Pub. 5 2015-2016 Issue 2

6 BOARD Message BY DR. DEBORAH L. SWENSEN, UAPCS BOARD CHAIR HAWTHORN ACADEMY, LEAD DIRECTOR As we close this successful chapter on the legislative session, I want to thank all who made this session so successful. Whether we like it or not, our charter schools exist in a political environment. In the past, many in the charter schools have hoped that things would work out in our favor. This year saw those involved with Charter Schools step forward and make their voice heard. This powerful collaboration helped our legislators realize Charter School leaders and parents are not passive, but want to be heard and ensure all students in the state of Utah receive an equal education. This session of the legislature saw a monumental achievement: bringing together all supporters of Charter Schools. The collaboration between UPACS leader- ship, State Charter School Board Leadership, parents, Utah Charter Advocates, educational leaders and teachers, students, and key legislators resulted in the passage of SB 38. I would like to thank the key individuals who put in countless hours to facilitate this exceptional legislation. On behalf of the UPACS Board, we would like to recognize the amazing job of the UPACS staff with Royce Van Tassell and Cate Klundt, Howard Heedlee, our State Charter School Board Chair, and those legislators who worked so hard on our behalf - Sen. Stephenson, Sen. Fillmore, Sen. Hillyard, Rep. Eliason, Rep. Hughes, Rep. Last, Rep. Powell, and Rep. Gibson. One of the greatest strengths of the charter schools are the parents. A large percentage of schools, and hundreds of parents, committed to the process by adding their emails to the Utah Charter Advocates site. Many sent emails to their Representatives and Senators. As a result, the legislators listened. It has been great to see so many do something positive and personal to contribute to our democracy, particularly on an issue that so directly affects the future of Utah’s public school students. Now we need to look forward. While much work was done up on the hill and to get messages to our legislators, we must not now go quietly “into the night”. The passage of SB 38 brought Utah Charter Schools to the forefront. We need to continue our strong communication so that we might maintain goodwill with our policy makers. As both the public and our legislators get to know us better as constituents and neighbors, the more they will focus on the facts and bringing equality to education. We need to help our Senators and Representatives see our perspective about charter schools, and help them to celebrate with us the positive outcomes of their support for this choice. The legislative session was not the only major event that has occurred since the last issue of Charterology. The annual Charter School Day on the Hill also occurred and was sponsored by UAPCS. It was very successful. I appreciate the work of the UPACS leadership to get every school’s legislator down to visit with the students. It was inspiring to see so many schools in attendance and talking with their legislative representatives. I urge you to be a part of the collaborative process, working together as members of an association whose mission is to support the amazing work being done in Utah’s charter schools. As we do this statewide we leverage our wisdom and experience. I encourage you to attend the last few meetings of UAPCS this school year. If you did not join this year, please look at all that was accomplished this year and consider joining for next year. Register and attend the UAPCS summer conference. Bring your teachers and let them collaborate with other schools and attend workshops. You are the best, dedicated, and innovative educators in the state of Utah. Let’s continue to get the word out there and continue to build the great things being done in charter schools. UTAH ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS BOARD OF DIRECTORS: DR. DEBORAH SWENSEN (Chair) Hawthorn Academy (801) 282-9066 DSwensen@hawthornacademy.org CHRIS BLEAK (Vice Chair) Ascent Academy (801) 680-8141 Cbleak@ascentutah.org MANDEE BLACK (Treasurer) Charter Solutions (801)-318-6870 Mandee@chartersolutions.org TIRZAHANDERSON (Secretary) Thomas Edison (435) 757-8288 / (435) 752-4417 rogerandtirzah@gmail.com GERRY HASSELL Banner Bank (801) 208 4078 / (801) 520-3011 gwhassell@gmail.com LYNNE HERRING Freedom Preparatory Academy (801) 437-3100 / (801) 362-4579 lherring@freedomprep.net BRAD NELSON SpectrumAcademy (801) 936-0318 ext. 4009 / (801) 440-3150 bnelson@spectrumcharter.org STAFF MEMBERS ROYCEVANTASSELL Executive Director (801) 836-7028 royce@utahcharters.org TINA SMITH Chief Operations Officer (801) 558-7246 tina@utahcharters.org DEBBY LLEWELYN Training Director (801) 318-0911 debby@utahcharters.org JOYLIN LINCOLN Program Coordinator (801) 367-8191 Joylin@utahcharters.org CATE KLUNDT Communications & Media Relations (702) 767-3994 Cate@utahcharters.org TWITTER: @UTAHCHARTERS FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/UAPCS WWW.UTAHCHARTERS.ORG