable Business Class28 - Edmentum29 - Steve Joyner Consulting Service, Inc30 - LB&A CPAs31 - National Heritage Academies

32 - Banyan Consulting Group33 - Team CFA34 - American Charter Development, LLC35 - Mixed Bag Designs36 - Innovative Modular Solutions37 - Speechcenter, Inc.38 - Measurement Inc.39 - Dixie Equipment Company40 - LearnEd Notebooks41 - Acadia NorthStar, LLC42 - ATD-AMERICAN43 - One Stop Word Shop44 - BB&T Insurance Services McPhail Bray45 - Herff Jones Nystrom46 - SpartanTec, Inc.47 - Atlantic Coast Playgrounds48 - Pearson49 - Pioneer Eclipse50 - Banyan Partners, LLC51 - Choice Educational Services52 - Holmes Murphy & Associates/ CharterSelect53 - Rives & Associates, LLP54 - Insight Architects55 - M&B Printing56 - Teachers-Teachers.com57 - FLVS Global58 - Parents for Educational Freedom in NC59 - National Geographic Learning60 - TransformED Leadership61 - The Bankshot Sports Organization

Vendors by Table Number


Vendor Services by Category

Accountants• Acadia NorthStar, LLC• ISIS by Education Management Systems• LB&A CPAs• Potter & Company• Rives & Associates, LLP

Architects• Insight Architects

Builders• All Seasons Commercial• Davidson and Jones Construction Company• R.J. Leeper Construction

Classroom• ATD-AMERICAN• Business Interiors by Staples• Dixie Equipment Company• Hertz Furniture• S&S Worldwide

Curriculum• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt• Measurement Inc.• National Geographic Learning• One Stop Word Shop• Pearson• TE21 Inc.• Thinking Maps

Developers• American Charter Development, LLC

Educational Management• Banyan Partners• Charter Schools USA• National Heritage Academies• Team CFA

Employment Services• Teachers-Teachers.com

Exceptional Children• E-Therapy • Signature Learning Resources• Speechcenter, Inc.

Financial Services• Banyan Consulting• BB&T Insurance Services McPhail Bray• Choice Educational Services• Holmes Murphy & Associates/ CharterSelect• HUB International Southeast• MetLife• NCOSHR/NCFlex• Ziegler

Instructional• TransformEd

Lenders• BB&T Capital Markets• Funding The Gap

Modular• Innovative Modular Solutions• M SPACE

Other• Mixed Bag Designs• Parents for Educational Freedom in NC• Pioneer Eclipse

Playgrounds• Atlantic Coast Playgrounds• Bankshot

Technology & Security• Camcor• Focus Audio Video• New Hope Technology Foundation• SpartanTec, Inc.• Steve Joyner Consulting Service, Inc• Time Warner Cable

Uniforms & Clothing• M&B Printing

Virtual & Distance• American Public University• Edmentum• FLVS Global• Grand Canyon University • K12, Inc.• LearnEd Notebooks

Yearbooks• Herff Jones Nystrom

The Immersive LearningScape at Invest Collegiate


Vendor Services by Category

As we proceed into the Learning Revolution Age, how are we to provide environments that address the evolving methods by which students acquire knowledge? And how are we to design those spaces to effectively support a chang-ing paradigm? In today’s hyper-connected, high-speed, cus-tomizable, and knowledge-driven society, what are the roles of education and education spaces? Preparing students for the complex future world which we are yet to comprehend requires transcendental solutions that intertwine a 21st cen-tury curriculum, state of the art technologies, and immer-sive learning spaces. We are increasingly learning about how the brain receives and retains information, how different individuals learn best, how changing technologies are facilitating new ap-proaches for teaching and learning, and how our increas-ingly complex global challenges will require equally com-plex solutions. Given this new knowledge, Little’s research focuses on a pattern language for designing immersive learning environments that address a new paradigm of learning, teaching, and working. We are developing strate-gies by which these immersive environments support tech-nology-infused, active, and collaborative learning, facilitate inter-disciplinary learning, address multiple typologies of learning, and work in conjunction with student manage-ment tools that enable changing developments in academic, scheduling, testing, and assessment initiatives. The Immersive Learningscape is a concept that integrates 4 key challenges to today’s education (multiple modalities of learning, new technologies, customization of education, and the teaching and learning of 21st century skills) into a flexible, adapt-able, active, and engaging learn-ing environment. The Immersive Learningscape is designed as a land-scape of various learning environ-ments that address what we see as 5 typologies of learn-

ing: Think, Create, Discover, Impart, and Exchange. Each of these typologies requires very specific needs (space, tech-nologies, furniture, acoustics, etc...) in order to be effective for today’s students’ learning process. The main goal of the concept is to respond to the needs of our future leaders: en-courage and facilitate teamwork, interdisciplinary learning and research, communication skills, critical thinking skills, problem solving, creative thinking, technology skills, and passion for learning.

Through Little’s extensive research & charter school design experience, we have collaborated with INVEST COLLE-GIATE in developing a true Immersive Learningscape to accommodate students in their new 80,000 sf school. At INVEST COLLEGIATE, they champion opportunities for leadership and learning - embracing greatness and inspir-ing achievement within a telescopic environment. INVEST COLLEGIATE provides a comprehensive educational pro-gram for college-bound students whose families desire an exemplary educational community. By investing in students and faculty, the entire school community builds upon the collaboration supported by the Immersive Learningscape. INVEST COLLEGIATE Charlotte will showcase TRANS-FORM as an active domain throughout the school and community. The TRANSFORM domain will be evident in the revitalization of an urban brownfield site; through the transformation of the school building’s exterior envelope; through the collaborative interior design of the Immersive Learningscape, and permeation of the educational culture throughout the community, the utilization of technology, the fabric of the INVEST COLLEGIATE culture, and stu-dent and faculty leadership. The ideas behind the Immersive Learningscape are driven to radically change the student experience in the learning environment to be engaging, hands on, collaborative and exciting. They are meant to retain students in school and in-still a passion for lifelong learning. For additional informa-tion and videos on the Immersive Learningscape, please vis-it: http://www.littleonline.com/ImmersiveLearningscape/

The Immersive LearningScape at Invest Collegiate


Charter Funding: Inequity Expands

This section of the report reflects the funding gap in NC for the year 2011-2012

Highlights of the FY11 Analysis• Statewide, North Carolina’s 98 charter schools includ-ed in this analysis received 17.2 percent less funding than district schools: $9,999 vs. $8,277 per pupil (Fig-ures 1 & 3).

• North Carolina’s charter schools received $8,277 per pupil, but district schools would have received an estimated $9,988 to educate the same students – a dif-ference of $1,711 or 17.1 percent. The weighted district PPR therefore decreases the funding disparity by $12 from the unweighted statewide difference (Figure 3).

• Wake County’s 14 charter schools in this report re-ceived 14.0 percent less funding than district schools: $9,782 vs. $8,412 per pupil, a difference of $1,371 per pupil (Figure 3).

• Charter schools in North Carolina educate 2.9 percent of total public school enrollment but receive only 2.4 percent of total revenues (Figures 1 & 3).

• Magnitude of Disparity: In North Carolina, if school districts statewide received the same level of per pupil funding as charter schools in FY11, they would have received over two billion dollars lessin total revenues ($2,374,585,867).

Probable Causes of the DisparitiesDisparities by Design (1) Local Revenue Access

• Statute gives charter schools access to allotments from the “local school expense fund” from their home school district but they do not have access to rev-enues from the local administrative unit’s “capital outlay fund” (see facilities section below for more on legal challenges to the law).

(2) Two Separate State Funding Formulas

• The formula for determining traditional school dis-trict aid is not applied to charter schools. Instead, char-ters receive the “average per pupil allocation” for the district’s ADM minus funds for special education and LEP students, which are funded by a separate Board of Education formula. A formula that provides the equiva-lent of an average is never equal. Therefore, a charter school’s funding is not calculated using its own staff-ing inputs or student characteristic criteria for vari-ous allotments. This scenario may be to the advantage of some charter schools but for others with high-risk populations or staffing costs above and beyond the local district average, it limits funding.

• Charter schools have no independent access to cat-egorical funding or supplemental funding that they would otherwise meet the criteria to receive if their dis-trict of location does not qualify.

In practice charter school State revenues are nearing parity with district per pupil State revenues, which is significant. However, restricting charter school rev-enues to the district average limits the revenues charter schools could be receiving and ignores the needs of the actual population being served.

-University of Arkansas


Charter Funding: Inequity Expands

Find Your Solution with FLVS Global.

Visit FLVSGlobal.net to learn more.

We are a school – just like you – that understands your needs and challenges. Learn more about how our award-winning courseware, training, and PD can help meet your students' needs.

Copyright © by Florida Virtual School. All rights reserved. Florida Virtual School and FLVS are registered trademarks of Florida Virtual School. 140401

BB&T Capital Markets is a division of BB&T Securities, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. BB&T Securities, LLC, is a wholly owned nonbank subsidiary of BB&T Corporation. Securities or insurance products and annuities sold, offered or recommended are not a deposit, not FDIC insured, not guaranteed

by a bank, not guaranteed by any federal government agency and may go down in value.© 2014, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved.

For more information, please contactMichael Braun, Managing Director, at

704-954-1418 or [email protected].

BBTCapitalMarkets.com/Education

Facility FinancingFacility FinancingFacility FinancingFacility FinancingFacility FinancingFacility FinancingFacility Financingfor Schoolsfor Schoolsfor Schoolsfor Schoolsfor Schoolsfor Schoolsfor Schools

Connect with us on LinkedIn

FURNITURE FOR EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS

DIXIE EQUIPMENT COMPANY

Reseach shows that movement in the classroom is key to student engagement. Like the body, the brain needs exercise, so let it rock, wiggle and move.

Learn in

Motion

Design Services Budgeting Project Management. .

Let’s Move

Come feel the funBooth 39


Education is important, arguably one of the most im-portant things that we, as a society, can provide for our children and our future. We probably all agree on that. But if education is so important, why do we treat it as if it were a recreational sport? If education is truly im-portant, if we truly value it, if the stakes really are high, shouldn’t we treat it more like a varsity sport? Recreation sports, involving non-competitive teams, are a great place to learn a game, make friends, have fun, get exercise, and be included in a group. Everyone plays, frequently the same amount of time. Everyone gets a trophy. There are no rankings. Mistakes are not criti-cal. Recreation teams don’t require extreme dedication. The drawback to recreation teams, of course, is that the teams don’t play to win. But when we are talking about the education of our children we should get more seri-ous, play harder, and try to win. The stakes are high and winning is important. When we are talking about the education of our children, we should play varsity. On a varsity team players have to earn their playing time. Players are supposed to put the needs of their team ahead of their own. Some players are singled out for awards, some are not, and we expect teenagers to handle that. Some students don’t make the team, and we expect students to handle that. The best players start, and the coach is tasked with determining who those best players are. Even players who never play are expected to give their all in practice and to cheer on the team during the games. The stakes are high. The pressure is on. And our student-athletes are expected to rise to the occasion and do their best. Should we really expect less of the people who are edu-cating our children? There are myths circulating that threaten the perception of our teachers’ maturity and professionalism when considered in the context of what

we expect from our students. The perpetuation of these myths, while meant to protect and support teachers, ac-tually makes them look like they require protection and support. The great teachers I know are not weak, but just the opposite. They are strong, capable, competent, and are not afraid of healthy competition. They want to improve- constantly. They want to learn from each other. They recognize that by helping a teammate they help students. They recognize that all students matter, not just their own. They want their school to succeed, and are willing to help colleagues in order to make that happen. They want to teach with other great teachers. And these myths don’t apply to them. These myths actu-ally devalue teachers, and it’s time to dispel them. Myth: It is too hard to identify our best teachers. Ask any great principal and he can tell you who his best teachers are. He has seen the data, he has done obser-vations and walk-throughs, he has seen them teach, he has gotten feedback from students and parents, he sees who shows up on time, who stays late, and who meets important deadlines. He knows. The real prob-lem is that no one wants to admit that some teachers are better than others. No one wants to identify the best teachers for fear of hurting the other teachers’ feelings. What would happen if coaches refused to identify the best players? What if they were so scared of hurting the weaker players’ feelings that they flipped a coin to de-termine the starting lineup? Drew names out of a hat? How many state championships would that team win?Myth: It is not fair to pay some teachers more than oth-ers. Of course, we pay some teachers more than others now. But somehow it seems less unfair when we base the pay disparity on longevity and advanced degrees. Is that the way to get excellence? Shouldn’t the best teachers be re-

Education Should Be a Varsity Sport


Education Should Be a Varsity Sport warded for being the best? That’s what we do with ath-letes. The best players get more playing time, they get awards, they get their pictures in the paper, and they get scholarships. And the other players? They work hard – to help the team, to get better, and to earn more playing time. We expect our teenagers to handle that; we should expect at least as much of our adult professional. Myth: Without tenure or due process, principals will play favorites and fire good teachers. Well, that might happen, but it should be rare. Most principals are professionals who are under tremendous pressure to raise student performance. What principal would fire his best teachers when they are the very ones who will make him look good? Would a coach dismiss his star quarterback? Not without trying to develop whatever deficiency is an issue. Star quarterbacks win games; coaches want to win. Star teachers raise student achievement; principals want high student achieve-ment. Myth: Teachers should automatically be given more money for advanced degrees. Paying for advanced degrees and National Board Cer-tification might make sense if either one of those ac-complishments had been shown to improve a teacher’s performance. If either one of those accomplishments actually improve performance, and teachers get paid based on performance, then at least some teachers with higher degrees or Board Certification will get paid more. The difference is in raising the pay after demon-strated improvements in teacher effectiveness or raising the pay based on the hope of possible improvements in teacher effectiveness in the future. It would be like the difference between a coach letting anyone who went to summer sports camp start versus starting his best play-ers, some of whom might have gone to summer sports camp. Which one is more likely to win games? Which scenario is more likely to lead to improved student per-formance? Myth: Teachers who are competing for raises and bo-nuses can’t work as a team.

There are many reasons why benchwarmers work hard for the team: they are happy to be on the team, they are proud that they get to wear the jersey, they enjoy play-ing for the coach or playing with the other players, they like to win, and they have hope that with hard work and dedication they can earn more playing time. They know the best way to get better is to play with great players. They want a chance to play. In a situation where perfor-mance is rewarded, there is the chance to get better and earn a place on the field. In a model where teachers are rewarded for performance, a teacher who wants to earn more can improve his performance and get paid more. We don’t have to look far for a model to follow. Some charter schools are successfully operating right now under a system of merit pay without tenure. They base teacher raises and bonuses on criteria that include, but are not limited to, student growth and performance. Some have year-long contracts, others work at-will. In these charter schools, where the only job security is based on doing a good job, where not everybody gets the same bonus, where a raise is earned through qual-ity of work, teachers eagerly apply. It’s time that district schools learn from successful charter schools; it’s time to let go of these outdated myths; and it’s time for edu-cators to start playing varsity.

