Meet the Founders
The Founders Library presents individuals who played an active role in the pioneering of the charter schools movement across the nation. This also includes those who have been instrumental in founding charter schools.
DEFINING
Founder
[found·er | ˈfau̇n-dər] noun
One from whom something originates. One who lays a foundation. One who establishes something special. Ideas matter.
Norman Atkins
DC | Educator & Advocate
Co-Founder, North Star Academy (Newark)
Josephine (Jo) Baker
DC | Educator & Advocate
Executive Director, DC Public Charter School Board (2002 - 2011)
Chris Barbic
TN | Educator
Partner with The City Fund
Jim Barrett
MI | Advocate
Board Chair, National Charter Schools Institute
Robert Bellafiore
NY | Advocate
Founder & President of Stanhope Partners
Jim Blew
DC | Advocate
Co-Founder,
Darrell Bradford
NY | Advocate
President of 50CAN
John Booy
MI | Educator & Founding Board Member
Excel Charter Academy
Linda Brown
MA | Educator
Founding Chief Executive Officer Building Excellent Schools
Sue Burr
CA | Educator & Advocate
California State Board of Education
John Ellis (Jeb) Bush
FL | Governor
Florida Governor (1999 - 2007)
Nell Collier, Ed.D
MN | Educator
School Founder and Former School Leader of Friendship Academy of the Arts
Don Cooper
MI | Educator & Advocate
Assistant Vice President for Charter Schools at Grand Valley State University
Darlene Chambers
OH | Educator & Advocate
Andy DeVries
MI | Board President
Grand River Preparatory High School
David (Dave) Durenberger
MN | Senator
US Senate (1978 - 1995)
John Engler
MI | Governor
Michigan Governor (1991 - 2003)
Mark Francis, DMA.
AZ | Educator
Director of the Arizona Department of Education
Jim Goenner, Ph.D.
MI | Advocate & Activist
President and CEO, National Charter Schools Institute
Gary Hart
CA | Legislature
California State Assemblyman and Senator (1974-1994)
J.C. Huizenga
MI | Educator
Founder, National Heritage Academies
Shavar Jeffries
NJ | Advocate
President, Democrats for Education Reform
Ember Reichgott Junge
MN | Legislature
Minnesota State Senator (1983-2001)
Lisa Graham Keegan
AZ | Legislature, Activist & Advocate
Principal Partner at The Keegan Company
Hon. Margaret (Peggy) Kerns (In Memoriam)
CO | Legislature
Colorado State Representative (1988-1997)
Ted Kolderie
MI | Education Policy, Advocate & Activist
Author and Founding Partner, Education Evolving
Mary L. Kramer
MI | Communications
Group Publisher, Crain Communications
Former Board Chair, Grand Valley State University
Arend Donselaar "Don" Lubbers
MI | Educator
Former President, Grand Valley State University
Carmen N’Namdi
MI | Educator & Advocate
Founder, Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit
Joe Nathan, Ph.D.
MN | Educator & Activist
Director, Center for School Change
Will Marshall
DC | Activist & Advocate
President and Founder, Progressive Policy Institute
Alex Medler, Ph.D.
CO | Activist & Advocate
Executive Director, Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers
Richard McLellan
MI | Advocate
GOP Lawyer and Political Advisor
Wendy Miller
AZ | Educator
CEO and Principal of Challenge Charter School in Glendale
Robert (Bob) C. Mills, Ph.D.
MI | Educator
Former Professor, Central Michigan University
Former Executive Director, Charter Schools Office, Central Michigan University
Mark Murray
MI | Educator
Former President, Grand Valley State University (2001-2006)
Tom Nida
DC | Educator
Former chair, Washington D.C. Public Charter School Board
William (Bill) K. Owens
CO | Governer
Colorado Governor (1999-2007)
George E. Pataki
NY | Governor
New York Governor (1995-2006)
Dick Posthumus
MI | Legislature
Lt. Governor (1991-1999)
Eric Premack
CA | Advocate & Activist
Executive Director & Founder, Charter Schools Development Center
Nina Rees
DC | Advocate & Activist
President & CEO, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
DeAnna Rowe
AZ | Advocate & Educator
Executive Director for BASIS Charter Schools, Inc
Gloria Bonilla-Santiago
NJ | Educator & Advocate
Chairperson and Founder, LEAP Academy University Charter School
Jon Schroeder
MN | Public Policy & Advocate
Former Senior Staff to US Senator Dave Durenberger (1984-1994) & Senior Fellow, Education Evolving
Mary Kay Shields
MI | Educator, Public Policy & Advocate
Special Advisor to Governor John Engler, for Charter School Development (1995-1997)
Nelson Smith
WI | Advocate
Senior Advisor, National Association of Charter School Authorizer
W. Sidney (Sid) Smith
MI | Advocate
Former Board Chair, Central Michigan University & Board Chair, National Charter Schools Institute
Ricardo Soto
CA | Advocate
Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel at the California Charter School Association
Richard K. Studley
MI | Advocate
President & CEO, Michigan Chamber of Commerce & Board Vice Chair, Central Michigan University
Charvez Russell, Ph.D
MN | Educator
Senior Pastor at Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Sarah Tantillo, Ed.D
NJ | Educator & Advocate
Former coordinator of the New Jersey Charter School Resource Center
Don Weatherspoon, Ph.D.
MI | Educator & Advocate
Former Emergency Manager for Muskegon Heights and Highland Park School Districts
Joe Williams
NY | Advocate
Founder Director, Democrats for Education Reform
Roblin Webb
TN | Educator
Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Prep Charter Schools
Leonard (Len) C. Wolfe
MI | Attorney, Government Policy and Practice
Chairman and CEO, Dykema
Caprice Young
CA | Advocate
President, Education Growth Group
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