About this podcast
The Bold By Choice Podcast tells the untold stories of the charter school movement—its origins, innovations, and ongoing evolution. Hosted by Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner of the National Charter Schools Institute, each episode brings together bold thinkers, doers, and trailblazers who are shaping the future of public education.
Whether you’re an authorizer, board member, school leader, teacher, or education advocate, Bold by Choice offers deep conversations, practical insights, and real-life stories from the frontlines of chartering. From navigating policy and governance to centering students and communities, this podcast is your go-to space for truth-telling, inspiration, and unapologetically bold ideas.
Because chartering isn’t just a process—it’s a promise.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 71 episodes
- E71: What Lasts After School? · 49 min · Episode 71We talk a lot about preparing students to be college ready, career ready, and future ready. But ready to do what? In this episode of the Bold by Choice Podcast, Vashaunta Harris…
- E70: When Chartering Becomes Public Infrastructure · 41 min · Episode 70What does accountability need to become when chartering is no longer a small experiment on the edges of public education, but part of the public infrastructure families rely on…
- E69: More Than a Help Desk: The Human Side of Epicenter · 30 min · Episode 69What does real support look like when there is a person, a public responsibility, and ultimately a child on the other side of the work? In this episode of the Bold by Choice…
- E68: Epicenter: How a Paper Problem Became a National Platform · 33 min · Episode 68Before Epicenter had dashboards, scorecards, automated workflows, or AI, there was paper. A lot of paper. In this episode of the Bold by Choice Podcast, Vashaunta Harris sits…
- E67: Ted Kolderie, the System Architect. · 1 h 7 min · Episode 67In honor of Ted Kolderie’s birthday, we’re returning to one of our favorite conversations from the Bold by Choice archive. Originally released as Season 2, Episode 2, this…
- E66: Designing Forward · 38 min · Episode 66What do today’s students need from us if we are serious about preparing them for tomorrow? In this episode of the Bold by Choice Podcast, Jim Goenner, Ph.D. turns the tables and…
- E65: Bold Leaders Choose People · 34 min · Episode 65Great leadership starts with people. In this episode of the Bold by Choice Podcast, Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, Ph.D., President & CEO of the National Charter Schools…
- E64: Seven Start of Year Reminders for Bold Leaders · 32 min · Episode 64The beginning of a new school year is more than a fresh calendar. It is a leadership moment. In this episode of the Bold by Choice Podcast, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim…
- E63: A Movement, Not a Sector · 57 min · Episode 63Chartering was never meant to become another system protecting its place. It was built as a movement—one driven by courage, possibility, innovation, and an unwavering commitment…
- E62: What Are We Preparing Students to Build? · 30 min · Episode 62Labor Day is more than a long weekend. It is a reminder that work is deeply connected to dignity, contribution, opportunity, family stability, and civic life. In this special…
- S5 E10 The Future of Board Governance · 36 min · Season 5 Episode 10What happens when education changes faster than governance practices do? In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Kathy L…
- S5 E9 Renewal Is Always Happening · 17 min · Season 5 Episode 9Renewal is not an event. It is a pattern. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined again by Heather Wendling, Vice President of…
- S5 E8 Beyond the Board Table · 22 min · Season 5 Episode 8Governance does not end when the meeting adjourns. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Alyson Murphy, Director of Partner…
- S5 E7 Built to Last · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 7Strong organizations are not sustained by passion alone. They endure because governing boards make intentional decisions about strategy, leadership, finances, facilities, and…
- S5 E6 Governing Through Crisis · 25 min · Season 5 Episode 6Crisis does not create governance culture. It reveals it. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined by Mark Weinberg of the…
- S5 E5 Trust in the Tension · 34 min · Season 5 Episode 5Healthy governance is not defined by the absence of tension. It is defined by a board’s ability to move through tension with clarity, trust, and shared commitment to the mission…
- S5 E4 Asking Wise Questions · 26 min · Season 5 Episode 4The quality of governance is often shaped by the quality of the questions a board asks. In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Dr. Jim Goenner are joined…
- S5 E3 Governance by Design · 24 min · Season 5 Episode 3How Great Boards Build Great Schools Strong schools don't happen by chance—they're built through intentional leadership, disciplined governance, and a relentless focus on…
- Happy Birthday America · 21 min · Season 5As America celebrates its 250th birthday, Bold by Choice takes a step back to reflect on the ideas that shaped our nation—and how those same principles continue to shape public…
- S5 E2 Governance vs. Management · 23 min · Season 5 Episode 2When does a governing board cross the line into managing a school? And why does that happen so often? In the second episode of our Season 5 governance series, hosts Vashaunta…