Written By:Mary Catherine Sauer

Director of School Support, NCPCSA


Fun Facts about Wilmington

“Outside” magazine placed Wilmington, North Caro-lina, in the No. 7 spot on its 2011 list of Best Towns, naming it the “Next Big Thing.” Three beaches provide some of the best surfing on the East Coast, and pirates invade the 300-year-old harbor during Riverfest. The city is home to the largest television and movie studio in the U.S. outside California, a branch of the state uni-versity and the Battleship North Carolina.

“National Geographic” named nearby Wrightsville Beach one of the top 20 surf towns in the world, comparing the area to a combina-tion of “catfish with caviar” for its mixture of metropolitan ameni-ties with down-home charm in-cluding a laid-back beach vibe. August to October are the best times to surf.

Cape Fear

Giovanni da Verrazzano, who would sail on to discover New York Harbor, was the first Euro-pean to land at Cape Fear, the area where Wilmington now stands. He described the region “as pleasant and delectable to behold, as is possible to imagine.” The Cape Fear River flows from Fayetteville through Wilmington and through the Frying Pan Shoals to the Atlantic. Sailors gave the river its name because of the treacherous waters. “Old Baldy,” the lighthouse built to warn sailors of the sandbars, is the oldest lighthouse in North Carolina.

TV and Film

While neither the 1962 or the 1991 version of the movie “Cape Fear” was filmed in Wilmington, the city does have ties to the television and movie industries. Musi-cian Charlie Daniels, newscaster David Brinkley and

stuntman Shannon Gordon hail from the area, as do NFL quarterbacks Roman Gabriel and Sonny Jurgensen and boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. The television programs “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill” and the movies “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” “Weekend at Bernie’s” and “Sleeping with the Enemy” were filmed in the city.

Memorial Park

A sculpture by noted Atlanta artist Ayokunle Odeleye symbolizing harmony and social progress is the focal point of 1898 Memorial Park. Part of the Cape Fear His-toric Byway, the park memorializes the Wilmington In-surrection of 1898, a riot that began when a mob burned the newspaper offices of the city’s African-American newspaper. When the unrest ended a week later, 14 peo-ple were dead and most of the city’s black leaders had been banished. The byway winds through the streets of Wilmington and includes sites in the historically black section of the city, old residential districts and the wa-terfront.


NEW HOPE TECHNOLOGY

FOUNDATION

E-RATE FUNDING

Helping North Carolina Charter Schools

gain access to funding for technology

(919)968-4332

WWW.NEWHOPETECH.NET

Visit u

s in th

e

Exhibit

Hall!

List Prices FREE Standard

Ground ShippingPlus

25% Off

Order now at nccharters.ssww.com

Fun Facts about Wilmington


August 1st - Keynote Speaker

FACILITIES FINANCING AND CONSULTING

WWW.FUNDINGTHEGAP.COM

Charter school facilities financing Building strategic relationships with capital providers Securing lending sources for Charter Schools throughout the U.S. Structuring 100% of your facility financing on a Success Fee basis –

we don’t get paid unless you obtain a loan from one of our sources

Charter Schools know the business of education. As seasoned finance and real estate executives we understand the complicated nature of charter school financing and with decades of experience, are uniquely qualified to structure a solution for your organization.

Contact us for a no cost review of your facility financing:

Howard Sowell – Director – Southeast Region [email protected]

Karen Cox – Production Manager

[email protected]

410 N. Boylan Ave. Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 Phone 919-747-3723 Fax 919-882-8029

• All subject areas PreK-12 includes STEM and hard-to-fill positions• Nationwide candidate pool • Applicant Tracking• Online Document Management

Recruit QualityTeachers!

North Carolina Charter Schools count on us for top teaching professionals!

For more information:Linda Loftin, North Carolina Recruitment Coordinator

E. [email protected]

P. 877-812-4071 x75 (toll-free)

P. 704-442-2937 (Charlotte)


Nina S. ReesPresident and CEO

National Alliance for Public Charter Schools

Nina Rees is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the leading national nonprofit orga-nization committed to advancing the charter school movement.

Rees has over 20 years of experience in Washington, D.C., most recently as Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives for Knowledge Universe, a leading global education company with investments in early childhood education, before- and after-school programs and online instruction.

Prior to her tenure at KU, she served as the first Assistant Deputy Sec-retary for Innovation and Improvement at the U.S. Department of Education. In this capacity, she oversaw the administration of 28 grant programs, supporting 1,300 projects and was responsible for spearheading innovative federal programs and policies such as school choice, charter schools, alternative routes to teacher certification and school leadership. She also helped coordinate the implementation of several provisions of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Prior to joining the Education Department, Rees served as Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy to Vice President Dick Cheney.

Rees has also served as the senior education analyst at the Heritage Foundation where she au-thored more than two dozen policy briefs and served as the foundation’s chief spokesperson on education. She has appeared on various news outlets including CNN, C-Span and PBS’s News-Hour and her articles and opinions have been published in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Rees currently serves on the board of advisors of the Education Policy and Governance Program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. She also writes a weekly blog for U.S. News and World Report. Rees holds a B.A. in Psychology from VA Tech and a master’s in International Transactions from George Mason University. She lives in McLean, VA with her husband and daughter.

August 1st - Keynote Speaker


WHAT WE DOWe develop a tailored solution that ensures your company can quickly and cost effectively hire employees to meet your operational requirements.

THE END RESULTA smart, flexible and streamlined hiring process that stays ahead of your current and future workforce needs to achieve your business goals.

HOW WE DO ITWe leverage the strength of your company brand with our integrated technology and around-the-clock professional recruiters to source, evaluate, and present for hire the most qualified candidates. We measure performance in real time to optimize results.

WHO WE ARESource2 is a national talent acquisition company focusing on high volume sourcing, recruiting, and flexible hiring solutions.

™

TALENT ACQUISITION CHALLENGES?

INCONSISTENT RECRUITING PROCESSES

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AROUND THE U.S.

LACK OF CANDIDATE QUALITY/QUANTITY

HIGH COST PER HIRE

FLUCTUATING TALENT NEEDS

GOVERNMENT MANDATES

1245 West Fairbanks Avenue | Suite #400 | Winter Park, FL 32789 | 407.893.3711 | [email protected] | S O U R C E 2 . C O M


WHAT WE DOWe develop a tailored solution that ensures your company can quickly and cost effectively hire employees to meet your operational requirements.

THE END RESULTA smart, flexible and streamlined hiring process that stays ahead of your current and future workforce needs to achieve your business goals.

HOW WE DO ITWe leverage the strength of your company brand with our integrated technology and around-the-clock professional recruiters to source, evaluate, and present for hire the most qualified candidates. We measure performance in real time to optimize results.

WHO WE ARESource2 is a national talent acquisition company focusing on high volume sourcing, recruiting, and flexible hiring solutions.

™

TALENT ACQUISITION CHALLENGES?

INCONSISTENT RECRUITING PROCESSES

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS AROUND THE U.S.

LACK OF CANDIDATE QUALITY/QUANTITY

HIGH COST PER HIRE

FLUCTUATING TALENT NEEDS

GOVERNMENT MANDATES

1245 West Fairbanks Avenue | Suite #400 | Winter Park, FL 32789 | 407.893.3711 | [email protected] | S O U R C E 2 . C O M

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at gcu.edu/disclosures. Please note, not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment. Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. (800-621-7440; http://www.ncahlc.org/). 14CDSE127

For more information, contact: Delecia Eller | (877) 587-3330 | [email protected]

Offering over 140 majors and concentrations for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs

Follow us online at

A P R I V A T E C H R I S T I A N U N I V E R S I T Y S I N C E 1 9 4 9

Schools help build strong communities—and deserve strong retirement plansYou see a bright future for your students. Do you see the same for your employees?

MetLife Resources offers comprehensive plan administration services that provide your employees and their families with the education, tools and resources needed to help them create a better life in retirement.

To learn how MetLife can help your organization, call 1-877-638-7526 or visit www.metlife.com/mlr.

David A. Johnson, CLU®, ChFC®

Workplace Sales DirectorSoutheastern RegionMetLife Premier Client Group11225 North Community House Rd.Gragg Building, 10th FloorCharlotte, NC 28277

Office: 980-949-4249Cell: 980-225-6524Fax: 980-949-3938e-mail: [email protected]

©2014 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166. L0214363146[exp0316][All States][DC] 1407-1830

Engage

Prepare

Succeed

Our solutions take you from the classroom to the world!

Reading/Language Arts · Science · Social Studies

Mathematics · ESL/ELT · Disciplinary Literacy

Professional Development · Advanced, Honors, & Electives

Career & Technical Education

NGL.Cengage.com

Raleigh, NC702 Oberlin919.832.684

Charlotte, N1023 W. Mo704.372.096

Lexington, 212 West C336.248.828

Noou

Riv

Cn Road, Suite 448

NCorehead Street60

NCenter Street81

o layeur mo

ves

10

ACers, nost ex

& A

CCESSno gatxperie

WhWethatexpwithWeWerela

Se

We

Forweb

Asso

S TOtekeeenced

hy Chooseat Rives & A

t is more respperience with h Rives & Assact as a parthink this is

ationship.

rvices

can assist no Financia

agreed u OMB A- Tax prep Consulti Fraud an Internal Full servmore inform

bsite, www.r

ocia

O EXPepersd expe

e Us? Associates, Lponsive to ouother accoun

sociates, LLP rtner in our c the best an

onprofits in thal statement upon procedu133 audit serparation, consng services nd forensic accontrol review

vice accountinmation on therivescpa.com

ates

PERTI. Youerts.

LLP have deveur clients. Clinting firms quis a different

client’s enterpd most effec

he following aaudits, revie

uresrvices. sultation and

ccounting serw and evaluatng firm e firm, pleasem.

s, L

ISE u wor

eloped a servents who havuickly find tht experience prises, not asctive way to s

reas: ews, compila

research

rvices tion

e contact us o

LLP

rk wit

vice model ve previous hat workingaltogether.

s a vendor. structure a

ations and

or visit our

th


ELIZABETH HEFFNERStaff Writer

A group of Lincoln Charter School students presented “Remembering the Holocaust: A Living Museum” to school faculty, staff, family and friends Tuesday night.

The museum, created and hosted by the seventh grade students of Lincoln Charter School, served to educate visitors of the 20th-century tragedy as well as challenge observers with the following questions: “What are the warning signs we should look for to help prevent future genocides?” and “What is our responsibility as a nation or as individuals when confronted with such crimes?”

The museum was divided into 12 sections, covering subjects such as Hitler and Nazism, Krystallnacht, Life in the Ghetto, Math in the Holocaust, Concentration Camps, Genetic Experiments and Gas Chambers. Some students created poetry, artwork, PowerPoint and Prezi presentations and other displays, while others served as the museum’s curators.

“We even had parents donate some of their objects from the 1940s,” Lincoln Charter School teacher Tanya Belvin said.

According to Belvin, the living museum was the final project for students’ month-long Holocaust unit. The students began the unit by reading the play, “The Diary of Anne Frank.” From there, she said the students were instructed to research terms such as “Nazism, Hitler, gas chambers, cattle cars, concentration camps, Nurem-burg Laws” and put together PowerPoint presentations or Prezis. Seventh grade instructors in mathematics, language arts, social studies and science worked togeth-er to develop a cohesive academic unit.

“We wanted this to be a service learning project for the students,” Belvin said. “We’re showing the importance

of tolerance — of taking a stand when you see bullying and accepting others’ differences.”

The Days of Remembrance, a weeklong memorial to the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, is honored from April 27 to May 4.

LCS Students Share Holocaust Museum

FOR ALL YOUR SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHYAND MARKETING NEEDS

Contact David Crandall at [email protected]

Brown v. Board 60 Years, May 17th, 1954


LCS Students Share Holocaust Museum

“. . . well. like I say, we lived in an integrated neighborhood and I had all of these playmates of different nationali-ties. And so when I found out that day that I might be able to go to their school, I was just thrilled, you know. And I remember walking over to Sumner school with my dad that day and going up the steps of the school and the school looked so big to a smaller child. And I remember going inside and my dad spoke with someone and then he went into the inner office with the principal and they left me out . . . to sit outside with the secretary. And while he was in the inner office, I could hear voices and hear his voice raised, you know, as the conversation went on. And then he immediately came out of the office, took me by the hand and we walked home from the school. I just couldn’t understand what was happening because I was so sure that I was going to go to school with Mona and Guinevere, Wanda, and all of my playmates.” 1.

Linda Brown Thompson, you can go to school with Mona, Guinevere, and Wanda. Thank you Oliver Brown. (NCPCSA staff and Board of Advisors)

1. Black/White & Brown, transcript of program produced by KTWU Channel 11 in Topeka, Kansas. Originally aired May 3, 2004

Brown v. Board 60 Years, May 17th, 1954

M S P A C E Modular

Buildings

Charter

Schools

Modular Buildings for Charter Schools

Permanent and Temporary

Classrooms/Classroom ComplexesOffice/Administrative Complexes

Media and Library CentersDormitories and Housing

Cafeterias and Multi-Purpose RoomsScience and Computer Labs

offices located nationwidelocal office: garner, north carolina

877.677.2231 | www.mspaceholdings.com


State of N.C. Charter Schools

By Eddie GoodallSpecial to the ObserverPosted: Wednesday, Feb. 05, 2014

Three years ago, Sen. Richard Stevens of Wake Coun-ty filed Senate Bill 8, “No Cap on Number of Charter Schools,” which eventually removed the 15-year, 100 charter school limit. This anniversary is a good time to assess the bill’s impact on North Carolina’s K-12 pub-lic education as well as where the charter movement is headed.

First, let’s look at the landscape today. There are 127 charters operating, with two facing impending clo-sure. It should be noted that charters, by law, must meet minimum academic performance standards or face loss of the charter. Traditional public schools, or “district” schools, are not faced with such sanctions. Twenty-sev-en new charter boards will open schools this year, yield-ing 152 N.C. charters by this August.

Let’s look at classroom achievement. Charters continued to outpace their district school cousins in 2012-2013 in educational value added, or growth (85 percent of char-ters versus 71 percent of district schools). Also, accord-ing to data from the N.C. Department of Public Instruc-tion, 39.7 percent of charter school students in grades 3-8 were proficient in math and reading, while only 32 percent of district school students earned proficiency. Charters must administer the same tests required of the district schools while many also use nationally normed exams which give a better view of students’ progress when compared with their peers across America.

