Best California Charter School Association Podcasts (2024)

1
S3 Ep4: Graduation Season; Changemaker Cady Ching, Summit Public Schools; Best In Class Series feat. Lighthouse Community Public Schools 43:41

1M ago43:41

43:41

Season 3 Episode 4 - Graduation Season It’s Graduation time in California! The CharterNation Podcast celebrates with a new segment called Best in Class which highlights exceptional charter schools in the Golden State. Our first series of interviews focuses on 10 exceptional charter high schools that are sending a significant number of historically …

1
S3 Ep3: Film Club Edition - A School Grows In Watts (Watts Learning Center); La Lucha: Getting Schooled in America (Learn4Life) 31:10

3M ago31:10

31:10

Season 3 Episode 3: Film Club Edition We shine a spotlight on two documentaries about two charter public schools that are working to educate some of the most vulnerable student populations in California. First, Watts Learning Center (WLC) is the focus of A School Grows In Watts which offers an intimate and powerful portrayal of how WLC is changing …

1
S3 Ep2: Women's History Month Special - Changemaker Myrna Castrejón; Female Leadership feat. Larchmont Charter's Amy Held; CalPac's Katelyn West is Skating to Success 47:04

4M ago47:04

47:04

Season 3 Episode 2 - Women’s History Month Special: March is Women’s History Month and in this episode, you hear from some amazing women in California’s charter school movement who are standing tall. Changemakers Interview Series: The tables are turned on CCSA’s fearless leader Myrna Castrejón. Instead of hosting our Changemakers segment, she’s our…

1
S3 Ep1: Black History Month Special - Changemaker Maya Woods-Cadiz; An Affirming School Culture at Learning By Design; The Living Legacy of Julia Lee 42:30

5M ago42:30

42:30

CCSA's CharterNation Podcast is back with Season 3 in 2024! In February, we bring you a special Black History Month episode featuring perspectives of dynamic Black charter school leaders in California. Changemakers: CCSA President and CEO Myrna Castrejón interviews Maya Woods-Cadiz, Superintendent of AIMS K-12 College Prep Charter District in Oakla…

1
S2 Ep10: Changemakers feat. Marcos Aguilar, Anawakalmekak; Spreading the Joy of Tiny Houses; Learn4Life's Skip Hansen on Personalized Learning 24:35

8M ago24:35

24:35

Episode 10: Changemakers: To cap CCSA's observance of Native American Heritage Month, we’re bringing back a special Changemakers interview from Season 1 in which CCSA’s President and CEO Myrna Castrejon sits down with Marcos Aguilar, Head of School at Anawakalmekak International University Preparatory of North America. Anawakalmekak is a charter pu…

1
Trial Insider: People v. Adam Thomas - Crossbow murder 29:53

8M ago29:53

29:53

On July 21, 2023, 20 year-old Adam Thomas of Sacramento was tried for 1st degree murder for the death of his brother, Trenton Thomas. Trenton was found shot to death by a crossbow in a park in San Diego. Was it an accident or was it a murder? Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman joined the podcast to discuss this trial. Facts: Adam drove from…

1
S2 Ep9: Changemakers feat. Brian Bauer, Granada Hills Charter; Charter School Facilities; Hispanic Heritage Month Student Profile 36:10

10M ago36:10

36:10

Episode 9: Changemakers: CCSA's President & CEO Myrna Castrejón interviews Brian Bauer, CEO and Superintendent of Granada Hills Charter, a TK-12th grade charter public school that gained its independence 20 years ago and grew to be an academic and athletic powerhouse. Gain insight as he reflects on how his school broke away from district control to…

1
S2 Ep8: Best of CharterNation Podcast feat. Antonio Villaraigosa, Nina Rees & Dr. Cristina de Jesus 31:17

1y ago31:17

31:17

The 2022-23 academic year has officially come to a close in California. We reflect on the past year by bringing back three of the most popular Changemaker interviews on the CharterNation Podcast featuring: Dr. Cristina de Jesus, president and CEO of Green Dot Public Schools CA. Antonio Villaraigosa, former Mayor of Los Angeles and charter school al…

1
S2 Ep7 Changemakers feat. Dr. Ana Ponce, GPSN; The Face of Charter School Teachers Report; Dr. Steve Olmos, Visions In Education 37:05

