Each fall, I look forward to the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) Conference as a time of reflection, learning, and collaboration. The 2025 conference in Houston offered our team at CSI another opportunity to connect with fellow charter authorizers, engage with national thought leaders, and contribute to the evolving conversation about what it means to be a model authorizer in today’s complex education landscape.
This year, CSI staff not only attended sessions as eager learners, but several of us also had the privilege of presenting alongside national partners. These opportunities allowed us to share some of the innovative practices we’ve developed in Colorado and learn how others are reimagining their work to better support charter schools and the students they serve.
One of my highlights of the conference was participating in “Power in Partnership: A Hands-On Workshop for Leveraging Community and District Collaboration” with Mary Bradley from the National Charter Schools Institute and colleagues from Chicago Public Schools. We explored how charter authorizers can no longer operate in isolation and must instead build meaningful, cross-sector partnerships to expand opportunities for students. The workshop sparked powerful conversations about collaboration, equity, and community impact.
Ryan, alongside colleagues from Georgia, SUNY, and Highmark School Development presented “Beyond the Checklist: Adaptive Authorizing to Support Schools in Need” where they challenged traditional notions of accountability and offered practical tools for responsive and supportive authorizing. It was an honest discussion about the importance of early warning systems and shifting from compliance to capacity-building.
I was also proud to join Janet Dinnen, CSI Chief of Staff, and Jess Welch, CSI Chief of School Programs, from our leadership team in presenting “Beyond the Buzzword: Operationalizing Innovation While Navigating the Accountability Tightrope.” This session focused on how authorizers can walk the fine line between fostering innovation and maintaining academic and operational rigor. We shared insights from our Innovative Schools Guidebook and Stories of Impact and Innovation and activities to identify and navigate risk and support innovation without compromising quality or outcomes. Throughout the conference, I was reminded just how fortunate we are to have a team at CSI that is not only deeply committed to the success of our Colorado charter public schools but also passionate about improving the broader authorizing landscape. Their willingness to share resources, stories, and hard-earned lessons speaks volumes about their professionalism and heart for this work.
“When we celebrate what’s working and reflect on what isn’t, that’s when we can create the space for real innovation. Conferences like NACSA are so important because they bring together people who are willing to have those conversations — people committed to learning, improving, and building better systems.”
– Janet Dinen, CSI Chief of Staff
We returned from NACSA reinvigorated and inspired. As always, our core mission remains clear: to foster high-quality charter public school choices that serve all students. And part of that mission means continuing to engage with the national dialogue around what excellent authorizing looks like.
To my fellow authorizers and partners across the country: thank you for your continued commitment, your curiosity, and your courage. Together, we’re not just supporting schools, we’re shaping the future of public education.