Let’s look at operations. Charters operate with about 15 percent less funding ($72 million a year) than that provided to district schools. Are parents still choosing charters? Yes. Twenty-two of the 25 schools that opened

this past August had 75 percent or more of their year one enrollment limit reached and 18 of those exceeded 90 percent. There are 59,000 charter students in 127 schools. We have about 4 percent of public school stu-dents in charters versus 4.6 percent nationally. The stu-dents going to charters opening this year will likely in-crease our charter enrollment to that national average.Now, where do we go from here? That’s a function of three things: the supply of charter founders and opera-tors, the state’s capacity or willingness to authorize and regulate charters and parental demand for the schools. Let’s take one at a time.

There are a finite number of citizens and organizations willing to envision, create and run a school. This is done in two ways: by people in a community who want change and are willing to volunteer hundreds of hours; and by community boards that contract with for-profit (EMOs) and non-profit (CMOs) outfits who have ex-pertise and are able to use capital, scale and experienced “models” to create academically and operationally ef-fective charter schools.

The supply of charter founders is effectively choked by a lack of public information about how to start one. When one expresses charter annual growth as 2/3 of 1 percent of the total student population, the term, “ex-plosive” charter growth, could be replaced by “lethar-gic” growth. Suggestion: charter supporters across the state should sense new urgency in getting the message out that the path for a new charter begins with a single person creating a spark.

North Carolina spends nearly $13 billion on K-12 edu-cation including federal, state, and local funds. There are seven employees in the Office of Charter Schools, a division of the DPI’s Financial and Business Services division. Assisting the authorizing chores is the Charter


State of N.C. Charter Schools School Advisory Board, consisting of 11 voting mem-bers appointed by the governor and legislative leader-ship.

The CSAB is delving into complex issues in addition to reviewing the current applications. So, how do these groups handle the workload? Do they limit the flow of new charters based upon the staff at the OCS and the advisory board’s ability to read all the applications? Do they seek necessary resources from the state board of education to do the job, providing a fair review of all applications?

Capacity and the desire of the state to provide high qual-ity schools are critical. Suggestion: we should consider

all applications based upon predictability of success, in-cluding community charters, replications, distance and blended learning providers, and those models offered by EMOs and CMOs.

The last leg of this three legged stool supporting the charter movement is parental demand.

That leg of the stool is strong and will only weaken as traditional public schools begin to better satisfy parents in our state. After all, the charter movement is not about the students in charter schools. It’s about all the rest.


Developing Proficient Readers (Thursday 2:15pm - 5pm):

CKLA and the Elementary Classroom (Thursday work-shop session 2:15 PM- 5 PM): This interactive session will focus on the instructional realities of college and ca-reer readiness and the key shifts necessary for elemen-tary classrooms. During this session, participants will explore how grade level standards support the college and career readiness goals of the ELA anchor standards and examine the day-to-day instruction that supports student learning. Using the Core Knowledge Language Arts program, participants will analyze lessons to see how teachers can help students build knowledge, en-gage in regular practice with complex text, and use close reading strategies to engage in text-based discussions and writing. Susan Lambert, Presenter

Susan Lambert: Susan is the Director of Strategic Ac-count Support at Amplify where she works closely with districts to identify ELA solutions. In this role, she also provides elementary ELA expertise to product, imple-mentation and professional development teams. Prior to joining Amplify, she served as the Director of Cur-riculum and Assessment for a large, national charter school organization. Additionally, Susan has served as teacher, administrator and standards consultant. Susan has a B.A in elementary education, an M.S in curricu-lum, and Ed. S. in leadership, and Ph.D. (ABD) in edu-cation policy.

An Introduction to CKLA (one hour presentation Friday):

Amplify, in collaboration with the Core Knowledge Foundation, is pleased to introduce Core Knowledge Language Arts. A comprehensive reading and language arts program for grades K-5, CKLA is designed to help you meet college and career readiness standards. Come learn how this program has demonstrated effectiveness in improving student performance and helps to inspire the conversation of a lifetime. Susan Lambert, Pre-senter

Introducing Amplify ELA (one hour presentation Friday):

Over the past three years, Amplify has been working with leading common core experts, literary scholars, artists, game designers, teachers, and students to design a new type of core reading program for middle school. It makes many of the essential tasks of college and ca-reer readiness instruction - close reading, analytical writing, text-based discussion, academic vocabulary - much more engaging, and more rigorous. It is designed

Core Knowledge at the Conference


Core Knowledge at the Conference to support teacher-driven instruction. The curriculum is fully digital, though it can work in a school that has devices available to students at least 3 days a week. The curriculum is designed to work with Chromebooks, iPads, Windows devices, Mac laptops, and Android tablets. Learn firsthand how our new digital curricu-lum engages students and empowers teachers to create groundbreaking classroom experiences, no matter the device. Debbie Owens, Presenter

A Classroom Adventure (one hour presentation Fri-day):

Quests for the Core give teachers what they need to lead rich and engaging learning experiences that teach students the skills of rigorous reading and analysis de-manded by college and career readiness standards. These immersive, interactive, multi-media adventures bring students together – competitively and collaboratively – to use the reading and writing skills they’ve learned to solve mysteries, diagnose illnesses, and explore histori-cal events. In this session teachers will get to experience first-hand what happens when a classroom comes alive; where students are reading increasingly complex texts and are motivated to write significantly more. Jumana Salem, Presenter

Jumana Salem serves as the Executive Director of Prod-uct Management at Amplify Learning. In that capac-ity she leads multiple ELA curriculum teams. Jumana brings the principles of data-driven decision making to product development. She has worked with leading

educational organizations on the development of inno-vative products. Her work at Educational Testing Ser-vice (ETS) was focused primarily on the development of new language standards and aligned assessments for the state of Qatar. Jumana received her M.A. in Inter-national Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and her Bache-lors in International Economics from Georgetown Uni-versity’s School of Foreign Service. Jumana is fluent in Arabic and English and has basic knowledge of French.


10:00am - 10:50amDiving Deeper into Students’ Text UnderstandingLeading Your Team to GreatnessHealth Care Reform: What You Need to KnowSection 504; That’s Not Really Something We Need to Worry About, Right? Understanding the Requirements of Section 504 in Charter SchoolsWhat You Always Wanted to Know About Starting a Charter School but No One Ever Told YouBoundless Creativity

11:00am - 11:50amYour Teaching Journey ...Lessons along the WayOnline Learning - a session for skepticsForming Partnerships for Educational and Financial BenefitsHow to Cultivate the Skillful Thinking Needed for the 21st CenturyEstablishing and Engaging Quality: The Critical Role of a Board of DirectorsPrincipal Panel: Ask the Experts

2:00pm - 2:50pmYou Have Your Charter. Now What?Building Math Skills: Ways that Work!Virtual Learning Lab for K-12The Power of Collaborative Classroom ConversationsBuilding Stakeholders Through Service Learning

3:00pm - 3:50pmUpfitting your building for technologyClassroom Management Techniques Kids Don’t Want You to Know AboutUnpacking the Educational Program: Creating a process to implement, monitor, and evaluate the Educational ProgramBuilding STEAM with Project-Based LearningSpaces that inspire teaching and learning

4:15pm - 5:00pmGoverning for GreatnessInnovative Technology and the Inquiry ProcessFundamentals for Starting off on the Right FootBest Practices in Problem Solving and Planning for an Excellent Charter SchoolCritique: Making critique a habit of mind that infiltrates the classroom in all subject areas.

Thursday, July 31stBreakout Sessions At-A-Glance

Thursday, July 31stBreakout Sessions


10:00am - 10:50amPresentation Title: Diving Deeper into Students’ Text Understanding

Are you fishing for strategies to help students dive into rigorous text? Common Core State Standards calls for students to be engaged, thoughtful and most of all con-fident readers. These valued qualities can be elusive, de-sired, and necessary for student growth. Extending stu-dent understanding is perhaps our greatest goal. This session will provide participants with a clear frame-work for reaching rigor and provide 5 impactful actions which increase student comprehension. A high-energy, solution-based session is relevant and useful for both novice and experienced educators.Handouts, video clips, and student provided effective tools to use well-beyond this workshop. Join us to be buoyed by student-centered strategies which tackle both robust text and Common Core Standards.Presenter: Janine Cox - Partners for Assessment and Curriculum Excellence

Place: BellamyStrand: Instruction

10:00am - 10:50amPresentation Title: Leading Your Team to Greatness

If you want your organization to be known for its supe-rior performance, distinctive impact and lasting endur-ance, this session is for you. The first person you lead is you. Are you worth following? Would you benefit from a crash course in human relations and learn how to put Kouzes & Posner’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leader-ship into action? You too can Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to

Act and Encourage the Heart!!! Learn the timeless prin-ciples that effective leaders use to lead people and fulfill their organizational mission. You will discover how to move from effectiveness to greatness through Covey’s 8th habit and find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.Presenter: James N. Goenner - National Charter Schools Institute

Place: DeRossetStrand: Governance

10:00am - 10:50amPresentation Title: Health Care Reform: What You Need to Know

Learn what you need to know about Health Care Re-form. Final regulations were released and a new set of transition rules are in effect. Join us as we discuss these key issues: Final Employer Shared Responsibility rules. What are they? When does it become effective for you? Which new transition rules will apply to you? The No Offer Penalty and Inadequate Coverage/Unaffordable Penalty, Identifying full-time employees and hours of service rules, Identifying full-time employees and hours of service rules, Optional safe harbor measurement pe-riods for ongoing employees and “variable hour” em-ployees, Learn what to do nextPresenter: Frances Horn - HUB International

Place: LatimerStrand: Operations

Thursday, July 31stBreakout Sessions At-A-Glance



10:00am - 10:50amPresentation Title: Section 504; That’s Not Really Some-thing We Need to Worry About, Right? Understanding the Requirements of Section 504 in Charter Schools

What is Section 504? What are charters required to do to meet Section 504 requirements? You may have heard of Section 504 but do you really know what it is, which students in your school meet eligibility criteria and what your responsibilities are for those students? This session will provide details of Section 504 regula-tions, changes US Congress made to the law in 2008 and charter schools’ responsibilities with compliance to that federal law. This session will explore the Office for Civil Rights‚ requirements for compliant Section 504 eligibil-ity decisions and when Student Accommodation Plans are appropriate.Presenter: Carolyn McMath - McMath Educational Consulting

Place: McRaeStrand: Instruction

10:00am - 10:50amPresentation Title: Boundless Creativity

In Boundless Creativity, you’ll understand what crea-tivity is and discover access to it accessed higher level thinking skills. Your increased brain power will infuse your learning and work and with creative problem-solving, wise-decision making and innovative ideas! Optimal Wisdom Learning (OWL) teaches a six-step process revealing how Aha! Moments occur you’ll de-velop a superhighway between your left and right brain opening a stream of insights. Boundless Creativity teaches the balance between cognitive thought and in-

tuition while opening up our right brain/creative side. It shifts us from dull, boring, dunno, to I have a great idea! A better solution is XYZ or Did you ever consider ABCPresenter: Dr. Janice Fletcher - Optimal Wisdom Learn-ing

Place: SkinnerStrand: Instruction

10:00am - 10:50amPresentation Title: What You Always Wanted to Know About Starting a Charter School but No One Ever Told You

So...you want to open a charter school? There is a wealth of information provided from NC DPI and the Office of Charter Schools to hold you accountable for the legal and financial operation of your school, but un-derstanding the day-to-day, boots on the ground reality is just as important. Get the skinny on the ins and outs of starting a charter school from two principals who just opened their new high school (Uwharrie Charter Academy) in 2013.Presenter: Rhonda Dillingham - Uwharrie Charter Academy

Place: DudleyStrand: Operations




11:00am - 11:50amPresentation Title: Your Teaching Journey ...Lessons along the Way

As educators we know there are timeless lessons that guide us to teach, respect and serve every student and family that enters our school. As a classroom teacher of 25 years, I have outlined my top ten lessons in life. Participants will be inspired, encouraged and reminded how powerful they are in the lives of children. The pres-entation includes classroom strategies, parent and fam-ily communication, and a healthy dose of humor.Presenter: Mary Allison Coppola - Community School of Davidson


11:00am - 11:50amPresentation Title: Online Learning - a session for skep-tics

This session is for the skeptics on online learning. We know you are out there. Don’t be shy in attending. Can students really learning online? Can teachers really de-liver quality instruction from a distance? What about issues such as academic authenticity? Will colleges accept course credits earned online; what about the NCAA? Why has some online learning programs failed to produce academic achievement results; and why have some thrived? If you have doubts about online learning come to this session and let’s discuss those items that concern you and learn more about what is working, and not working, in K-12 online education.Presenter: Bruce Friend - Ignite Learning Partners

Place: DudleyStrand: Instruction

11:00am - 11:50amPresentation Title: Forming Partnerships for Educa-tional and Financial Benefits

This is a humorous workshop detailing methods school districts can use to “stretch the dollar” as well as en-hance the educational process in their schools by form-ing state and local business partnerships. A discussion on part of his book, Superintendent Saving Strategies: Stretching the Taxpayer’s Dollar in Your School, will show how to save school disticts money in a troubling economic environment. There is a top ten list on how to partner with businesses that will benefit both parties in-volved. He details common sense ideas that can be used immediately at any school across the country.Presenter: Neil Leist - Eastern School District

Place: DeRossetStrand: Operations

11:00am - 11:50amPresentation Title: How to Cultivate the Skillful Think-ing Needed for the 21st Century

An introduction of Thinking Maps, eight visual patterns for thinking critically in all content, grade, and abil-ity levels. They provide common core standards-based strategies for academic vocabulary, reading, writing, summarizing, problem-solving, and note-taking. The scaffolding effect provides a safety net that ensures that every child’s learning style is addressed and that they are actively engaged. This translates into better classroom performance, behavior, and test-taking skills. based on the latest research, it is a recognizable strategy for stu-dent success. Participants will be actively engaged dur-ing the presentation.Presenter: Susan Edwards - Thinking Maps, Inc.

Place: LatimerStrand: Instruction






11:00am - 11:50amPresentation Title: Establishing and Engaging Quality: The Critical Role of a Board of Directors

Every successful charter school can be traced back to the leadership of its board. Unfortunately, every failed charter school can also be traced back to the leadership of its board (or lack thereof). In this session, the Office of Charter Schools will discuss best practices to have and pitfalls to avoid.Presenter: Dr. Joel Medley - NCDPI

Place: McRaeStrand: Governance

11:00am - 11:50amPresentation Title: Principal Panel: Ask the Experts

In creating a charter school or making yours better, value can be added by drawing on the wisdom accrued by those who have been there and see success. These veteran school operators offer you diverse scenarios in how they got where they are, but do have one thing in common, a proven track record.Presenter: Tom McCarthy, Simon Johnson, Heather Soja, Eugene Slocum - NCPCSA

Place: SkinnerStrand: Operations

2:00pm - 2:50pmPresentation Title: You Have Your Charter. Now What?