1y ago37:05

37:05

Episode 7: Changemakers: CCSA's President & CEO Myrna Castrejón interviews Ana Ponce, Executive Director of GPSN, a nonprofit intermediary organization working to improve the public school system in Los Angeles. She discusses the importance of measuring the effectiveness of programs in LAUSD, engaging students outside the school day, and how famili…

1
N. Leigh Hunt - Author of "I Don't Like Mondays" 42:59

1y ago42:59

42:59

Author N. Leigh Hunt joins the podcast and talks about his book "I Don't Like Mondays: The True Story Behind America's First Modern School Shooting". This book uncovers key details behind the 1979 school shooting at Cleveland Elementary School, in the San Carols community of San Diego, CA. On the morning of January 29, 1979, 16 y.o. Brenda Spencer …

1
S2 Ep6: What is Personalized Learning? Changemakers feat. Cameron Curry, The Classical Academies 29:04

1y ago29:04

29:04

What is Personalized Learning? It can mean different things to different people within the charter public school movement. In this episode, we get a better understanding of personalized learning through the perspectives of three people at three different kind of personalized learning schools: Cameron Curry, CEO, The Classical Academies (San Diego) …

1
Trial Insider: People v. Jade Janks 42:12

1y ago42:12

42:12

Deputy District Attorneys Teresa Pham and Jorge Del Portillo talk about their trial strategies in prosecuting People v. Jade Janks. On December 21, 2022, Jade Janks was found guilty of first degree murder. Janks murdered her former stepfather, Tom Merriman, after discovering nude photographs of herself on Tom's computer. Tom was the founder of the …

1
S2 Ep5: SPECIAL EPISODE Changemakers feat. former CA Governor Jerry Brown 22:09

1+ y ago22:09

22:09

Episode 4: Special Episode featuring exclusive Changemakers Interview with former California Governor Jerry Brown. Changemakers: Former CA Governor Jerry Brown brings his no-nonsense philosophy on education policy and politics as a guest on the CharterNation Podcast this month. Brown, who also served as the Mayor of the City of Oakland, sits down w…

1
S2 Ep4: SPECIAL EPISODE Changemakers Interview feat. CA Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber 30:51

1+ y ago30:51

30:51

Episode 4: Special Episode featuring exclusive Changemakers Interview Changemakers: We’re capping Women’s History Month by bringing you an exclusive interview with one of California’s most fearless female political leaders and education equity champions: Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber. Dr. Weber is California’s first Black Secretary of Sta…

1
Re-Elected San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan 28:06

1+ y ago28:06

28:06

San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan was re-elected in 2022 after a rare uncontested election. DA Stephan returns to the podcast to discuss her accomplishments in her first term and some of her goals for her next term. DA Stephan discussed a recent school threat assessment conference and a new app to help the homeless find an available bed. D…

1
S2 Ep3: Changemakers feat. Cristina de Jesus, Green Dot Public Schools CA; GALS L.A. Empowers Charter School Girls; 2020 Bragato Winner Jose Aguirre 32:38

1+ y ago32:38

32:38

Episode 3: Women's History Month Special Changemakers: CCSA's President & CEO Myrna Castrejón interviews Cristina de Jesus, President & CEO of Green Dot Public Schools California. De Jesus is one of the most influential female leaders of charter schools in the Golden State. She talks about the evolution of Green Dot in CA, lessons learned, and how …

1
S2 Ep2: Changemakers feat. Dr. Helen V. Griffith, The Preuss School UCSD; HBCUs Recruit AIMS H.S. Students; How to Honor Black History Month 23:49

1+ y ago23:49

23:49

Episode 2: Black History Month Special Changemakers: CCSA's President & CEO Myrna Castrejón interviews Dr. Helen V. Griffith, Executive Director of The Preuss School UC San Diego, about this school's unique partnership with UCSD and the need to grow more UC-charter public schools in California. Charter Spotlight: We venture to AIMS High School in O…

1
S2 Ep1: Changemakers feat. Mike Madrid; Describing Charters As Public Schools; Sac-based Charter School Teaches Punjabi 26:04

1+ y ago26:04

26:04

Episode 1 Rundown: Charter School News: CCSA's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Miller provides analysis regarding CA Governor Gavin Newsom's budget proposal and what it means for charters. Changemakers: CCSA's President & CEO Myrna Castrejón interviews Mike Madrid, a CA political analyst who explains the power of the Latino voting…

