Program
Dollars, Data, and Discipline: Fraud Prevention for School Operations
Fraud risk in charter schools rarely stems from a single bad actor—it can grow in the gaps found in finance, HR, and day-to-day operations. Designed for California charter school leaders, administrators, and HR professionals, this session highlights how misaligned processes, unclear accountability, and inconsistent oversight can quietly expose charter schools to financial loss, compliance issues, and reputational risk. This interactive discussion will pull everything together to provide a practical lens for identifying where vulnerabilities exist and why even well-intentioned systems can fail. We will walk through real-world scenarios and common breakdown points across finance and HR functions—from approval workflows and payroll practices to onboarding, documentation, and system access. Rather than focusing on theory, this session emphasizes what actually works in a charter school environment: clear internal controls, defined roles, and simple, repeatable processes that reduce risk while being mindful of operational efficiencies. Attendees will learn how to connect the dots between people, processes, and systems to create a more transparent and accountable organization. This session also addresses the leadership side of fraud prevention—how to set expectations, reinforce accountability, and build a culture where controls are understood, followed, and consistently applied. With charter schools facing increasing scrutiny, strong internal systems are no longer optional; they are essential for sustainability and trust. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to proactively strengthen their operations before small issues become major financial and reputational problems.
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Presented by
Adrienne Barnes CEO Amethod Public Schools
Ace Ensign Chief Financial Officer Rocklin Academy Family of Schools
Ace Ensign has over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. Ace currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and has worked with The Rocklin Academy since 2014 and has been an integral part of the organization growing from approximately $10 Million to over $30 Million in revenue. He obtained his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate from the California Board of Accountancy in 2010. Prior to working for the organization he worked with a variety of industries including a traditional school district. Additionally, as an auditor he performed audits and evaluated compliance over a wide range of entities including traditional school districts, charter schools, governmental entities, non-profit entities, for profit entities and many others. As the CFO, he is responsible for strategic growth and fiscal planning, works closely with the Audit/Finance Committee and oversees all accounting, payroll and budget functions for The Rocklin Academy.
Karla Ksan Director, Human Resources Partner CharterSAFE
With more than 30 years of Human Resources experience (including 8 years supporting California charter schools), Karla Ksan has a broad range of expertise in employee relations, discipline, investigations, compliance, benefit (health & retirement) administration, leave of absence administration and reasonable accommodations, performance management, training and development, recruiting, compensation and payroll administration, and employee separations. Karla has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and has SPHR, PHRca, SHRM-SCP designations from the Society for Human Resources Management and Human Resources Certification Institute. Karla developed 14 HR online courses and multiple webinars for California charter schools.
Laura Regan Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Operations Rocklin Academy Family of Schools
Laura Regan serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Operations at Rocklin Academy Family of Schools. Blending a background in private and public sector Human Resources with seven years of experience as an elementary school principal, Laura specializes in navigating organizational change and building collaborative cultures. She holds a degree in Business Administration and a masters in Cross-Cultural Teaching. Laura specializes in strategic recruitment, employee relations, and team building.
Handouts
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