Navigating the steps from receiving your charter to opening your school‚ doors can seem overwhelming. We’ll take you through the process of financing, plan-ning and building a charter school by exploring four different case studies of successful new charter schools. Each of these projects address unique challenges, and lessons learned that will be valuable to new charters. Beginning with fund-raising, budgeting and financing, to site selection, programming and ultimately construc-tion of your school, understanding the options in each of these areas is critical to bringing your school to life. Join us to learn the steps you need to maneuver through the process of creating your innovative learning envi-ronment.Presenter: Tom Balke - Little

Place: BellamyStrand: Operations

2:00pm - 2:50pmPresentation Title: Building Math Skills: Ways that Work!

Few things in the world are more satisfying to a child (or adult, for that matter) than doing something well that he knows is difficult. This session will explore strategies to effectively bring low-performing math students up to speed and strengthen the performance of all students. Teachers and parents will learn techniques employed by experienced educators. They will also have the op-portunity to examine materials and ask questions. The session will include ideas for classroom modifications as well as homework suggestions useful for both par-ents and students. Topics covered are applicable from counting to calculus.Presenter: Mary Lou Nance - Academic Development Services





2:00pm - 2:50pmPresentation Title: Virtual Learning Lab for K-12

Join education specialists for a hands-on exploration of web-based math, ELA, and intervention tools for administrators/teachers/students--new and creative learning models inclusive of online learning in order to meet the needs of all students. This session will high-light specific Common Core Math & ELA web-based curricula, adaptive intervention tools, and a discussion of how to integrate online solutions to support K-12 academic achievement in North Carolina.Presenter: Mary O’Malley - Edmentum, Inc.

Place: DeRossetStrand: Instruction

2:00pm - 2:50pmPresentation Title: The Power of Collaborative Class-room Conversations

Collaborative classroom culture doesn’t just happen; students must be taught how to engage in productive conversations and group problem-solving. True col-laborative learning goes beyond moving desks together, helping build the necessary skills for meaningful dis-course and collective action. This session models proven strategies for turning student talk into rigorous learn-ing, including: the use of norms and protocols, how to integrate quality questions and evidence, various semi-nar structures, and tools for accountability and assess-ment. Participants will actively engage in these power-ful processes and take away several tools and strategies for use in their learning environment.Presenter: Rachel Porter - The Centers for Quality Teaching and Learning


2:00pm - 2:50pmPresentation Title: Building Stakeholders Through Ser-vice Learning

Searching for new stakeholders and sponsors for your charter school? Come learn how the Cape Fear Center for Inquiry in Wilmington, NC used service learning to establish partnerships throughout the local commu-nity! The K-8 charter school partnered with businesses and volunteer organizations to bring service learning to life for their entire community. All students and fac-ulty had the opportunity to get involved and help make the greater Wilmington Area a better place, while in-terchangeably establishing relationships and building business partnerships for future growth.Presenter: Julie Sartorius - Cape Fear Center for Inquiry

Place: McRaeStrand: Governance


3:00pm - 3:50pmPresentation Title: Upfitting Your Building for Technology

Whether you are constructing a new building, retrofit-ting an older space, or moving into temporary modu-lar units, failing to plan for the technology infrastruc-ture will implement your ability to use technology in the classroom. Attend this session to learn what to include, what not to include, and how to think about your technology infrastructure design, including com-puter systems, WiFi, Internet access, phone systems, and security and access control. Also learn about some real-world examples of what NOT to do and the conse-quences of poor planning and communication amongst your Board of Directors, general contractor, builder, ar-chitect, and technology experts.Presenter: Steve Joyner - Steve Joyner Consulting Ser-vices, Inc.

Place: BellamyStrand: Operations

3:00pm - 3:50pmPresentation Title: Classroom Management Techniques Kids Don’t Want You to Know About

Participants will learn time-tested, research-based strat-egies and techniques designed to:* Decrease teacher and student frustration * Improve student focus* Systematically teach appropriate, on-task behavior* Drastically reduce low-level problem behavior* Increase instruction time Imagine a classroom where the noncompliant student learns to self-correct inappropriate behavior. Elimi-nate the repeated warnings and requests without using trendy gimmicks or paying a student to behave. The techniques provided will increase the time you spend

on academics while at the same time empowering your students to take responsibility for their actions and achieve success.Presenter: Brenda LaFayette - Wake County Public School System


3:00pm - 3:50pmPresentation Title: Unpacking the Educational Pro-gram: Creating a process to implement, monitor, and evaluate the Educational Program

Many newly approved schools struggle with bringing the elements of their approved Educational Program to life. Where do we start? What is most important? How do we measure success? In this presentation, par-ticipants will have the opportunity to understand a pro-cess called “Unpacking the Educational Program”. The unpacking process, lead by a GPS Solutions Specialist, is a structure that allows school leaders, boards, and founders to identify the key programmatic elements in their school, prioritize them, and begin discussing the process of implementing, monitoring and evaluating program implementation. Participants will benefit by bringing a copy of their school’s Educational Plan.Presenter: Dr. Christopher Plum - GPS Solutions

Place: DeRossetStrand: Governance






3:00pm - 3:50pmPresentation Title: Building STEAM with Project-Based Learning

Real-world challenges encourage students to pursue skills and subject matter knowledge for problem solv-ing. Students have 1080 days from 1st to 5th grade and 1080 days from 6th grade to 12th grade. Make the most of every single day with targeted and successfully inte-grated STEM and STEAM “project-based learning that doesn’t forget the learning!”

** Named an “exemplary STEM program” by Change the Equation and featured as a Panel Speaker at the US News STEM Summit, Ten80’s founder was also named one of the 100 Women in STEM.Presenter: Jeannie Ruiz - Ten80 Foundation


3:00pm - 3:50pmPresentation Title: Spaces That Inspire Teaching and Learning

We discuss how a schools physical environment is de-signed with one primary goal in mind - to improve learning. We share how to create communities for learning for a wide variety of learning styles such as col-laborative, peer-directed, and experiential as examples. Small group spaces to promote critical thinking and personalized learning are also discussed. It is critical to create a school to allow students to become lifelong learners that adapt to our changing world and future career opportunities, and teachers the ability to utilize their creativity to teach in ways that inspire. This free-dom also contributes to teacher retention and satisfac-tion. In short, we discuss creating environments that

promote teachers and students alike to come together to develop a life long love of learning.Presenter: John Shurley - WMF Architecture

Place: McRaeStrand:

4:15pm - 5:00pmPresentation Title: Governing for Greatness

Serving on a charter school board can be a profoundly rewarding experience or an act of futility and frustra-tion. If you want the former, then this session is for you. Have you been searching for a framework for effective governance and assessment? Could you use some sup-port in identifying key performance metrics and tools that you can incorporate into your organizational cul-ture for continuous improvement? Are you looking to encourage the heart and ignite your passion? Why do board members serve? To win for kids! Come learn how the adoption of some timeless, universal principles and a laser-focus on what truly matters can help your board govern for greatness and propel your school to new heights!Presenter: James N. Goenner - National Charter Schools Institute

Place: BellamyStrand: Governance


4:15pm - 5:00pmPresentation Title: Innovative Technology and the In-quiry Process

This session will focus on incorporating unique and innovative technologies into the classroom. The focus will be on the use of engaging technologies throughout project and inquiry based learning. Participants will explore the inquiry process and actively engage with technology. They will leave the session with a toolbox of technology resources to implement in their classroom.Presenter: Courtney Lewis & Cathi Mintz - Cape Fear Center for Inquiry


4:15pm - 5:00pmPresentation Title: Fundamentals for Starting off on the Right Foot

We will team up with Howard Sowell-Funding the Gap. We will discuss the Fundamentals for starting a Charter School, beyond the Charter application process. We will discuss the necessary team work that is needed between the Charter School Founders/ Board, Architect, Fund-ing Source and General Contractor. We will provided the necessary steps for success between the time the Charter is filed for and/or approved, the need for proper identification of building needs whether new/existing, creating the proper documentation for proper funding approvals, the need for an experienced Architecture firm that guides you through the proper design pro-cess to ensure financial constructability and the Gen-eral Contractor who will guide you through the proper building types/process for financial success.Presenter: Troy Menges - Davidson and Jones Con-struction Company


4:15pm - 5:00pmPresentation Title: Best Practices in Problem Solving and Planning for an Excellent Charter School

The audience for this session is school administrators and board members. This session will provide a forum for discussing best practices in areas including market-ing, recruitment and hiring of staff, professional devel-opment, and policy development. Participants will get tips and tools for writing policy and for best practices in other critically important areas of charter school opera-tion.Presenter: Dr. Michael Neiman - Futures Education

Place: LatimerStrand: Operations

4:15pm - 5:00pmPresentation Title: Critique: Making critique a habit of mind that infiltrates the classroom in all subject areas.

Teachers give critique to students throughout the school day. The strategies of critique, revision, and the use of work models are deeply embedded in Project Based Learning and supports students to produce high quality work.

Our goal is to make critique a habit of mind that infil-trates the classroom in all subject areas. You will learn how to implement critique into your teaching, how to teach students to critique each other, and to make it a part of your classroom culture.Presenter: Leslie Paynter - Voyager Academy Elemen-tary





improved apperance + reducedcost = A+

Please join us for plant tours, product demonstrations, and educational workshops on employee saftey, and saving money! Held at the Pioneer Eclipse plant in Sparta, NC.

September 10, 2014 10:00am – 3:00pm1 Eclipse Road Sparta, NC 28675

Register Now!www.pioneereclipse.com/open-house/

Open House & Workshop


Panel Discussion: Waves of change, Oceans of opportunity

July 31st - 1:00pm - 2:00pmOur distinguished panel will address the second half of the conference theme, “oceans of opportunity”. Eddie Goodall will moderate a panel including Kara Kerwin, President of The Center for Education Reform, A. L. (Bud-dy) Collins, Vice Chair of the State Board of Education, and Darrell Allison, President of Parents for Educational Freedom in NC. The issues discussed will surround where the charter school movement goes in our state, includ-ing not just the growth from new schools, but what the future may hold for our existing schools.

Kara Hornung Kerwin (@CERKaraKerwin) is President of The Center for Education Reform. Formerly the Vice President of External Affairs, she has managed efforts to bring reform to dozens of states, and has a wealth of policy, grassroots and media relations experience. She has counseled thousands of parents and school leaders seeking to maximize educational opportunity in their local communities. Kara has also assisted in the devel-opment of countless local, state and national partner-ships created to provide viable educational options for all students. Having spent the last 14 years at the Center, she has managed all aspects of the organization and is intimately familiar with the needs and demands of the reform movement. Kara is a frequent speaker and panelist on education reform issues in legislative, academic and industry set-tings. Her unique understanding of the education re-form landscape draws from multiple perspectives that were developed working hand-in-hand with parents in some of America’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods; with educators and administrators hungry for reform;

with legislators and other public officials at the federal, state and lo-cal levels; and with top media fig-ures and advocacy leaders across the country. Kara has authored and contributed to countless re-ports and studies, state and feder-al legislation, and parent-focused publications. Kara cut her teeth in public pol-icy working in the offices of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and the late U.S. Senator Dan-iel Moynihan, which provided a unique perspective of the workings of government. Kara is a native of Buffalo, NY, where she continues to be actively engaged with the community and schools. Kara received a B.A. in political science from American University in Washington, D.C. She and her husband, Mike, are the proud parents of one daughter

www.edreform.com

KARA KERWIN, President

Kara Hornung Kerwin (@CERKaraKerwin) is President of The Center for Education Reform. Formerly the Vice President of External Affairs, she has managed efforts to bring reform to dozens of states, and has a wealth of policy, grassroots and media relations experience. She has counseled thousands of parents and school leaders seeking to maximize educational opportunity in their local communities. Kara has also assisted in the development of countless local, state and national partnerships created to provide viable educational options for all students. Having spent the last 14 years at the Center, she has managed all aspects of the organization and is intimately familiar with the needs and demands of the reform movement. Kara is a frequent speaker and panelist on education reform issues in legislative, academic and industry settings. Her unique understanding of the education reform landscape draws from multiple perspectives that were developed

working hand-in-hand with parents in some of America’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods; with educators and administrators hungry for reform; with legislators and other public officials at the federal, state and local levels; and with top media figures and advocacy leaders across the country. Kara has authored and contributed to countless reports and studies, state and federal legislation, and parent-focused publications. Kara cut her teeth in public policy working in the offices of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and the late U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan, which provided a unique perspective of the workings of government. Kara is a native of Buffalo, NY, where she continues to be actively engaged with the community and schools. Kara received a B.A. in political science from American University in Washington, D.C. She and her husband, Mike, are the proud parents of one daughter.

A.L. (Buddy) CollinsVice Chair of the State Board of Education

Darrell AllisonPresident of Parents for Educational Freedom in NC


Panel Discussion: Waves of change, Oceans of opportunity

FREEKINDERGARTEN

SCREENINGSOur ASHA Certified and State Licensed Clinicians Treat:

Apraxia, ArticulationStutteringOral Motor, Feeding & SwallowingExpressive & Receptive LanguageAugmentative Communication, Tech AssistedDialect Reduction, Corporate SpeechCognition & Memory

1-800-323-3123www.speechcenter.net

185 Charlois Boulevard • Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Providing Speech Therapy in Western and Central North Carolina Since 1982

Winston-Salem Clinic

Charter School Services:Program AdministratorsHighly Skilled Speech-Language PathologistsOn-site, Personal ServicesIEP DocumentationBilling ServicesFREE Kindergarten Screening Services


8:30am - 9:20amA Classroom AdventureTechnology funding for Charters using E-RateNC WriteLEARN NC: Inquiry-based Professional DevelopmentK-3 Assessment: Your Voice is Vital

9:30am - 10:20amCharter School Legal Update and Practice PointsAvoid the Dirty Dozen E-rate MistakesGetting Down to BusinessIntroducing Amplify ELAThe Four C’s of Successful Teaching

10:30am - 11:20amMAP - an assessment to measure true growthOnline and Blended Learning - Changing the definition of “Going to school”An Introduction to CKLALegislative Update and DiscussionTroops to Teachers

Friday, August 1stBreakout Sessions At-A-Glance

Friday, August 1stBreakout Sessions

Celebrating more than 50 years of service!!

