Nadia Shaiq is the Chief Executive Officer of ISANA, a non-profit charter management organization that runs a network of public charter schools in Los Angeles. As CEO, she advocates for transformative education in traditionally underserved areas, focusing on empowering students to reach their highest potential by valuing and making space for their backgrounds, cultures, and languages as assets to learning. Under her leadership, ISANA has emphasized a “whole child, whole family” approach, receiving awards both for being California Distinguished Schools and for educational equity. Nadia began her career as a first-grade teacher and advanced through various roles, including Curriculum Specialist, Principal and Chief Academic Officer. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Cognitive Science, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s degree in Education. She continues to champion educational equity, striving to create learning environments where every student is seen, supported, belongs, and is empowered to make the world a better place. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and four kids, who are the lights of her life. She and her husband are also foster parents and are heavily involved in their community.
Renewal is one of the most consequential processes a charter school faces, and no two renewals look …Renewal is one of the most consequential processes a charter school faces, and no two renewals look alike. This session's candid panel brings together two charter school attorneys and four charter leaders from across California, representing a large multi-school operator in three regions, a countywide network, an LAUSD network, and a San Diego operator running both classroom- and nonclassroom-based schools. There has never been a session quite like it. Together, they will tackle the issues that matter most right now: building and maintaining authorizer relationships before and during renewal; understanding oversight and accountability trends and what they signal for your petition; navigating renewal data, including how to make a compelling case when first-glance numbers look tough; legal updates on petition drafting; pushing back when the appeal standard feels hopeless; and the hard conversation no one wants to have—when closing or merging a school is the right call, and how to make that decision.
Panelists will discuss how renewal requirements and challenges can differ across contexts while highlighting approaches that have helped their organizations achieve positive outcomes. Participants will leave with real strategies for every stage of the renewal process. Bring questions, from building community support to getting on the same page with authorizers, and expect an honest conversation that includes not only success stories, but also cautionary tales and “what we wish we had known” moments that can help schools avoid costly pitfalls and strengthen their path to renewal.
Enrollment today is no longer just about advertising, open houses, or seasonal recruitment campaigns…Enrollment today is no longer just about advertising, open houses, or seasonal recruitment campaigns. Parent expectations have changed, communication behaviors have evolved, and competition for student enrollment continues to intensify. Schools still relying on yesterday’s enrollment strategies are increasingly finding it harder to grow, retain students, and maintain long-term stability.
Join a group of experienced school leaders for a forward-looking discussion on how modern schools are adapting to the new enrollment landscape through stronger communication systems, operational responsiveness, parent engagement strategies, and enrollment workflows designed for today’s families.
As California continues to experience declining birth rates and increased competition for enrollment, schools must begin viewing enrollment as more than just marketing. Modern enrollment now impacts retention, ADA protection, staffing, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term organizational sustainability.
This interactive session will explore how schools are modernizing enrollment through strategic communication, faster responsiveness, data-informed decision-making, and retention-focused engagement strategies that support both growth and stability. Participants will gain practical, real-world insights into the tools, systems, and operational strategies schools are using to remain competitive in today’s evolving enrollment environment.
Attendees will leave with actionable ideas to modernize enrollment processes, strengthen family communication, improve retention, and build scalable enrollment systems designed for long-term success in the modern era of school enrollment.
