From First Financing to Refinance: Charter School Bond Lessons Learned
Bond financing can be transformative for charter schools—but the process can also feel complex, intimidating, and high stakes. This session brings together charter school leaders and bond financing experts to provide both practical guidance and real-world lessons from the field. Participants will hear directly from charter school executives who have successfully navigated bond issuances and refinancing, including the challenges they faced, key decisions they made, and lessons they would share with peers considering facility financing. Panelists will discuss timing, market conditions, refinancing opportunities, governance considerations, and how financing decisions can support long-term organizational sustainability. In addition, a municipal bond advisor and bond attorney will walk participants through the financing process, including how to assemble the right financing team, evaluate financing structures, negotiate favorable terms, and avoid common pitfalls. The session will also explain the roles of key partners such as investment bankers, legal counsel, trustees, and financial consultants. Whether attendees are exploring financing for the first time or evaluating refinancing opportunities, this session will provide actionable insights, practical tools, and candid perspectives to help charter schools make informed facility financing decisions.
Presented by
TyAnthony Davis CEO ICEF Public Schools
TyAnthony Davis is an education executive with nearly 20 years of experience in education, law, and entrepreneurship. He holds degrees from Yale University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Harvard Law School, and is a licensed California attorney. After beginning his career as a Teach For America teacher in Las Vegas, he practiced corporate and venture capital law in Los Angeles before returning to education to found Vox Collegiate of Los Angeles in 2017. He later co-founded Enlighten AI, an education technology company focused on making teaching more sustainable through artificial intelligence.
Amy Held Executive Director Larchmont Charter Schools
John Phan Facilities Financing Advisor Campanile Group
John Phan is the Founder and Principal of Campanile Group. John began his public finance career over twenty years ago, helping schools, colleges, cities, counties, and water agencies finance their capital projects. John provides fiduciary advisory services to charter schools seeking facility financing. He analyzes and evaluates the financing options available for charter schools, which include: commercial loans, bond financing, tax-exempt loans, NMTC loans, CDFI loans, lease-to-own, etc. He helps secure and manage the financing, as well as negotiate the terms and interest rates with the underwriter/lender on the school’s behalf. Since 2014, John has completed over 80 short and long-term financings for charter schools totaling over $1 billion. These projects have ranged from short-term preconstruction notes to long-term start-up school financings.
Carrie Wagner Founder and CEO Harness Potential Inc
Carrie Wagner is the Founder and CEO of HARNESS, a back-office services firm supporting mission-driven organizations with financial, operational, and strategic leadership. Previously, Carrie founded the Girls Athletic Leadership School Los Angeles (GALS), the first all-girls charter middle school in Los Angeles. She also served as COO of Bright Star Schools, CFO/COO of Citizens of the World Charter Schools, and President and COO of ExED, where she spent nine years supporting California charter schools. Carrie is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds degrees from UCLA Anderson, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Santa Monica.