CPA Audit and Accounting Services for North Carolina Charter Schools

We are proud to support the NC Public Charter Schools Association!Prospective and established North Carolina Public Charter Schoolsneed full-service accounting (ISIS), payroll and CPA audit services.

We understand this and have dedicated staff to handle all your charter school accounting needs.

Sam Leder, [email protected]

www.gotopotter.com


Friday, August 1stBreakout Sessions At-A-Glance


8:30am - 9:20amPresentation Title: A Classroom Adventure

Quests for the Core give teachers what they need to lead rich and engaging learning experiences that teach students the skills of rigorous reading and analysis de-manded by college and career readiness standards. These immersive, interactive, multi-media adventures bring students together – competitively and collaboratively – to use the reading and writing skills they’ve learned to solve mysteries, diagnose illnesses, and explore histori-cal events. In this session teachers will get to experience first-hand what happens when a classroom comes alive; where students are reading increasingly complex texts and are motivated to write significantly more.Presenter: Jumana Salem - Amplify


8:30am - 9:20amPresentation Title: Technology funding for Charters us-ing E-Rate

The federal E-Rate program provides funding for tel-ecommunications and internet services and equipment. The program presents a unique opportunity for new Charters, in particular, to gain access to capital fund-ing. The E-rate system is currently being overhauled by the FCC and will be changing in the near future. These changes present new opportunities and pitfalls for new applicants as well as those who are already participat-ing. This presentation begin with an overview of the funding opportunities and application process and then concludes with the changing funding landscape and how that might effect Charters.Presenter: John Hughes - New Hope Technology Foun-dation


8:30am - 9:20amPresentation Title: NC Write

Writing is one of the most difficult skills we have to teach our students! Let’s change that! This session will focus on strategies used in the 3-12 classroom to spark student interest in improving their literacy skills. Spe-cific examples, best practices, testimonials, and tools for implementing strategies will be shared. A real-time demonstration of NC Write, as a literacy tool, and the nation’s leading artificial intelligence writing scoring engine, is included in the session!Presenter: Dr. Trish Martin - Measurement Inc.


8:30am - 9:20amPresentation Title: LEARN NC: Inquiry-based Profes-sional Development

LEARN NC serves as the primary professional devel-opment center for the School of Education at the Uni-versity of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. More than a website, LEARN NC also supports a strong element of face-to-face work in an effort to achieve the goal of creating a community of teachers who are exploring and sharing best practices and hands-on teaching ap-proaches.

This workshop will focus on resources and tools avail-able to charter school educators as they aim to create a hands-on, inquiry-based environment in their class-room. Examples will feature multiple disciplines and grade levels for teachers of all experience. Participants will receive specific resources, including web-based ma-terials, digital textbooks, and instructional models with assessments.Presenter: Andy Mink - LEARN NC, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill



8:30am - 9:20amPresentation Title: K-3 Assessment: Your Voice is Vital

In response to legislation passed by North Carolina’s General Assembly, and to meet requirements of the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant, the Office of Early Learning is designing a developmentally appro-priate, individualized assessment for K-3 children. This assessment, which will be used by all school districts, will be formative in nature and accessible to, valid, and appropriate for the greatest number of children. During this session, the office of early learning will lead discus-sion about this work and provide opportunities for par-ticipants to share thoughts, offer suggestions, and make recommendations regarding the development and im-plementation of the K-3 assessment.Presenter: Leslie Simmons - NCDPI


9:30am - 10:20amPresentation Title: Charter School Legal Update and Practice Points

What have the state legislature and the courts been up to this past year? What kinds of legal challenges are presenting themselves? What adjustments and practic-es should new and already-established charter schools adopt? David Hostetler, long-time education attorney and founding director of Lex-is School Law Services (Chapel Hill), will highlight key points and practices and offer a brief time for Q&A. Presenter: David Hostetler - Lex-is School Law Services

Place: BellamyStrand: Governance

9:30am - 10:20amPresentation Title: Avoid the Dirty Dozen E-rate Mis-takes

E-rate Program ~ Avoid the Dirty Dozen Mistakes1. Submit “clean” paper forms containing errors; or, File Online!2. Manage and track deadlines3. Follow all competitive bidding rules including state and local4. Communicate with service providers after the com-petitive bidding process5. Single vs Mixed bucket funding requests6. Correct i.e., “provable” discount calculations7. On time and complete PIA responses8. On time and complete Item 21 attachments9. READ your USAC letters10. Good invoicing practices11. Adequate document retention12. Managing your E-rate processPresenter: Jeannene Hurley, NCDPI


9:30am - 10:20amPresentation Title: Getting Down to Business

Senior Chartered Financial Analyst Carol Moore, will walk listeners through ISIS and the intricacies of Char-ter School financing. Carol will explain the basics of ISIS, financial reporting, payroll files, state reporting, and more! The majority of Charter Schools who lose their charters, lose it over financial difficulties, rather than scholastic deficiencies, it’s Carol’s intention to point this out and name some simple, basic tips to make sure this doesn’t happen to your Charter School. Come learn how to get down to business and keep your Char-ter’s doors open!Presenter: Carol Moore - LB&A, Certified Public Ac-countants, PLLC






9:30am - 10:20amPresentation Title: Introducing Amplify ELA

Over the past three years, Amplify has been working with leading common core experts, literary scholars, artists, game designers, teachers, and students to design a new type of core reading program for middle school. It makes many of the essential tasks of college and ca-reer readiness instruction - close reading, analytical writing, text-based discussion, academic vocabulary - much more engaging, and more rigorous. It is designed to support teacher-driven instruction.Presenter: Debbie Owens - Amplify


9:30am - 10:20amPresentation Title: The Four C’s of Successful Teaching

The Four C’s of Successful Teaching, offers practical, re-alistic suggestions and ideas, complete with personal sit-uations for the application of consistency, contingency, compassion and courage to the Four Pillars of a school district - administration, students, parents and teachers. From the presentation, a new outlook and mindset on how to handle problems that arise when working with the Four Pillars can be achieved. This presentation is excellent for anyone in the field of teaching. Whether a college student preparing for student teaching, a new teacher learning the ropes, or a veteran teacher stuck in a rut, this presentation can help.Presenter: Brett Tozer - SuccessfulTeach.com


10:30am - 11:20amPresentation Title: MAP - An Assessment to Measure True Growth

The curriculum is fully digital, though it can work in a school that has devices available to students at least 3 days a week. The curriculum is designed to work with Chromebooks, iPads, Windows devices, Mac laptops, and Android tablets.Presenter: Jeanine Edwards - NWEA


10:30am - 11:20amPresentation Title: Online and Blended Learning - Changing the definition of “going to school”

Technology, digital content, and online learning options provide us with the opportunity engage and individual-ize instruction for students in a way never before pos-sible. Online and blended learning environments are redefining what it means “to go to school” and charter schools around the country have been at the forefront of these new learning models. This session will provide insights regarding the growth of online and blending learning, use of digital content and technology and the importance of having teachers who can connect with students using these 21st century learning resources.Presenter: Bruce Friend - Ignite Learning Partners





10:30am - 11:20amPresentation Title: An Introduction to CKLA

Learn firsthand how our new digital curriculum engag-es students and empowers teachers to create ground-breaking classroom experiences, no matter the device.Presenter: Susan Lambert - Amplify


10:30am - 11:20amPresentation Title: Legislative Update and Discussion

This session has two parts. First, we will assess the ma-jor public school laws introduced and/or passed during the 2014 session of the N.C. General Assembly. Second, attendees will be invited to participate in a discussion about the 2015 legislative session. Be prepared to ad-dress the following questions: What do you want from your legislators next year and beyond? Have elected officials been responsive to your input and concerns? What are the most pressing needs for charter schools in your community, region, and state? How can public policy and charter school support organizations better serve existing and prospective schools?Presenter: Terry Stoops - John Locke Foundation

Place: LatimerStrand: Advocacy

10:30am - 11:20amPresentation Title: Troops to Teachers

Troops to Teachers operates an office in North Caro-lina. We recruit eligible participants, mostly retiring from the military after 20 year careers to serve as public school educators. Many of our participants are lateral entry eligible but will not have licensure programs com-pleted by the time they retire.

Military personnel have many attributes that school leaders find desirable.DependabilityDrug-freeLoyalPatrioticTeam-orientedExperience with young adults

The program also has demographics that can help add diversity to your teaching staff.80% male57% minority

Participants that have been hired stay in teaching. 80% are still teaching after five years.We can work with you to market your vacancies to our participant base.Presenter: Douglas Taggart, NC Troops to Teachers / NCDPI

Place: McRaeStrand: Operations



HUB International Southeast is proud to support the NC Public Charter Schools Association

HUB International is a leading global insurance

brokerage that provides a broad array of property and

casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment

and risk management products and services.

HUB International Southeast

Teresa Smith, CIC, CPCU (704) [email protected]

www.hubinternational.com

Signature Learning Resources, Inc.582 C Farringdom St., Lumberton, NC 28358

Tel: 888-330-4172 • Fax: 910-735-1103

“Your Unique Partner in Education”At Signature Learning Resources we are able to offer your school the

highest quality professionals in speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special education. We can help your school develop and execute a successful special education and/or related service program while holding paramount the educational needs of the child.

Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence for our Clients & CommunityCommercial • Multi-Family • Health Care • Education

www.Leeperconstruction.com

Lincoln Charter SchoolGround Breaking July 2014

704-334-3223601 Morris StreetCharlotte, NC 28202

ACADIA NORTHSTAR, LLC

EXPERIENCE… KNOWLEDGE… DEPENDABILITY…

North Carolina’s largest provider of charter school ACCOUNTING and STUDENT INFORMATION services

WWW.ANSCHARTER.COM

RALEIGH, NC5029 FALLS OF NEUSE RD

RALEIGH, NC 27609PHONE: 919.954.7040

RUTHERFORDTON, NC191 N. MAIN STREET

RUTHERFORDTON, NC 28139PHONE: 828.287.7897

Providing NC Charters with unbeatable service since 2001


Kristen Rodriguez, educational technology specialist for TeamCFA, told the Brevard Academy: Challenge Foundation Academy board of directors Monday night that the school has made tremendous improvement in its MAP test scores this year.

“This is an unprecedented amount of growth in one year,” said Rodriguez. “You guys will probably be the highest in the (CFA) network.”The percentage of students who hit their growth target in reading increased from 44 percent last year to 71.4 percent this year. The percentage of students who hit

their target growth in math increased from 40 percent last year to 74.2 percent this year.

Rodriguez said the MAP tests are used to gauge student progress in the TeamCFA schools. Some traditional school districts, like Chicago, Ill. also use the MAP test. States like Virginia and Ohio use them as an alternate

assessment.According to the MAP test scores, 84.6 percent of Bre-vard Academy students are proficient in reading and 83.2 percent are proficient in math. Every grade made at least one year’s growth in reading, math, language arts and science.

When asked why CFA schools may be doing so well on the MAP tests, school director Tony Helton credited the Core Knowledge curriculum.

Cheryl Reinstadler, a TeamCFA appointee to the board, said it also is due to the cohesiveness of school planning, as well as the high bar set by Core Knowl-edge Language Arts and Singapore math.

Helton said teaching Latin in seventh and eighth grade also was a reason for the increase.

Rodriguez said the MAP tests are not

aligned with the state of North Carolina’s curriculum or end of grade tests. Helton said he thinks Brevard Acad-emy students will do quite well on the state tests.

Academy Sees Test Score Improvement Brevard, NC


Academy Sees Test Score Improvement Brevard, NC

Business Interiors by Staplessm, working with Momentum Ventures, provides tiered pricing for over 40 vendors with consolidated purchasing options so your charter school never has to bid.

Together we can help create the perfect learning environment.

For more information, contact your local Staples® Representative or visit StaplesAdvantage.com/BusinessInteriors.

Bring your educational workspace to life.

• Space planning• Computer-aided design

• Delivery and professional installation• Repair, service and warranty support

Kevin Melvin704-954-3052

[email protected]

Scott Parks704-954-3052

[email protected]

Proud to supportProud to supportProud to supportNC Public Charter SchoolsNC Public Charter SchoolsNC Public Charter Schools

© 2014, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved.

Pla

ygro

un

ds . S

he

lters . F

urn

ishin

gs

Atla

ntic

Co

astP

layg

rou

nd

s.co

m

88

8.5

49

.88

46

info

@A

tlan

ticC

oa

stPlayg

rou

nd

s.co

m

CMYCMMY

CY

CMY

K

ad375by5.pdf 1 6/14/2013 10:15:22 AM


May 4-10 was National Charter School Week and, to celebrate, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Success and Opportunity through Quality Char-ter Schools Act.” This was an exciting occasion for us Washington-based policy wonks, starved as we are for any legislative action on education. But it also offered a window into the thinking of charter opponents, espe-cially the teacher unions.

Note in particular this amendment offered by Texas Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee:

The State entity will ensure that charter schools and lo-cal educational agencies serving charter schools post on their websites materials with respect to charter school student recruitment, student orientation, enrollment criteria, student discipline policies, behavior codes, and parent contract requirements, including any financial obligations (such as fees for tutoring or extracurricular activity).

The amendment failed 179–220, on a mostly party-line vote. Randi Weingarten expressed disappointment in an AFT press release:

There are still major gaps in the bill, such as on enroll-ment criteria that traditional public schools always fol-low. Several representatives, including Sheila Jackson Lee, Kathy Castor and Gwen Moore, pushed for addi-tional measures to level the playing field based on their own or their constituents’ charter school experiences. But for some reason, these amendments were reject-ed—presumably because some prefer to give preferen-tial treatment to charter schools. We want preferential treatment for all our children.

What’s this all about? Charter opponents are trying to make hay with allegations that some charter schools are “cream-skimming,” either by discouraging certain kids

from enrolling in the first place or by pushing them out once they struggle. (The amendment language itself reads as if it came straight from Stephanie Simon’s Reu-ters article on the issue last year.)

As a charter supporter, let me first make the obligatory (and true!) statement that there’s little evidence that many charter schools purposefully skim the cream. Rigorous studies (like those from CREDO and NAPCS) find that student demographics in charters almost al-ways match those of neighboring public schools; more-over, incoming charter pupils are just as low-perform-ing, if not more so, than their traditional public-school peers. (If they were thriving in their previous schools, it’s unlikely they’d make the move.) If there is massive cream-skimming going on, it doesn’t show up in the data.

That said, I’ve long believed that charter schools have a subtle advantage because they are schools of choice; by definition, there’s something different about the fami-lies who choose them for their children and those who don’t. And plenty of “no-excuses” charter schools are known for their tough discipline policies—which, yes, sometimes result in a high number of students leaving. Any fair comparison of charter and district schools, then, must take these “selection effects” (and the result-ing “peer effects”) into account.

