Why We’re Here

In 2008, I saw a job posting that made me do a double take. A virtual charter school—something that didn’t exist in South Carolina at the time—was about to launch, and they were hiring a PE teacher. A PE teacher for an online school. It didn’t make sense, but I applied anyway. That one decision changed how I see education.

That first year was full of trial and error, but somewhere along the way it clicked: we weren’t just doing school differently—we were creating access for families who needed something new. Something that actually worked for their kids.  I was blessed to serve students and families at two charter schools over the next fifteen years.  

Since then, through my work with the Alliance, I’ve visited charter schools all over the state. Different models. Different missions. Same spirit. Schools built to meet real community needs. Leaders starting from scratch. Families choosing environments where their children can thrive.

But I’ve also seen the gap. Innovation doesn’t always translate into influence. Success doesn’t always shape policy. Too often, great work happens quietly.

That’s why we’re starting this blog.

Turning Stories Into Strategy

The Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina exists to support, protect, and grow the charter sector. This blog is one way we’ll do that—by connecting what’s happening in schools to the decisions being made beyond them.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Clear takes on policy—what’s changing and why it matters
  
• Voices from school leaders across the state
  
• Spotlights on charter school partners doing meaningful work
  
• Calls to action, because advocacy only works when we show up together
  

Beyond The Classroom

Charter schools operate in a complex world—funding, regulations, public perception, politics. Advocacy is what links the incredible work happening inside schools to the systems that shape what’s possible outside of them.

The goal of this space is simple: to be a hub. A place where ideas turn into action. From classrooms to communities, South Carolina’s charter schools are doing incredible work—and this is where we make sure the story is told, the lessons are shared, and the impact keeps growing.