1
Human Trafficking 33:15

1+ y ago33:15

33:15

San Diego Human Trafficking prosecutor Flavio Nominati joins the podcast to discuss the crime of human trafficking. January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and we wanted to speak with our local expert on this important topic. Deputy DA Flavio Nominati tells us about how he prosecutes these crimes, what are the red flags …

1
Domestic Violence 36:33

2y ago36:33

36:33

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Deputy DA Ben Barlow joins the podcast to talk about prosecuting domestic violence cases, the impact of these crimes, and helping survivors recover from abuse. Harris County, Texas reported that 35% of homicides in its county were related to domestic violence. Atlanta reported 25% of homicides …

1
Bomb and Arson Investigations 33:22

2y ago33:22

33:22

Detective Anthony Tripoli with the San Diego Sheriff's Department joins the podcast to talk about investigating fires, what makes it an arson under the law, and what it takes to dismantle a bomb. Arson has been in the news lately, from wildfires to buildings being set on fire during protests, and attempted arsons at the home of political figures. E…

1
Frank Figliuzzi and The FBI Way 34:49

2y ago34:49

34:49

Frank Figliuzzi was the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, where he served 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the government. He is a national security contributor and regular columnist for NBC News and MSNBC. He is the host of the popular podcast “The Bureau with Frank Figliuzzi” and he…

1
Street Takeovers 23:04

2y ago23:04

23:04

A dangerous trend is happening across the country called street takeovers, where numerous cars block an intersection and perform dangerous stunts. Police in Bristol, Connecticut said they have seen a rise in takeovers, and recently in Los Angeles, California witnesses said 2 women died after fleeing from a street takeover. And it's happening in San…

1
Charter School Fraud 32:58

2y ago32:58

32:58

In April, an investigative report from the North Carolina State Auditor states a North Carolina charter school falsified student records and misused school funding, to the tune of $400K. Earlier this year a man in Minnesota was charged with misspending $30M dollars in federal funding for meals for children, spending it instead on luxury cars and la…

1
School Shootings 33:53

2y ago33:53

33:53

On May 24, 2022, an 18-year-old fatally shot 19 students and 2 teachers, and wounded seventeen other people, at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, United States. Earlier in the day, he shot his grandmother in the forehead at home, severely wounding her. There have been 119 school shootings since 2018, in which 88 people have died and 229 peop…

1
#ChartersAt30 Part 3: Change Makers feat. Nina Rees, NAPCS President/CEO; St. HOPE's PS7 Elementary; The Multicultural Learning Center 26:57

2y ago26:57

26:57

In #ChartersAt30 Part 3, we bring you a special Change Makers interview featuring Nina Rees, the President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. For the past nine years, Nina has deepened bipartisan relationships in Washington D.C. to secure political support for charters across the country. CCSA's Myrna Castrejón sits down w…

1
#ChartersAt30 Part 2: Change Makers feat. Jed Wallace; CCSA's Portrait of the Movement Report; Face of Charter School Success Series 21:45

2+ y ago21:45

21:45

In #ChartersAt30 Part 2, we bring you a special Change Makers interview featuring Jed Wallace, the longest serving president and CEO of the CCSA. Jed was instrumental in building the charter school movement in California. Also, you’ll hear key takeaways from this year’s Portrait of the Movement Report, the annual study produced by CCSA. This year t…

1
DUI Homicides 30:02

2+ y ago30:02

30:02

DUI fatalities have spiked in San Diego County. 2021 marked the most fatal DUI crashes in two decades. Our county typically averages around 15-20 DUI fatalities annually, but 2021 saw more than 37 DUI fatalities. The average blood alcohol content (BAC) of someone arrested for DUI was .18%. Summer Stephan announced a half-million dollar grant from t…

1
#ChartersAt30 Part 1: Change Makers feat. Caprice Young; Remembering State Sen. Gary Hart; Face of Charter School Success Series 28:28

2+ y ago28:28

28:28

Thirty years ago, the 1992 California Charter Schools Act made its way through the legislature and was signed into law, launching a public education movement that has benefitted millions of students statewide. To celebrate this milestone CCSA’s CharterNation Podcast is releasing three special podcast episodes beginning this week featuring interview…

1
Change Makers feat. Laura McGowan Robinson, Diversity in Leadership Institute; Charter School Students Tackle Tiny House Project 24:01

