Wisconsin Charter School Summit 2026: Full Schedule

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8:00am CDT

Arrival / Check-In

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am CDT

All

8:30am CDT

Welcome / Introductions

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am CDT

All

9:15am CDT

High Quality Accountability from Your Charters through Epicenter (NCSI)

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Description coming soon!

Speakers

Heather Wendling

Vice President of Professional Services, National Charter Schools Institute (NCSI)

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Authorizer

9:15am CDT

Taking on the Year of Design

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Taking on the Year of Design
The design year is one of the most exciting, and demanding, phases in launching a successful charter school. This critical time before the doors open is when your founding team turns vision into reality: defining mission-aligned academic models, building systems for culture and operations, designing rigorous curriculum, establishing governance structures, recruiting families and staff, and laying the foundation for long-term sustainability and student success. Participants in this session will focus on the essential elements of a successful design year, including:

Creating a clear blueprint for aligning mission, vision, values, instructional model, and target student populations with measurable goals and outcomes
Developing a robust academic program by selecting curriculum, designing assessment systems, grading policies, and intervention models that adhere to the school’s mission and reflect the school’s unique needs
Building a strong school culture by implementing rituals and practices that foster belonging, shared purpose, and high expectations at every level of the school infrastructure (board, staff, students)
Engaging families and the community by building advisory groups and creating partnerships
Preparing for launch by ensuring alignment between design intentions and day-to-day reality

Speakers

Zaynab Baalbaki

Charter School Consultant, Education Evolving

Zaynab Baalbaki is extremely passionate about social justice, especially in education. She was teacher-advisor at Escuela Verde in Milwaukee, a teacher-powered school that focuses on social justice, sustainability, and peace. She is the founder of ZB Consulting as the lead justice... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Design Team

9:15am CDT

Navigating Charter Contract Renewals

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

The charter contracting process is one of the most critical responsibilities of a governance board. Effective board leadership during contracting and renewal directly impacts the school's future, student outcomes, and community trust. In this session, WRCCS Director Sarah Hackett and contracted partner, Chamomile Nusz, will help governance board members navigate the contracting and renewal process with clarity, focus, and purpose.

Topics will include:
- The governance board’s role in preparing for and navigating the contracting process
- Building a strong collection of evidence based on academic data, student and family surveys, self assessments, and a variety of other indicators
- Identifying strengths and weaknesses by analyzing evaluation criteria, performance data, and findings from site visits
- Collaborating with school leadership to develop a compelling, evidence-based proposal by addressing deficiencies proactively and demonstrating a clear plan for continued or improved performance

Speakers

Chamomile Nusz

Charter School Consultant, Circle Education

Chamomile Nusz is a co-owner of Circle Education LLC, a consulting service working to support innovative education. She works with the Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools (WRCCS) supporting the development of high-performing charter schools throughout the state of Wisconsin... Read More →

Sarah Hackett

Director, WRCCS

Sarah Hackett is the Director of the Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools at CESA 9. She earned a PhD from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a graduate of the rural public school system in Wautoma, Wisconsin, and the small but mighty... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Governance Board

9:15am CDT

Creating Connected, High-Quality Virtual Classrooms

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Creating Connected, High-Quality Virtual Classrooms

Join Melissa Schiek and Linda Schuerman from the Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative (WDLC) as they unpack what high-quality online learning looks like in 2026 and explore what it takes to manage a virtual classroom that supports both learning and belonging. They will share best practices for setting clear expectations, encouraging respectful digital interactions, and using routines and tools that keep students engaged without overwhelming them. Additionally, they will focus on strategies for building strong teacher-student relationships and fostering meaningful student-student connections. This session is suited for current online and blended teachers, as well as teachers looking to learn more about being a digital educator.

Speakers

Linda Schuerman

Associate Director, CESA 9 - Wisconsin Virtual School

Linda Schuerman has over three decades of experience in education, first as a high school social studies teacher and then as an instructional leader in Wisconsin. Her teaching career included brick and mortar instruction at Middleton High School as well as online instruction with... Read More →

Melissa Schiek

Partner Success Coordinator, Wisconsin eSchool Network

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Teacher

9:15am CDT

Redesigning PBL - An Immersive Project Design Experience

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Description coming soon!

Speakers

Tim Scottberg

Associate Director, WRCCS

Tim Scottberg is the Associate Director for the Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools (WRCCS), a statewide program housed at CESA 9. He is dedicated to fostering high quality teaching practices, leadership, administration, and authorizing. Tim also leads the Center for High... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 10:30am CDT

Teacher

9:15am CDT

Implementing your School Innovation Through a School Playbook

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 12:00pm CDT

**This is a double session and spans two presentation time slots. If you plan to attend this session in its entirety, you will be unable to attend a different presentation at the 10:45 time slot.

