I’m Terry Croy Lewis, and I have served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) since 2016. In this role, I lead Colorado’s only statewide charter school authorizer, supporting a diverse portfolio of schools across urban, suburban, and rural communities. I am fully committed to creating the conditions for charter schools to thrive in all communities and to expanding access to high-quality public school choice options for all students.

With over 25 years of experience in the charter school sector, I’ve had the privilege of serving as an authorizer, school founder, executive director, principal, governing board member, and consultant. I was a founder of High Point Academy, which opened in 2006, and I served as its Executive Director/Principal for eight years. My journey in the charter school movement began in 1997 when I helped launch Platte River Academy - my first experience founding a charter school. Since then, I’ve supported the development of numerous charter schools throughout Colorado, both as an independent consultant and as part of a national organization focused on new school creation.

Before joining CSI, I served as Vice President of School Quality and Support at the Colorado League of Charter Schools, where I led efforts to strengthen academic performance and school governance across the charter sector, as well as the development of new schools. I also contribute to state and national policy efforts through my service on the Strategic Advising Council for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) and as a board member of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA).

I earned my doctoral degree from the University of Maryland and have taught at several universities in Colorado, Maryland, and Illinois. Throughout my career, I’ve remained passionate about advancing educational equity, innovation, and excellence through high-quality charter schools that meet the diverse needs of students and families.