2+ y ago24:01

24:01

Ensuring more Black educators are leading and teaching in public schools. That’s the topic of this week’s episode as we honor of Black History Month in February. Our special guest is Laura McGowan-Robinson, the founder and CEO of the Diversity in Leadership Institute based in Los Angeles. Her organization is working to build an effective pipeline o…

1
Elder Justice 38:18

2+ y ago38:18

38:18

Deputy DA Scott Pirrello joins the podcast to discuss his fight against elder abuse. Background: The Wall Street Journal recently reported a surge in elder abuse cases, stoked by the pandemic. “Elder Abuse Spreads, Stoked by the Pandemic.” In Pittsburgh, 2 people were initially arrested for elder abuse for neglecting the care of a 76 year old woman…

1
Change Makers feat. Ted Lempert, Children Now; Gov. Newsom's 2022-23 budget proposal; Para Los Ninos' Digital Literacy for Parents 21:06

2+ y ago21:06

21:06

Happy New Year 2022 from the California Charter Schools Association! It’s the start of a new legislative season in Sacramento. Governor Gavin Newsom kicked things off by releasing his proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. We hear from CCSA’s Vice President Colin Miller who gives us more details about the proposed spending plan – and what it…

1
2021 Year in Review 31:29

2+ y ago31:29

31:29

We review podcast stats, quiz stats, provide an update on cases, and discuss crime news we didn't get to cover. We also play some of our funniest moments from this year and some outtakes. Thanks for listening and have a happy new year! Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Dep…

1
Special Episode: Are the Kids OK? CCSA Facebook LIVE Rebroadcast 31:51

2+ y ago31:51

31:51

In this special episode of the CharterNation Podcast, we bring you a rebroadcast of a CCSA Facebook Live Event that took place on Dec. 9th and focused on how charter public schools are supporting the mental health and wellness of student amid the pandemic. The event was timed to the release of CCSA's 2021 Portrait of the Movement report called Are …

1
Organized Retail Theft 26:01

2+ y ago26:01

26:01

A Best Buy in Minneapolis, a Louis Vuitton store in Chicago, and a Nordstrom in Walnut Creek, CA were all struck recently by organized retail theft. But even before these high-profile thefts in the news, some cities have been plagued by constant theft. Wal-Greens in San Francisco had to close 5 stores due to rampant and brazen shoplifting. A Safewa…

1
Change Makers feat. Sen. Scott Wilk (R); Larchmont Charter School's Talking Circles; CCSA Report "Are the Kids OK?" 21:59

2+ y ago21:59

21:59

In this episode, host Ana Tintocalis takes listeners to Larchmont Charter School in Los Angeles to learn about a simple yet powerful social and emotional strategy: talking circles. We also preview an upcoming report produced by the California Charter Schools Association called "Are the Kids OK? How California Charter Public Schools Support Social-E…

1
Change Makers feat. Lance Izumi, Pacific Research Institute; Amelie's Story; The Need for COVID Response Teams 24:36

2+ y ago24:36

24:36

Is homeschooling the next wave in education? That's the topic of this week's Change Makers interview on the CharterNation Podcast Episode 5. CCSA's President/CEO Myrna Castrejón interviews Lance Izumi, Senior Director of the Center for Education at the Pacific Research Institute about his new book, "The Homeschool Boom: Pandemic, Policies and Possi…

1
District Attorney Summer Stephan 37:10

2+ y ago37:10

37:10

San Diego County is the 5th most populous county in the United States, and the second most populous county in California. The City of San Diego is, by many measures, one of the safest major cities in the United States. The San Diego DA’s office is the second largest DA’s office in California and has 1,000 employees. Bio: Summer Stephan was the firs…

1
Change Makers feat. Jay Artis-Wright, Parent Revolution; Resolute Academy's "Ms. CD"; Magnolia's Portrait of a Graduate 24:15

2+ y ago24:15

24:15

PEOPLE POWER! That's the theme of Episode 4 of CharterNation. You'll hear from three individuals who are working in the trenches of Los Angeles to make sure students can access high-quality school options or get the social and emotional support they need. First, as part of our Change Makers interview series, CCSA's President/CEO Myrna Castrejón int…