But here’s where charter opponents get it wrong: district schools practice all manner of “selectivity” in the cause of specialization, too. Selective-admissions magnet schools are the best example, but you can find explicit enrollment criteria in other district programs, too, in-cluding gifted-and-talented initiatives and some career- and technical-education options.

Then take special education. School districts have a le-gal obligation to serve all students with disabilities or

Individual District Schools Don’t Serve All Students, Either


Individual District Schools Don’t Serve All Students, Either

else pay for a “private placement.” But they don’t have to make sure that every single school is equipped to serve every single type of disability. They can special-ize, putting programs for autistic students at particu-lar schools, for example, instead of every school in the district. Children with multiple and severe disabilities often have schools reserved to meet their needs. This is one way large districts can benefit from economies of scale. Additionally, most districts also have “alternative schools” of one sort or another for students with disci-pline problems.

So it’s a myth that district schools “serve all comers.” They simply don’t. Nor should they. Every child de-serves to have his or her needs met, but not necessarily under the same roof. If anything, we need to get more comfortable with telling students and families, “This school’s not a good fit for you.”

This is where I feel district schools’ pain, because some of the same “equity hawks” who like to hate on charter schools are also pushing back against traditional pub-lic schools’ efforts to specialize. Consider the backlash on suspensions and expulsions, which is going to force regular schools to keep kids who might be better served at alternative placements. Or the longstanding animos-ity showed toward gifted programs. Or the angst about Stuyvesant and other selective high schools. Or some advocates’ obsession with a “least-restrictive environ-ment” for special-needs kids, regardless of the disrup-tion that mainstreaming might cause for everyone else.This ham-handed approach to equity is destined to lead to inequitable outcomes. If the needs of a handful of stu-dents—whether they be unruly, emotionally disturbed, far behind their peers, or all of the above—trump the needs of everyone else, parents with means are going to say “to hell with it” and decamp for the suburbs or private schools. And parents without means but with motivation are going to continue to decamp for char-ter schools. Or demand vouchers. Is that what “public-school advocates” want?

Traditional public schools are right to complain about being the “provider of last resort.” But rather than en-snaring charter schools in the same ludicrous rules that have hamstrung district schools, we should free district

schools from ideological, unworkable mandates.But don’t expect those on the Left to join the effort any-time soon. A movement whose leaders say they want “preferential treatment for all children” with a straight face is not serious enough to confront the Orwellian thinking that rules too many traditional school districts today.

-Michael Petrilli

Petrilli was a keynote speaker at the NCPCSA 2013 charter conference.

We help schools reduce capital costs by more than 30% while providing the most energy efÞcient solution available. Stop by our booth to learn about Precision Climate Management.

Are you mindful of construction and energy costs?


Millennium Charter Academy finds itself, in a sense, being an unintentional hidden educational treasure as it begins its 14th year.

“We still get a lot of comments from people who say they don’t know what we are all about,” said Millenni-um Charter Academy Director of Development Lu Ann Browne. “Local people say they didn’t know we are here. Twice a month at least I have people touring our school and ask what our tuition is. We don’t have that. We are a public school.”

Browne appears philosophical about this, noting the academy is located on the edge of Mount Airy, “tucked away” in a quiet suburb. When it comes to educational institutions, 14 years is a short time compared to the overall scheme of things.

Headmaster Kirby McCrary agrees.

“What we do is provide a classical education at no cost,” said McCrary. “I think a local gem or treasure we have here is children are taught to think. They are given a wide and deep body of knowledge and then taught how to think about this body of knowledge. We teach them logic and philosophy and then how to express them-selves. It’s all tied together.”

Browne also pointed out another question regularly fielded by staffers is the difference between Core Knowl-edge and Common Core.

“Our Core Knowledge, not to be confused with Com-mon Core, is a real gem and something that is different,” said Browne. She is referring to the fact that the Core Knowledge approach, championed Core Knowledge Foundation founder E. D. Hirsch, who published “The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy” in 1988.

His works “The Core Knowledge Sequence” and “The Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence” lay out the in-formation Hirsch and his associates at the Core Knowl-

edge Foundation believe should be taught in each grade through a curriculum which builds on itself in subse-quent levels.

“He (Hirsch) was looking at what it means to be suc-cessfully educated in America and this curriculum came about from this study,” said Browne. “It makes the curriculum more engaging and fun for students. That richness keeps the children engaged. It fits well with our classical model for education.” She said MCA is recog-nized as a National Core Knowledge site.

Brown said the academy’s classical education model starts students with content in the elementary levels and progresses to students learning logic and how to process content and then moves finally to a rhetorical stage where they learn how to process what they have learned, with each level geared around developmental stages in children.

“It’s liberal arts but the sciences are a big part in classical education. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math-ematics (STEM) is a natural part of who we are,” Browne said. She emphasized MCA relies on inquiry-based sci-ence even in its kindergarten levels with participation in the science fair required for students in grades 4-8.

She said students participate in the N.C. Student Acad-emy of Sciences Research Paper camp, where the school captured two state titles this year. This competition fea-tures judges who are professors or research scientists critiquing student papers on their science fair projects.

“You get public speaking, presentation and the oppor-tunity to hear a real scientist present as a speaker,” said Browne. “What an opportunity for kids to really see sci-ence which is a big deal here.”

She noted MCA is in its ninth year of a laptop com-puter 1:1 initiative for its students with teachers being experienced in using technology in the classroom. She said an example of a project touching on many areas

Millennium Charter Academy: Hidden Educational Gem


Millennium Charter Academy: Hidden Educational Gem

in the curriculum is third grade students building their own Viking ships as part of learning about engineering. Other activities include science Olympiad and robotics, in which the school qualified for state competition and went on to earn regional honors.

Students were challenged to build their viking ships out of recycled materials from home. A human biology class staged a meal where menu items were used to sug-gest parts of the human body such as deviled eggs as “eyes” and kielbasa for the digestive system.

“We (use) STEM very well here. It’s a natural part of a classical school,” Browne said. “The third piece of our model will be the high school where we can complete the process for our students. This will be the rhetoric stage. Although art and music programs have suffered nationally in education they are an integral part of who we are.”

Another gem Academy kindergarten teacher Kara Westmoreland is excited to discuss is the use of the Or-ton-Gillingham Method in kindergarten. This method of reading instruction was developed in the early-20th century. It is described as language-based, multisensory, structured, sequential, cumulative and cognitive. It was developed by neuropsychiatrist Samuel Orton and edu-cator and psychologist Anna Gilingham.

It is an intensive, sequential phonics-based system that teaches the basics of word formation before whole meanings. The method accommodates and utilizes three “pathways” through which people learn: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Academy students use trays of sand to trace the letters and sounds which are concepts they later connect the two with writing.

“They will sit for 40 minutes with the sand trays and write and enjoy it,” said Westmoreland.

The 29-year veteran educator explained learning to write can be one of the most stressful things many 5-year-olds attempt early on and this method has taken a lot of stress off of students. She said the ability to con-nect sound with symbol in a visual way modeling with the sand trays appears to connect the concepts rapid-ly for academy kindergarten students as evidenced by their compositions on display in classrooms.

Browne said another example of the integration of sci-ence and the arts is the advanced music group at the academy. She said some students will perform an origi-nal work composed by eighth grade student Drew Mor-row. Music teacher Rodney Money has arranged Mor-row’s piece of music so other students will help perform various parts as it became a collaborative project. It is titled “Reason to Fly.”

“I’ve written the lyrics too,” said Morrow. “It was the music I was really concerned about. It’s about chasing your dreams and it’s a positive, uplifting work about if you’re waiting what are you waiting for,” said Morrow. “You can make it if you just try.”

Money said the piece was one of the few times he’s seen students spontaneously break into applause after it was first played. He said some of the students who have dab-bled with instruments came to him after school, learned some chords, worked more at home and came back fine tune what they learned in class. Money said students helped each other learn the instruments in what also became music evolving into leadership. McCrary and Browne agreed another gem at the academy is its teach-ers.

“I recently took them through the battle of the 300 Spar-tans at Thermopylae,” said sixth grade history teacher Mike Drury. “When they read from (Greek historian) Herodotus about the 300 and they find at one point the battle was down to 50 soldiers circled around their king’s body they have a clear idea about bravery and courage. This is a story being told 3,000 years ladder. Kids connect it to today’s world. It paints a picture of heroes. What can be. People of courage and compas-sion, truly noble. This inspires students.”

David Broyles may be reached at 336-719-1952 or on twitter@MtAiryNewsDav


Table 41 – Signage Sponsor

Acadia NorthStar, LLCwww.acadianorthstar.comSarah Jo Crain - [email protected]

Founded in 2001, Acadia NorthStar is the largest pro-vider of charter school financial and student informa-tion management services in North Carolina. With over a decade of not-for-profit and charter school experience, many employees and partners have worked with charter schools since their inception. As charter schools have evolved and become more complex, Acadia NorthStar has continued to work side-by-side with its clients to solidify their financial health and ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines.

Table 12

All Seasons Commercialwww.ascommercial.comMichael Garrett – [email protected]

Precision Climate Management should be the goal of any HVAC System. Comfort, Health and Affordability are the end products of only the best school AC Systems. Your students, teachers and administrators deserve the most advantageous learning environment possible. In-dividual classroom temperature and humidity control, as well as overall energy efficiency are imperative. A simple system will speed construction schedules and keep maintenance costs down. Let All Seasons show you and your design consultants how our independent classroom air conditioning systems provide the best en-vironment possible and at lower installed costs, lower operating costs and lower maintenance costs.

Table 34

American Charter Development, LLCwww.amercd.comPacker Morley - [email protected]

American Charter Development (ACD) is one of the nation’s premier charter school developers. We facilitate the development of attractive and functional facilities for successful charter schools. ACD, at no initial cost, specializes in 100 percent financing and turnkey devel-opment of charter school facilities that are customized to meet the school’s individual needs and budget. ACD is an experienced firm that can handle everything from land search and acquisition, to permitting and con-struction.

Table 11

American Public Universitywww.apus.eduDr. Charles Bindig - [email protected]

Service. Leadership. Relevance in a global society. These values define our mission at American Public University System. They guide how we educate and support more than 100,000 distance learners studying in 50 states and more than 100 countries. They shape the growth of our two institutions, American Public University and American Military University. They are the roadmap for how we prepare you for successful careers.

Alphabetical Vendor List Alphabetical Vendor List



Table 42

ATD-AMERICANwww.atdamerican.com/atd/Shop?Jessi Jacobs - [email protected]

ATD-AMERICAN has been selling furniture to educa-tional facilities for 80 years. Our experienced team will provide free space-planning, budget planning and fi-nancing options to help you realize your vision for your school. ATD actively participates in charter school as-sociations across the country.

Table 47 - Snack Sponsor

Atlantic Coast Playgroundswww. atlanticcoastplaygrounds.comMark Hurt – [email protected]

At Atlantic Coast Playgrounds, we believe the right play environment leads to better learning. We are a full-ser-vice recreational structure company featuring WOW® playgrounds and other play area needs, including fit-ness, shade, shelters, benches, fencing and signage. Our playground experts will help you- from design, installation through inspection. Our goal is to deliver the highest level of service fostering confidence, trust and integrity. Marked by superior customer care, com-petitive pricing and a well-serviced warranty, Atlantic Coast Playgrounds can build a creative recreational set-ting can help your students succeed in and outside the classroom. Play truly brings learning to life. Start build-ing your play area today!

Table 61

The Bankshot Sports Organizationwww.bankshot.comDr. Reeve Brenner – [email protected]

Bankshot Sports are inclusionary non-aggressive Play-courts™. Participants play alongside, not against each other. Bankshot Basketball is a non-running, non-con-tact no bullying, companionable sport. ADA and IDEA compliant:”no child left inside.” Offering integration, socialization and inclusion of the differently-able in a challenging thinking sport age-appropriate for school children, Bankshot Sports offer Total-Mix diversity based on Universal Design. Bankshot Bankboards dis-played in two art and science museums; currently of-fering active participation at the Boston Children’s Museum. Small space oriented accommodating large numbers. Playmates not opponents.

Table 32 - President Sponsor

Banyan Consulting Groupwww.banyaninc.comDavid Dow – [email protected]

Managing your employee benefits just got easy. Benefit programs can be easier to administer and save you mon-ey too. To prove it, Banyan Consulting Group has come up with some revolutionary ideas that have changed the way our clients provide benefits to their employees. What makes us different is our vision of wellness cou-pled with our unique service model. You’ve got more than a rep. You’ve got a team.


Table 50

Banyan Partners, LLChttp://banyanstrategics.comJoanne Trickett - [email protected]

Banyan Partners is a strategic services firm that serves charter schools seeking high performance academic out-comes. Our strategic support services provide bundled success solutions including strategic planning, strategic performance management systems, organizational de-velopment, technology development, and governance systems. Our principals have over 130 years combined experience in Fortune 500, middle market corporations and non-profit entities. Our specific expertise includes corporate finance, strategic planning, talent develop-ment, performance management systems and crisis management. Our partnership in charter school excel-lence is based on the proven premise that the meaning-ful collaboration of parents, teachers and school leaders provides the best foundation for academic excellence.


BB&T Capital Marketshttp://bbtcapitalmarkets.com/capmarkets/industry-ex-pertise/education/default.pageMichael F. Braun - [email protected]

BB&T Capital Markets Education Finance Group pro-vides comprehensive capital structure planning and ex-ecution for charter schools as well as public and private colleges and universities, student housing facilities, and private secondary schools. With the resources of one of the nation’s strongest financial institutions, we help our clients navigate challenging financial markets while providing ongoing guidance and support to ensure their long-term success. BBTCapitalMarkets.com/Education

Table 44

BB&T Insurance Services McPhail Brayhttp://insurance.bbt.com/Scott Parks – [email protected]

BB&T Insurance Services has an innovative risk man-agement program tailored for educational institutions. Just like the charter school movement , we are LEAD-ING the industry in Saving schools capital through strong carrier relationships and providing a HIGH level of service. Our team has over 20 years’ experience deal-ing with educational risks/perils. BB&T’s capabilities go far beyond P&C, we have a deep knowledge of Em-ployee Benefits and the Affordable Care Act. Please get in touch with us 90 days prior to your insurance renew-als to reserve a place on our schedule. We put risk man-agement and your school’s safety FIRST. Contact our team for your health and commercial insurance needs.


