Senior Director of Development & Communications
Pueblo Nuevo Education & Development Group
Amber Skrumbis is Senior Director of Development & Communications at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, where she's raised over $25M in public and private funding over seven years. She brings a decade of experience in fundraising, grant writing, evaluation, and communications. Amber holds a Bachelor's from USC and a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences from UCLA. She champions a whole child approach, partnering with donors, foundations, corporations, and elected officials around one vision: every student deserves quality public education regardless of zip code, home language, or income.
Strong relationships with charter school authorizers are critical to a school's long-term success an…Strong relationships with charter school authorizers are critical to a school's long-term success and sustainability, yet many leaders find themselves navigating unclear expectations, communication breakdowns, and high-stakes accountability conversations. This session will provide practical, experience-based strategies for building and maintaining productive partnerships with authorizers.
Participants will explore best practices for proactive communication, including establishing clear channels, framing data and outcomes effectively, and maintaining transparency without overexposure. The session will also focus on direct engagement with staff and board members, including how to prepare for meetings, anticipate authorizer priorities, and position a charter school as both compliant and mission-driven.
In addition, the presenters will address how to navigate challenging situations, including corrective action plans, renewal concerns, leadership transitions, and political dynamics within districts. Participants will learn approaches to advocacy that are professional, strategic, and grounded in student outcomes without escalating conflict or damaging long-term relationships.
This session is designed for schools working with authorizers where capacity is limited, and relationships carry heightened importance. Participants will leave with concrete tools, communication frameworks, and real-world examples they can immediately apply to strengthen trust, reduce friction, and advocate effectively for their school communities.