Move from your school’s purpose and mission to execution by transforming your school’s innovation into a clear, actionable playbook. In this practica, hands-on workshop, your team will build a shared understanding of the essential components of a school playbook and how it drives consistency, clarity, and impact across your organization.
In this extended session, your team will begin building the structure of a school playbook grounded in your purpose and mission. You’ll engage in a practical, step-by-step process to define your innovation by developing clear, aligned practice profiles. These profiles will articulate what success looks like for a key design essential of your charter school, creating a shared understanding and setting the foundation for consistent, high-quality implementation across your school.
Bring your full team and start the work now. You’ll leave with tangible progress, early drafts, and a strong foundation for documenting, refining, and scaling your innovation.

This two-session block is designed to provide a step-by-step guide to designing your own school playbook, with examples, templates, and individualized support to help you get started on the right path.

Speakers

Nick Pretasky

Founder, Listener, and Coach, Humanistic Leadership

Nick's life work is to ensure every person has the opportunity to reach his/her full potential. Nick is the founder and lead listener at Humanistic Leadership LLC where he supports leaders, teachers, and learners in all facets of education. He brings experience working in traditional... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:15am - 12:00pm CDT

Leadership

10:45am CDT

Strategic Planning as an Authorizer

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

The partnership between Authorizer and Charter School hinges on clear communication and shared goals. One way to capture this is through an effective strategic plan. Attend this session to learn about how one district authorizer partnered with WRCCS and the charter school Governance Council to develop a continuous improvement plan that is a beacon for charter school growth. We will explain our process and you will hear from three perspectives: the district superintendent, the district business manager, and the director of the charter school. We will also highlight the structures we have put in place for accountability and support. This fast-paced session will include opportunities for networking and collaborating with others who are in the process of developing a strategic plan.

Speakers

Liz Freeman

Superintendent, Cedar Grove-Belgium School District

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Authorizer

10:45am CDT

Early Years of Running a Charter School

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

WRCCS is partnering with Teacher Powered Schools, a branch of Education Evolving, to support charter school leaders in their first few years of being a charter leader and/or being a charter leader at their current schools.

The Fellowship Purpose: By identifying promising new charter schools for strategic support, WRCCS aims to ensure these teams successfully navigate their first five years and create learning environments and working conditions for educators where students and teachers thrive.

This is the kick-off session for the new cohort of individuals selected for the cohort. If you would like to be part of the cohort but haven't been in touch yet, please reach join to learn more and we will make a plan to support you in your early years as well!

Speakers

Amy Junge

Director of Teacher-Powered Schools, Education Evolving

Amy is a former California public elementary and middle school teacher and assistant principal. She started working with teacher-powered schools in 2009 and was a contributing author for Trusting Teachers with School Success: What Happens When Teachers Call the Shots. Today, Amy supports... Read More →

Zaynab Baalbaki

Charter School Consultant, Education Evolving

Skylar Primm

Teacher-Powered Coach, Teacher-Powered Schools

Skylar L. Primm (he/him) is a coach for Teacher-Powered Schools and the lead teacher at Koshkonong Trails School in Cambridge, Wisconsin, a public charter school focused on environmental and agricultural learning. He has taught in place- and project-based schools since 2009, an... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Design Team

10:45am CDT

Discovering Continuous Improvement for Advanced Boards

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Session details coming soon!

Speakers

Chamomile Nusz

Charter School Consultant, Circle Education

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Governance Board

10:45am CDT

Northeast Wisconsin School of Innovation Presentation

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Session details coming soon!

Speakers

Jason Johnson

Administrator of Northeast Wisconsin School of Innovation, Northeast Wisconsin School of Innovation

In 2019 we started a Proficiency-Based Education School in Green Bay, Wisconsin for students in grades 7-10 &12. Over the next two years our school expanded to 7-12. N.E.W. was modeled after The Academy, a program for at-risk 12th graders. Over the last 9 years we have helped more... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Leadership

10:45am CDT

You’re a Charter School, but You Still Have To…

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Charter schools offer the opportunity for flexibility and innovation, but are still public schools that are accountable to the same laws, regulations, and professional standards as other schools. Understanding these expectations helps teachers deliver excellent instruction and leaders to fulfill the school’s mission, all while maintaining compliance and avoiding unintended pitfalls. This session is aimed at both charter school leaders and teachers and will cover:

