View Charter Founders J.C. Huizenga Founder, National Heritage Academies, Inc. J.C. Huizenga is an entrepreneur, education reformer and business leader. J.C. founded National Heritage Academies, Inc. (NHA) in 1995. NHA now serves over 67,000 students, from kindergarten through high school in Michigan. Entrepreneurial penchant appears to run in the Huizenga family. His grandfather emigrated from […]
Board of Advisors
Jim Barrett – Bio
View Charter Founders Jim Barrett Board Chair, National Charter Schools Institute Jim Barrett served for 32 years as President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and Advocate for Private enterprise in the legislative, regulatory, political and judicial process. Jim was named by the Michigan Political Historical Society in 2003 as the most effective […]
Derrell Bradford – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Derrell Bradford President of 50CAN Derrell Bradford is the president of 50CAN. In his national role, Derrell recruits and trains local leaders across the 50CAN network for roles as CAN executive directors, fellows and YouCAN advocates. He previously served as the executive director at Better Education for Kids. […]
Ricardo Soto – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Ricardo Soto Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel at the California Charter School Association (CCSA or Association) Ricardo Soto serves as the Chief Advocacy Officer and General Counsel at the California Charter School Association (CCSA or Association). In his role, Ricardo leads and supports the Government Affairs, Local […]
Roblin Webb – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Roblin Webb Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Prep Charter Schools Roblin Webb, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Prep Charter Schools, has dedicated her life’s work to striving for equality for all people. She realizes that the modern day civil/equal rights struggle lies in providing a quality […]
Chris Barbic – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Chris Barbic Partner with The City Fund Chris Barbic is a partner with The City Fund. He founded YES Prep Public Schools (winner of the very first Broad Prize for the best charter organization in the nation) and was most recently the founding superintendent of the Achievement School […]
Jim Blew – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Jim Blew Co-Founder, Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies Jim Blew has advocated for education choice and reform since the 1990s, when he served as a founding board member for the Watts Learning Center, an early Los Angeles public charter school. From 2005 to 2014, Jim helped […]
Nina Rees – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Nina Rees Senior Fellow, George W. Bush Institute Nina Rees is an education reform leader with vast experience in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. For nearly twelve years, Nina was the president and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the leading national nonprofit […]
Don Cooper – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Don Cooper Director of Civic Initiatives at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Don Cooper is the Director of Civic Initiatives at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. In that capacity he leads the civic and educational programs at the DeVos Learning Center that inspire and shape our […]
Eric Premack – Bio
View Board of Advisors View Charter Founders Eric Premack Founding Director, Charter Schools Development Center Eric Premack is the Executive Director and Founder of the Charter Schools Development Center in Sacramento, California. For over 25 years, Eric has played a leading role in the development and spread of charter schools, including helping to draft and […]
