Ask Local Advocacy Experts: Improving Advocacy Efforts and Local Advocacy Building
Join your peers for these 60-minute conversations on a specific area of charter school operations or on a current topic led by a sector expert…no power points, no presentations, lots of time for discussion and Q&A to round out your conference experience.
Presented by
Casey Taylor
Superintendent
Achieve Charter School
Casey Taylor is the founder and Executive Director of Achieve Charter Schools of Paradise. After the 2018 Paradise Camp Fire, Casey led her team in reopening schools in temporary facilities in Chico, while building a permanent school facility there. In the 2021-22 school year, Achieve opened Achieve Charter School of Chico at the new facility and reopened Achieve Charter School of Paradise at the original campus in Paradise. She and her team are now working to reopen Achieve Charter High School in Paradise in the coming years.
Jared Austin
Executive Director
Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy
Jared Austin began his teaching career in the Vacaville Unified School District. Mr. Austin soon advanced into school administration in Vacaville, then in Sacramento. Currently, Mr. Austin is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Kairos Public Schools, in Vacaville, California. Mr. Austin believes in getting scholars to take responsibility for their community. Additionally, Mr. Austin has served as an adjunct professor in Touro University’s Educational Leadership Department. He has also received multiple honors for achievements in leadership and innovation. He was appointed to the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools (ACCS) in November of 2017.
Laura Kerr
Legislative and Outreach Specialist
Charter Schools Development Center
Laura has worked with charter school leaders to organize collective action to improve local policies and practices for charter school authorizing. She's helped new schools get approved and existing schools get renewed in complex political environments. Laura has campaigned for student-centered candidates and equitable access to local bonds and parcel taxes for charter schools. She's mobilized the charter community to oppose harmful legislation and fight for fair funding for all students. Laura joined the CSDC team this month, and looks forward to working with members to strengthen the charter schools movement.