Dan joined Aspire as Chief of Staff in November 2019. In that capacity, he oversaw strategic planning, progress monitoring, board governance, and supported critical organizational strategies, including quarterbacking Aspire’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to joining Aspire, Dan built and led the School Management Office for Success Academy Charter Schools in New York. In that role, he led a team to scale student supports (e.g., special education, SEL, and mental health) during the organization’s rapid growth and supported superintendents and school teams with data analytics, enrollment, policy, crisis management, and conflict resolution. Prior to heading up its School Management Office, Dan served as Assistant General Counsel and Chief of Staff to Success Academy's Chief Legal Officer for ~6 years. Prior to entering the charter school space, Dan worked in the Juvenile Rights Practice for the Legal Aid Society, representing youth in juvenile justice and child protection matters.
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.