Business Interiors by Stapleswww.staplesadvantage.com/Nicole Zern - [email protected]

Business Interiors by Staples is the contract furniture and design division of Staples Advantage. We’re helping schools create teaching spaces that work for them in-stead of the other way around. We have an expert team consisting of Sales, Designers, Project Managers and In-stallers who have been in the furniture industry for years and bring their expertise to your school. You can find the latest furniture styles from brands like Jonti-Craft, Artcobell, HON, Diversified Woodcraft and Fleetwood to freshen and energize your workplace. Plus, thanks to our size, we can offer the most competitive pricing.




Table 21 - CEO Sponsor

Camcorwww.camcor.comRodney Bailey - [email protected]

Camcor provides the most effective technology solu-tions for your school. Founded in 1949, Camcor has always made customer service and satisfaction our number one priority. We offer products and expertise covering all aspects of digital imaging, audio/video, interactive classrooms, and multimedia presentations. Whether you need guidance on purchasing a single document camera, headphone, or complex projector system; Camcor will be here to assist you.

High Top - Chair Sponsor

Charter Schools USAwww.charterschoolsusa.comSandy Castro - [email protected]

Charter Schools USA is one of the oldest, largest and fastest-growing education management companies in the United State with 70 schools in 7 states. AdvancEd awarded CSUSA the first Southern Association of Col-leges and Schools (SACS) district accreditation for an education management company. We successfully man-age high performing private and municipal schools for pre-Kindergarten through grade 12. We assist corpora-tions, government entities, developers and nonprofit agencies with all phases of school design, planning, development, financing, construction, operations and curricula. We’ve also been instrumental in pushing for-ward legislative processes that have furthered education reform to help all students gain a high quality educa-tion. While we are proud of our awards, we believe our greatest accomplishments are gaining a 95% plus sat-isfaction rate from parents and achieving a district “A”

academic average for the last 6 years from the Depart-ment of Education. At Charter Schools USA, we always put students first in every decision we make. That phi-losophy, along with a certified and dedicated staff has placed Charter Schools USA as a leader in education management nationally.

Table 51

Choice Educational Serviceswww.vanpoperinginsurance.comThomas Van Popering - [email protected]

Choice Educational Services specializes in Commercial Property Casualty and Employee Benefits for schools in North and South Carolina. We are a family owned busi-ness located in Charlotte, NC and have over 90 years of combined insurance experience. We represent most major carriers that love to write insurance for schools. What makes us unique is that we also own Any Lab Test Now, a national franchise that offers Drug Testing, Background Checks, Fingerprinting, Health Fairs, Sem-inars and Training/Certification Classes on things such as: Blood Born Pathogens, CPR or Handling Bio Haz-ardous Waste. Our client list includes some very large and small schools in both North and South Carolina so we know what schools need and an how to get the pre-miums reduced.



Table 17 - Reception Sponsor

Davidson and Jones Construction Company, Inchttp://d-jcc.com/Troy Menges - [email protected]

Davidson and Jones Construction Company, Inc is full-service commercial contractor, located in Raleigh, NC, specializing in design-build construction. Proudly serv-ing the South Eastern Region for over 95 years! We have become a trusted partner in every phase of construc-tion, from pre-construction planning straight through to project finish. Whether an addition/renovation or brand new construction, we understand the complexi-ties and technical aspects of today’s Educational Facili-ties and what is needed to make them successful for our Charter Schools and the students who are tomorrow’s future Business Leaders.

Table 39 - Tote Bag Sponsor

Dixie Equipment Companywww.dixieequipmentco.comGregory Cooney - [email protected]

Dixie Equipment Company, your NC Charter School resource source since 1954. With over 100 years of ex-perience in educational interiors, our goal is to inspire exceptional 21st Century learning environments. Out-standing customer service and absolute satisfaction are the foremost values at Dixie. Providing service for every stage of your project from budget planning to design and installation, and a wide range of affordably priced products, turn to Dixie for all your furniture and inte-rior needs.

Table 28

Edmentumwww.edmentum.comJennifer Summers – [email protected]

Edmentum, with over 50 years of experience, is redefin-ing the 21st century classroom (Grades Pre K-12) with online digital learning resources that are Common Core and NC DPI aligned. These resources are web based and include products such as: Study Island, PLATO, Read-ing Eggs and Education City. Edmentum is redefining teaching and learning with a comprehensive portfolio suite designed to serve ALL students: Gen Ed, EC, ESL, AIG, and Credit Recovery needs, with a robust innova-tion formative assessment tool Sensei and prescriptive assessment offerings. Contact us today to learn more or visit us on the web: http://www.edmentum.com.

Table 4

E-Therapyhttp://electronic-therapy.comBirgit Suess - [email protected]

Birgit Suess and Diana Parafiniuk are the co-founders of E-Therapy. They are both speech therapists and have many years of experience providing speech therapy services to students living in rural areas throughout the United States. E-Therapy was founded in 2009 to provide consistent and innovative services to the un-der-served school-age student population. E-Therapy is proud to report that they have provided thousands of Tele-Therapy sessions and have had great success work-ing with schools and students nationwide. E-Therapy uses a successful delivery model to provide services that schools otherwise find difficult to provide. E-Therapy is a great “Green” solution for therapists who spend more



time commuting to see students instead of time provid-ing therapy directly to their students. E-Therapy is a leader in the Tele-Therapy service delivery model space and provides the highest quality services.

Table 57

FLVS Globalwww.flvsglobal.net/Lisa Fraine - [email protected]

FLVS GLOBAL is the global arm of Florida Virtual School, an established leader in developing and provid-ing virtual education solutions to students. FLVS Global clients reside in all 50 states and more than 60 countries worldwide. For more than a decade, we have provided courseware, training, and expertise to a variety of on-line programs, including virtual charter schools. All revenues are reinvested in FLVS for research and de-velopment, allowing us to provide the highest quality courses and products to benefit students and educators everywhere. We offer core, electives, honors, and AP® courses. Plus, our core courses are NCAA-approved! Learn more by visiting http://www.FLVSGlobal.net. For more information on how we can work together, contact Lisa Fraine at 386-290-3995 or [email protected].

Table 6

Focus Audio Videowww.focusaudiovideo.comRussell Sellers - [email protected]

Since 2008, Focus Audio Video has been a family owned and operated business located at the foot of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, near Lake Lure, NC. Our “focus” is providing the best in customer service before, during and after the sale. You won’t find a bet-ter team to work with. We cover projects from large to

small, football stadium to the classroom. We are able to work with you (not just for you) to find the best solution that fits your need. Call Russell Sellers at 704-559-9518 or email [email protected] to schedule your free consultation or demonstration.

Table 16 - Reception Sponsor

Funding The Gapwww.fundingthegap.comHoward Sowell - [email protected]

Funding the Gap is a capital advisory firm providing facilities financing solutions for Charter School Opera-tors and Developers. Through strategic relationships with capital sources—lenders, debt and equity, Funding the Gap is able to assist startups and existing campuses find short and long term debt as well as guide through acquisitions, refinancing, renovations and expansion projects. We are not a single source lender, our goal is to provide the best financing option for your situation and move the task of searching for a lender off of your desk and onto ours. With decades of experience, we are uniquely qualified to structure a solution for your or-ganization and do not get paid unless you obtain a sat-isfactory loan.



Table 26 - Lunch Sponsor

Grand Canyon Universitywww.gcu.eduDelecia Eller – [email protected]

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a private, Christian university with over 60 online and campus-based degree programs within a dynamic learning envi-ronment for both traditional students as well as working professionals. Our classes involve engaging interaction with classmates and individual attention from instruc-tors who care about student success. GCU offers degree programs in a variety of fields such as education, nurs-ing, health care, and business. As a regionally accred-ited university, GCU is consistently ranked among top colleges offering online courses by noteworthy sources including Fortune Small Business and more.

Table 45

Herff Jones Nystromwww.herffjonesnystrom.comTravis Green - [email protected]

Herff Jones | Nystrom plays a key role in classrooms everywhere with products and solutions that enhance the academic experience and help your student get the most from their education. Herff Jones | Nystrom maps, globes and atlases are found in classrooms and lecture halls alike. Our hands-on, inquiry-based programs cov-er a range of subjects, making learning more thought-provoking. Our new products continually demonstrate our commitment to keeping you on the forefront of technology.


Hertz Furniture www.hertzfurniture.comStacey Forbes - [email protected]

Hertz Furniture is a fourth-generation, family-owned business specializing in charter school furniture solu-tions. We offer everything NC Public Charter Schools Association’s member charter schools need for their classrooms, cafeterias, music rooms, locker rooms, science labs, storage needs and more, all with a com-plimentary 25-year warranty. As a NCPCSA member, Hertz offers member schools large discounts, compli-mentary design services and flexible pricing terms for qualified charter schools. To place an order, or for more information, please contact Bob Hakakian, Regional Client Relationship Manager for NC at 866-459-4250 or at [email protected]. Make sure to mention that you are a NCPCSA member.

Table 52

Holmes Murphy & Associates/ CharterSelectwww.holmesmurphy.comAaron Zetterower - [email protected]

The rising cost of insurance impacts all of our schools. With that in mind, our corporate partner, Holmes Murphy has been able to negotiate an offering with enhanced services and preferred pricing for all Asso-ciation members. The Charter Select Program includes Workers Compensation, Liability, D&O, ELL, Accident, Auto, Dental, Vision, and Life. Please call Aaron Zet-terower at 214-923-7867 and learn how Charter Select meets the needs of your school.



Table 15 - Breakfast Sponsor

Houghton Mifflin Harcourtwww.hmhpub.comChristine Ely - [email protected]

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) understands that charter schools have a vision and from charter to char-ter that vision is as unique as a student’s needs. HMH elementary programs are designed to support your vi-sion and the need to remain accountable. Common Core-ready curriculum can be delivered via print or in a digital platform. Our programs provide instructional support for all students, with RTI tiered intervention options identified through assessments. With HMH, teachers can get professional development needed to stay ahead of the new and stay individual. Core and supplemental curriculum options are available for Pre-K through Grade 6.

Table 7

HUB International Southeastwww.hubinternational.comTeresa Smith - [email protected]

HUB International Education Solutions is a leading in-surance brokerage that provides a broad array of prop-erty and casualty, employee benefits and risk manage-ment products and services. We are ranked among the largest insurance brokers worldwide and are unparal-leled in offering the widest variety of choices and the highest level of protection and services locally, nation-ally and internationally. Our true strength lies in our commitment to the communities in which we live and do business. Our team knows the need you have for in-novative and proactive risk solutions to manage costs, simplify compliance, and lead your employees on a path for better health. We will design a program to protect

your institution, image, students and staff through our proven solutions and successes.

Table 36

Innovative Modular Solutionswww.innovativemodular.comAshley Youngsma - [email protected]

When your needs for classroom space outpace your ex-pansion plans, turn to Innovative Modular Solutions, a leading provider of high quality, permanent, and tem-porary building solutions. Whatever the educational need- from a new or used portable classroom to com-plete schools- we can provide a total cost-effective solu-tion, managing the whole project from site development to furnishing. We also provide a wide range of finance, leasing, rental, and buy-back options to meet short and long-term requirements.

Table 54

Insight Architectshttp://insightarch.comVince Ciccarelli - [email protected]

Insight Architects specializes in innovative educational design. We believe that there is a strong and profound connection between the design of learning environ-ments and student development. Like a well-designed tool, innovative schools can enhance the teaching en-vironment, stimulate student performance and foster a lifelong love of learning. Insight Architects is interested in helping schools design facilities for the 21st century. These new schools are vibrant, energetic environments that emphasize personalization, multiple modes of learning, personal responsibility and achievement while avoiding an atmosphere of mass produced education



Table 13

ISIS by Education Management Systemshttp://k12financials.com/#!Lauren Durako - [email protected]

ISIS understands that running a school is complex and complicated, while you can’t change the scope of your operations, you can significantly change how efficiently your school is managed. Designed and developed by people with decades of experience in school system management, ISIS is a comprehensive software pack-age that streamlines all financial and operations com-ponents. All ISIS modules are fully integrated, so data flows automatically and seamlessly, making it smarter and more efficient to use. ISIS comprehensive financial and operation management suite includes: Fund Man-agement, Payroll, Time & Attendance, Asset Manage-ment, Human Resources, Budget Builder, Inventory Management and Child Nutrition.

High Top - Lunch Sponsor

K12, Inc.www.k12.comJoe Chisholm - [email protected]

K12 Inc., a company of educators, is leading the trans-formation to individualized learning as the nation’s fore-most provider of technology-powered proprietary on-line solutions for students in pre-kindergarten through high school. K12 has partnered with over 2,000 schools and school districts and has delivered more than four million courses over the past decade. With the nation’s largest network of K-12 online school teachers, K12 provides curricula, academic services, and learning so-lutions to public schools and districts, traditional class-rooms, blended school programs, and directly to fami-lies. More information can be found at K12.com.


LB&A CPAswww.lba-cpa.comBrian Harwood - 704.841.1120 x [email protected]

LB&A, Certified Public Accountants, PLLC is proud to provide full service accounting and payroll services for prospective and established NC charter schools through the NC Public Charter Schools Association. Do you want a CPA firm who is an active coach or an observer? If you want a coach, then working with LB&A is your answer. We want to be your charter school’s business coach regarding tax, accounting and business advice. Want to know more? Please contact Partner Julie Ayers, CPA, CGMA, [email protected] or by phone at 704-841-1120 x 103 or the Association at 704-236-1234 today! http://www.LBA-CPA.com

Table 40

LearnEd Notebookswww.learnednotebooks.com Doug Miller - [email protected]

LearnEd Notebooks specializes in curriculum resources for high school biology and middle school science with the use of a unique student notebooking system. Our programs are directly aligned with state and national standards and promote student organization with a systematic approach to instruction. Each program in-cludes student notebooks, teacher materials, and online instructional presentations, allowing for teacher-driven instruction or student-centered learning.



Table 9

M SPACEwww.mspaceholdings.comAmanda Breitowich - [email protected]

M SPACE is a nationwide modular general contractor specializing in efficient construction methods, custom designs and integrated solutions. M SPACE serves the education industry with custom and traditional, per-manent and temporary, new and pre-leased buildings. Flexible leasing, sale and financing options are available.

Table 55

M&B Printingwww.mandbscreenprinting.comMatt Bentley - [email protected]

Founded in 2011, M&B Printing is located in Newton, North Carolina and specializes in screen printing and embroidering products for schools, clubs, organiza-tions, and athletic events. We specialize in screen print-ing and embroidering a wide range of the best apparel products. Our friendly customer service, great art de-partment, dependable ‘on time’ delivery, and unbeat-able prices are guaranteed to make your next order with us a great buying experience. M&B Printing especially enjoys providing our services to charitable organiza-tions and non-profits by offering unbeatable prices so they can allocate their money where it is most needed. We generously donate 10% of each order back to the customer as our way of saying thank you and we appre-ciate their efforts.