Meeting instructional and professional standards, such as teacher licensure requirements, curriculum standards, required assessments, and documenting student progress
Providing accommodations and modifications for students with IEPs and 504 plans ensuing access to the general curriculum and strong universal instruction
Developing unique strategies and approaches to curriculum, assessment, and graduation requirements while adhering to state and district requirements

Speakers

Liz Sanger-Kukkan

Associate Director of Continuous School Improvement, CESA 9

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:45am - 12:00pm CDT

Teacher

12:00pm CDT

Lunch Breakout - Authorizer

Tuesday June 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT

Authorizer

12:00pm CDT

Lunch Breakout - Design Team

Tuesday June 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT

Design Team

12:00pm CDT

Lunch Breakout - Governance Board

Tuesday June 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT

Governance Board

12:00pm CDT

Lunch Breakout - Leadership

Tuesday June 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT

Leadership

12:00pm CDT

Lunch Breakout - Classroom

Tuesday June 16, 2026 12:00pm - 12:45pm CDT

Teacher

1:00pm CDT

WICSA Legislative Updates

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

In this session, Jim Bender, the Executive Director for Wisconsin Independent Charter School Advocates (WICSA) will provide timely and in-depth updates on legislative developments, policy priorities, and advocacy efforts impacting independent charter schools across the state. This session will include:

Insights into the current budget cycle
Recent and upcoming legislative action affecting independent charter schools
WICSA’s advocacy strategies
A Q & A session with Jim Bender to address your school’s specific concerns

Speakers

Jim Bender

WICSA

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

All

1:00pm CDT

Authorizing as a Solution for Your Community Needs

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Charter school authorizing is a powerful tool for responding to local educational gaps and delivering innovative, high-quality public school options tailored to the unique needs of students and families in your community.
In this session, WRCCS Director Sarah Hackett will explore how authorizers can position themselves as proactive problem solvers of issues facing the community. Topics will include:

Assessing local demographic trends and educational needs to inform charter development and approval
Incorporating community engagement and stakeholder input throughout the process - from new school approval to ongoing oversight and renewal
Balancing innovation and accountability to ensure that schools effectively meet the needs of the community

Speakers

Sarah Hackett

Director, WRCCS

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Authorizer

1:00pm CDT

How to Navigate Corrective Actions with Your Schools

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Key responsibilities of charter school authorizers include upholding high standards of academic performance, legal compliance, and fiscal responsibility. When charter schools do not meet standards in any of these areas, implementing corrective actions is essential to promote student achievement, maintain the trust of families and the community, and foster school improvement without immediately resorting to revocation of the charter.

In this session, participants will learn best practices and practical strategies for implementing corrective actions and navigating the complex process of guiding schools into compliance. Topics will include:- Developing and utilizing systems to monitor school performance and compliance- Using and implementing systems such as Epicenter to ensure required elements are submitted by the charter.- Creating clear and fair corrective action plans in collaboration with governance boards and school leaders- Communicating clearly and transparently with all relevant stakeholders throughout the corrective action process

Speakers

Adrienne Woods

Director, UW-Milwaukee

I've been an educator for 32 years working as a high school English teacher, school counselor and district-level administrator. I worked closely with charter schools for about 17 years and led charter offices for the last 13 years. I have knowledge and experience with instrumentality... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Authorizer

1:00pm CDT

Onboarding and Recruiting New Members

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Recruiting skilled and committed governance board members, and then onboarding them into their roles, is critical for the long-term success of the school. In this session, WRCCS Associate Director, Dan Lathrop, will share proven strategies to strengthen your board through intentional recruiting and effective onboarding by exploring:

How to recruit strategically by identifying skill and perspective gap in current board composition, then developing a clear recruitment plan
The need to prioritize candidates who bring relevant experience and/or expertise (education, finance, fundraising, community engagement, etc.) and reflect the students and families of the school
How to design a thorough onboarding program that includes orientation sessions, key policy training, school site visits, as well as setting clear expectations for roles, responsibilities, and time commitment

Speakers

Dan Lathrop

Associate Director, WRCCS

Dan Lathrop comes to us from the Stevens Point, where he was the leader of a charter school for 12 years. He also has coached schools across the nation, and collaborated locally to build a vast understanding of charter schools, strong relationship-building skills, and trusting systems... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Governance Board

1:00pm CDT

STEM and Career in Elementary

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Description coming soon!

Speakers

Angela Andersson

CEO / Executive Director, KTEC Schools of Innovation

Dr. Angela Andersson graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Ph.D both in political science. She taught at Loyola University Chicago before starting to teach in Kenosha Unified School District in 2000; Angela made this switch to teach at a level where she... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Teacher

2:15pm CDT

Wrap-up & Closing Session

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT

All

Wisconsin Charter School Summit 2026

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