1
EXCLUSIVE: Robert Durst Prosecution Team - Part 2 42:15

2+ y ago42:15

42:15

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys John Lewin, Habib Balian, Ethan Milius, Euguene Miyata, and Rob Britton join the podcast and discuss the prosecution of Robert Durst. In this episode, the prosecutors discuss organizing discovery, preparing clips for cross examination, how they decided who would do opening and closing argument, whether they cou…

1
EXCLUSIVE: Robert Durst Prosecution Team - Part 1 38:58

3y ago38:58

38:58

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorneys John Lewin, Habib Balian, Ethan Milius, Euguene Miyata, and Rob Britton join the podcast and discuss the prosecution of Robert Durst. In this episode, the prosecutors discuss investigating the case, interviewing Durst, preparing for trial, and catching a fabrication by Durst while he was on the witness stand. (…

1
Latino Heritage Month Special: Change Makers feat. Marcos Aguilar; Latino Academic Performance; CTEC in Fresno 29:27

3y ago29:27

29:27

In honor of Latino Heritage Month, we dedicate an entire episode to understanding how charter public schools are working to transform the lives of Latino students in California. In a special Change Makers segment, CCSA's Myrna Castrejón interviews Marcos Aguilar, one of the visionaries behind Anahuacalmecac International University Preparatory of N…

1
Change Makers Series feat. Maria Echaveste; CA Charter School Enrollment Trends 22:31

3y ago22:31

22:31

How can we transform the state’s public education system so kids get the wraparound services they desperately need? That’s one of the topics in Episode 2 of the CharterNation Podcast which features a Change Makers interview with Maria Echaveste, the President and CEO of the Opportunity Institute based in Berkeley. Ms. Echaveste was a former aide to…

1
Change Makers Series feat. Antonio Villaraigosa and CCSA's Myrna Castrejón 18:08

3y ago18:08

18:08

In this inaugural episode, Myrna Castrejón, President/CEO of the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA), interviews former Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa in a regular segment called Change Makers featuring trailblazers and champions of educational equity in the Golden State. Villaraigosa's interview is part of a special series of …

1
Fentanyl and the Rise of Overdoses 42:00

3y ago42:00

42:00

Deputy DAs Jennifer Kaplan and Gabriella DiCaprio join the podcast to talk about the San Diego Deputy DAs Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and the Claudine Ruiz Scholarship that is awarded each year. You can donate to the foundation through our website at https://sdddaa.net/the-claudine-ruiz-scholarship/ Deputy District Attorney James Fontaine, t…

1
Introducing CharterNation, a new podcast by CCSA 1:45

3y ago1:45

1:45

Recent history has made one thing clear: charter school communities up and down the state are leaving us feeling inspired and uplifted. And as families navigate yet another challenging school year, it’s also apparent that they, and educators, need a trusted source of news, information, and research that is impacting charter school policies at the l…

1
Cold Case Homicide 29:59

3y ago29:59

29:59

Several cold cases throughout the United States have recently been solved using new DNA technology and genealogy investigations, including the infamous Golden State Killer who was arrested in 2018. The San Diego District Attorney's Office has also solved several cold cases using genealogy, such as the Potter murder and the Martinez murder. Deputy D…

1
Get to know a Deputy DA 30:23

3y ago30:23

30:23

Every now and then we interview criminal justice leaders and promote the good work they do, both on and off the court. Deputy DA John Dunn is the author of the children's book "Boo and Ted's Amazing Adventures". Deputy DA Nicole Gerard is the author of the children's book "My Aunt is a Lawyer". This is second book in the series and follows "My Mom …

1
Ghost Guns 23:12

3y ago23:12

23:12

A mass shooting in downtown San Diego resulted in the death of a valet driver and injured 4 others. Authorities reported that the suspect used a “ghost gun.” Laurie discusses an article in the San Diego Union Tribune by Teri Figueroa about the rise of ghost guns seized by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). 1 out of 5 guns seized by SDPD are gh…

1
Ransomware and Internet Scams 37:03

3y ago37:03

37:03

Ransomware attacks crippled Scripps Health and Colonial Pipeline. Learn why Colonial Pipeline was able to recover quickly and Scripps Health in San Diego has not. San Diego Deputy District Attorney Ryan Karkenny, a member of the Computer and Technology Crime Hight-Tech Task Force (CATCH) joins the podcast to discuss ransomware attacks, internet sca…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

California Charter School Association Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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