Table 38

Measurement Inc.www.measurementinc.comElizabeth Price - 919-683-2413 [email protected]

Measurement Incorporated is proud to offer NC Write, an online practice writing assessment tool for teach-ers, parents, and students in North Carolina. NC Write utilizes award -winning automated essay scoring tech-nologies to instantly score student writing and provide specific feedback for improvement. Interactive learn-ing tutorials provide students with fun, engaging writ-ing skill development. Teacher/student communication tools and digital writing portfolios allow teachers to give personalized feedback and monitor writing progress.


MetLifewww.metlife.comDavid A. Johnson - [email protected]

MetLife, Inc. is a leading global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife holds leading mar-ket positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.



Table 35

Mixed Bag Designswww.mixedbagdesigns.comAmy Lombard - [email protected]

Freshen up your fundraiser with style and sustainabil-ity with Mixed Bag Designs. Offering up to 50% profit and free shipping, our colorful catalog offers a variety of eye-catching products including reusable grocery bags and totes. Great fundraisers are the product of a collaborative effort, and the MBD team works with you to create a profitable experience that’s easy to manage from start to finish. With top-notch customer service and products that everyone will love, there’s no end to your fundraising possibilities!

Table 59

National Geographic Learningwww.ngl.cengage.comKate Norton - [email protected]

National Geographic Learning is a partnership between the National Geographic Society and Cengage Learn-ing, a leading educational publisher of school, higher education, English Language Teaching, library and ref-erence materials. At National Geographic Learning, we believe that an engaged and motivated learner will be a successful one, and we design our materials to motivate. We believe that learning can be exciting, inspiring, and transformational.

Table 31 - Partner Sponsor

National Heritage Academieswww.nhaschools.com/Pages/default.aspxMack Moore - [email protected]

National Heritage Academies partners with local boards to build and operate public charter schools that serve students in grades K-8. NHA’s partner schools are designed to provide school choice to families, with the clear objective of preparing children for success in high school, college, and beyond. Our belief is simple: Set high standards, make expectations clear, provide meaningful instruction, and watch children excel. Our schools focus on providing education embedded in the Four Pillars of: academic excellence, moral focus, pa-rental partnerships, and student responsibility. Found-ed in 1995, today NHA partners with 80 schools in nine states, serving nearly 48,000 students.


NCOSHR/NCFlexwww.oshr.nc.gov/Reward/ncflex/Phyllis Perry – [email protected]

The NCFlex Benefit Program was established by the State of North Carolina in 1995, allowing State employ-ees to purchase benefits on a pre-tax basis. Recently a Bill was passed by the Legislators to allow North Caroli-na Charter Schools, who offer their employees the State Health Plan and the State Retirment, to offer NCFlex Benefits. NCFlex has a long history of providing qual-ity benefits with excellent customer service. The ben-efits are pre-taxed and payroll deducted. They consist of Dental, Vision, Spending Accounts, Critical Illness, Cancer, AD&D and Term Life.For more information on our Program please go to www.ncflex.org.



Table 8 - Tote Bag Sponsor

New Hope Technology Foundationwww.newhopetech.netJohn Hughes - [email protected]

The New Hope Technology Foundation is the most active full service E-Rate consulting firm in the State of North Carolina. We specialize in assisting schools in determining their reimbursement rate (up to 90%) through the E-Rate program. We use a turnkey, alter-native solution to measure program eligibility that is particularly relevant to the Charter school community. We also take over the burdensome application process and ensure that all forms are filed accurately and on time as well as managing all program questions, audits and reviews. Contact us to find out how you can receive significant discounts on most of your telecommunica-tion and technology spending needs.

Table 43

One Stop Word Shopwww.onestopwordshop.comJanine Cox - [email protected]

One Stop Word Shop understands both the impor-tance and challenges related to vocabulary instruction and acquisition. We provide solution-based, research-supported vocabulary materials and staff develop-ment. Used in classrooms, with great results, OSWS is kid-friendly and teacher-approved. Building a love for words is important. We are committed to growing children’s vocabulary through easy to follow directions and fun, engaging activities. Go to our website www.onestopwordshop.com to check out our resources and products. We feel confident you will benefit from our pledge to Transform Ordinary Words into Extraordi-nary Vocabulary.

Table 58

Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolinawww.pefnc.orgDarrell Allison – [email protected]

The North Carolina Public Charter School Accelera-tor was launched by Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina (PEFNC) in 2012 to equip education leaders with tools to design effective educational pro-grams and strengthen community partnerships in order to start and sustain high-quality public charter schools in underserved and rural communities. There is a great need to strengthen education in rural and underserved areas of North Carolina. According to research con-ducted by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, there are 11 million students in rural public schools and children in rural America are more likely than their peers to live in poverty than in any other geo-graphic area.

Table 48

Pearsonwww.pearson.comScott Skene - [email protected]

Pearson is the world’s leading education company. From pre-school to high school, early learning to profession-al certification, our curriculum materials, multimedia learning tools and testing programs help to educate mil-lions of people worldwide - more than any other private enterprise.



Table 49

Pioneer Eclipsewww.pioneereclipse.comJoe Carver - [email protected]

For almost 40 years, Pioneer Eclipse, based in Sparta, NC, has provided building service contractors, educa-tional institutions, healthcare facilities and retail cus-tomers with mechanical and chemical solutions for cleaning and maintaining all types of flooring including vinyl composite tile, granite, marble, concrete, carpet, linoleum and marmoleum. Along with our convention-al product offering Pioneer Eclipse also produces a full line of environmentally preferred cleaners and coatings known as EnviroStar Green whose unique chemistry is ideally suited for the environmentally conscious cus-tomer. For more information contact Joe Carver 704-292-4443 / [email protected] / www.pio-neereclipse.com

Table 22 - Program Sponsor

Potter & Companywww.gotopotter.comJulie Freeland - [email protected]

Potter & Company understands that all prospective and established Charter Schools need accounting, payroll, and CPA audit services. We have dedicated staff to han-dle all of these accounting needs including extensive experience with ISIS software. We are one of the largest CPA firms headquartered in the Charlotte Metropolitan area yet, we are small enough to give you the personal attention your school needs and deserves. Potter profes-sionals will partner with you and not only provide you the services you need but will spend time with you and ask targeted questions and offer ideas and solutions to address where your school stands financially, now and in the future. We regularly dedicate extensive resources to maintaining and improving our industry knowledge to help solve all of these accounting needs.

Table 10

R.J. Leeper Constructionwww.leeperconstruction.comTyrone Harmon - [email protected]

R.J. Leeper Construction, LLC established its founda-tion in the construction industry in 1993, and since then has become one of the most reputable contractors in the southeast. Licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, R.J. Leeper Construction has completed over 230 construction projects totaling more than $650 million. R.J. Leeper Construction is a reliable contrac-tor with a record of integrity, customer satisfaction, and excellence.

Table 53

Rives & Associates, LLPhttp://rivescpa.comJay Sharpe - [email protected]

Rives & Associates, LLP is an accounting firm that thrives on being different. We have developed a service model that is more responsive to our clients. Clients who have previous experience with other accounting firms quickly find that working with Rives & Associates, is a different experience altogether. We act as a partner in our client’s enterprises, not as a vendor. We think this is the best and most effective way to structure a relation-ship. We have three offices to better suit you: Lexington, NC, – Charlotte, NC and Raleigh, NC.

Table 2

S&S Worldwidewww.ssww.comAndrew Kimball - [email protected]

S&S Worldwide has an expert service team ready to help you and your school members. -Our Account Manag-ers bring years of experience serving the Charter School



market, and understand what drives school leaders & faculty daily. We work directly with schools on prod-uct selection, Group Volume Discounting, and order support to save your members time and money. -The dedicated Customer Service Team is ready to “WOW” your member schools with Exceptional Service and en-sure they are always 100% Happy. -Our Merchandise Managers have worked directly with the largest Educa-tion organizations in the country for years to design, improve, and source products to Help People Play and Learn. In addition to our 10,000+ existing products, we can find solutions to fit every school need.

Table 1

Signature Learning Resourceshttp://signaturelearningresources.comJared Bauer - [email protected]

At Signature Learning Resources, we provide an inter-disciplinary approach to the evaluation and treatment of the children we serve. We are able to offer your school the highest quality professionals in speech-language pathology, counseling, occupational therapy, physi-cal therapy, special education, and professional devel-opment. We can assist your school in developing and executing a successful special education and/or related therapy service program while holding paramount the educational needs of the child. We are truly committed to the diverse population of individuals we serve, help-ing people reach their maximum potential…and realize their dreams.

Table 46

SpartanTec, Inc.www.spartantec.comBrenda Oister - [email protected]

SpartanTec, Inc. is an Internet security services compa-ny. The company was founded in 2002 to help business-es get the most out of their technology. We partner with organizations to help plan, implement, monitor and manage their network security infrastructure. Spartan-

Tec, Inc. offers a suite of Managed Security Services and security products. Our services provide performance and availability monitoring, device management, analy-sis and response for security events occurring through-out the enterprise. SpartanTec, Inc‘s services are focused on providing affordable technology designs based on business requirements. Our technology solutions cut costs and put your company in a position to prosper.

Table 37

Speech Center, Inc.www.speechcenter.net Melissa Reavis - [email protected]

Speechcenter, Inc. is a private practice, providing speech-language pathology services to Charter Schools in central and western North Carolina since 1982. Let us assist you with our turn-key services helping you with compliance, documentation, services and maxi-mize your resources! Our Mission is to provide speech-language pathology services, of the highest possible quality, while at the same time delivering these services in a humanistic and ethical manner, at the lowest pos-sible cost to any individual or agency in need of our services, with special consideration to the economically disadvantaged and medically underserved. Stop by the Speechcenter booth to receive important information about how we can serve you! Visit us online at http://www.speechcenter.net or contact us at 800-323-3123.

Table 29

Steve Joyner Consulting Service, Incwww.stevejoyner.comSteve Joyner - [email protected]

A full service technology consulting firm specializing in Charter School technology infrastructure design and implementation. We provide analysis, planning, direc-tion, and support so you make the right technology decisions and get the most value from your technology investment. Think Big. Do More. Spend Less.


Alphabetical Vendor List

Table 5

TE21 Inc.www.te21.comKay Williams - [email protected]

Charter schools that need intervention tools, assess-ments, and training to improve student achievement turn to TE21, Inc. TE21 publishes CASE Benchmark Assessments with comprehensive reports and the SCORE21 Formative Assessment Builder for teachers. Other products include the Academy of READING and MATH online intervention software, Aventa and Any-Where Online Learning Systems, and more. As one educator described working with the TE21 team: “…we’re not talking with a company—we’re talking with educators who have been where we are and want to help us. We’re on the same team.”

Table 56

Teachers-Teachers.comwww.teachers-teachers.comLinda Loftin - [email protected]

Teachers-Teachers.com provides flexible solutions for your recruitment needs! Utilizing our site’s proactive recruitment tools, you can improve your results in min-utes! With Teachers-Teachers.com, the premier educa-tion recruitment service, employers can post openings and conduct searches for qualified candidates through-out North Carolina, and nationwide. Inviting job seek-ers to apply to open positions is quick and easy through the use of recurring email campaigns. Employers can create email templates, set up auto-responses, link to their employment webpage and more. Find out more; visit http://www.teachers-teachers.com or visit our booth! Currently over 85,000 qualified job seekers are interested in working in North Carolina.


Team CFAhttp://teamcfa.orgTony [email protected]

TeamCFA is a national network of free, public charter schools, built on the values of hard work, good citi-zenship, and teamwork. Our ultimate goal is to gradu-ate thoughtful, articulate youth who are prepared to become productive, accountable, engaged citizens. Schools in the TeamCFA network gain access to startup funding, grants, training, services, the Core Knowledge curriculum, and—in some cases—the necessary facili-ties. Within 5–7 years, schools become self-sustaining, and contribute to the thriving, collaborative network.

Table 3

Thinking Mapshttp://thinkingmaps.comDonna Coon – [email protected]

Thinking Maps® is a language of eight visual patterns each based on a fundamental thought process. These patterns are used individually and in combination across every grade level and curriculum area as an inte-grated set of tools for life-long learning. Each Thinking Map is designed to answer guiding questions that are related to a specific thought process. Teaching everyone in your learning community to “ask and answer ques-tions” (one of the elements of the Common Core Stand-ards) is critical to mastering the cognitive demands of the Common Core and State Standards.

Alphabetical Vendor List



Table 27

Time Warner Cable Business Classwww.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home.htmlLeeAna Valkovschi - [email protected]

Time Warner Cable Business Class provides K-12 schools advanced, cost effective solutions to foster 21st century learning and innovation. Its Voice, Internet, Television, Network and Cloud Services are enhanced by award-winning customer service and local support teams to enable media-rich learning environments with high-bandwidth solutions. For more information, please visit business.twc.com.

Table 60

TransformED Leadershipwww.transformed-leadership.com/#! Susan Lawyer Willis – [email protected]

Susan Lawyer Willis is one individual leading the ini-tiative for change in K-12 education to ensure future workforce generations are ready to contribute to soci-ety. As a former principal, a nationally certified princi-pal coach, an accomplished C-level executive, educator and leader with a background in human services and public service, she works directly with principals and teachers of low-performing schools to turn them into high-performing educational facilities. Providing di-rect human services such as empowerment counseling, group facilitation, positive peer relationships, goal set-ting, communication skills, personal responsibility, case management, social skills enhancement, conflict reso-lution, character development, crisis intervention and other programs, allows TransformED Leadership, LLC to realize its mission to implement economic, educa-tional, and health transformation by partnering with governmental institutions, human service agencies, nonprofit entities, families, and individual citizens.

Party Sponsor

Zieglerwww.ziegler.comTiny McLaughlin – [email protected]

With more than 100 years of experience, Ziegler is a recognized leader in the educational sector throughout the U.S. We continue that tradition with our dedicated services to the charter school market nationally. Ziegler provides creative, tailored financial solutions that are just right for your organization. Ziegler is one of the few financial services firms in the country that has a dedi-cated team of charter school finance professionals. We can offer unbiased advice and a full menu of financial solutions to help you advance your mission.

As one of the nation’s leading providers of Education School Management Services, Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) delivers and replicates high quality charter and turn around schools. CSUSA is the first education management company in the nation to receive the SACS CASI accreditation seal.

866-KIDS-USAwww.charterschoolsusa.com

Learn More! Call or visit:

The Charter Voice

Documents

charter applications

charter sector

charter school boards

special charter champions

president of parents

com3waves of change

waves of change weve

oceans of opportunitywelcome