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Staff
Jim Griffin, President
Jim Griffin is the President of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to supporting the charter schools in the state. Jim has served in the capacity of League President since the organization's inception in 1994. Since then, the League has grown from a technical support/advocacy group to a comprehensive membership organization.
Jim's time with the League has included significant efforts around state legislative policy, new school development, facilities financing, and legal advocacy for charter schools (he is also an attorney). In conjunction with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, Jim has also been involved in federal policy development, and has provided support to new state charter school organizations across the country.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x110 | email
Vincent Badolato, Vice President of Public Affairs
Vincent oversees all Public Affairs activities at the League including shaping and implementing its policy agenda, developing relationships with elected officials and government agencies, managing the League's legal advocacy program, and directing the League's communications and messaging as it relates to advocacy. Prior to joining the League, Vincent worked as an Education Policy Specialist at the National Conference of State Legislatures. He holds a Masters degree in Education Foundations, Policy and Practice from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Bachelors of Arts in History from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x105 | email
Marcia Bickel, Accountant/Office Manager
Marcia assists the Director of Operations with management of the League's annual budget, facility maintenance and project management. She is also responsible for bookkeeping, database maintenance, HR coordination and records keeping. Marcia has over 20 years of Office Manager and Accounting experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Western Illinois University.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 | email
Tisha Bouwmeester, Director of Performance Management
Tisha directs the League’s Performance Management team at the League. In this role, she helps charter schools align resources to support the development, implementation, and ongoing use and improvement of performance management systems at the board, administration and teacher level. Tisha also assists the League's member schools in more effectively evaluating programs to continuously improve student performance. Tisha is a graduate from the University of Colorado at Denver with a M.A. in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in research and evaluation. Prior to joining the league, Tisha worked at The Evaluation Center at the University of Colorado at Denver researching and evaluating classroom practices.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x106 | email
Jason Callegari, Public Affairs Associate
Jason Callegari is the Public Affairs Associate at the Colorado League of Charter Schools. Jason assists in the coordination of the League's policy efforts, and also oversees the organization’s grassroots and community organizing work, manages the Colorado Charter Advocacy Network (Colorado CAN), and assists in strengthening the League’s employment practice and facilities initiatives.
Prior to joining the League, Jason worked with students at schools throughout Northeast Denver as a site teacher and program director for cityWILD, a non-profit that offers afterschool programming centered around service learning, life skills and experiential education, and as a founding member of Greenleaf, a non-profit that employs youth to combat health disparities by growing food in neighborhood plots and selling that food in areas with less access to healthy food. Jason holds a bachelor's degree from Colorado College where he majored in mathematical economics.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x119 | email
Kelly (Grable) Chrisman, Director of Member Services
Kelly manages the League's member services team. She helps coordinate a variety of services for the League's member schools. Kelly joined the League in 2003, working with multiple program areas and operations. She spent a significant amount of time working with the Research and Performance Management team during the development of the League's performance management services. Prior to joining the League, Kelly worked with an international organization designing online teaching and learning materials at the secondary level and delivering professional development courses to teachers and curriculum developers.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x107 | email
Jennifer Douglas, Director of New School Development
As Director of New School Development, Jennifer supports the development of high-quality charter schools that are prepared to effectively educate students when they open their doors. In particular, Jennifer focuses on providing developing groups with increased access to high-quality materials and resources, documenting best practices around school replication, providing direct technical support to developing groups, and ensuring the ongoing sustainability of the League’s New School Program. Jennifer comes to the League with over 13 years of experience in the field of education. She re-joined the League in the spring of 2007 after a four-year hiatus during which she worked as an administrator in two different charter schools, one of which she helped found. Prior to working in these schools, Jennifer had worked at the League for four years serving both as member services director and accountability program director. Before joining the charter school world in 1997, Jennifer worked as a technical writer and taught English as a Second Language.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x113 | email
Jody Ernst, Ph.D., Senior Director of Research and Evaluation
Dr. Jody Ernst began as the Director of Research & Evaluation for the Colorado League of Charter Schools in 2007, providing research-based practices for assessing school quality and developing sound performance measures. Jody’s work focuses on developing strategies for assessing schools’ influence on student knowledge gained over time, benchmarking academic growth among at-risk students, and helping organizations set clear and reasonable goals for the students they serve. Jody oversees all of the League’s national research projects, including accountability research for the Building Charter School Quality initiative and the National Charter School Facilities Project. Through the League, Jody has also worked with state education departments, national charter school organizations, and local authorizers on research and development efforts that inform school accountability policies.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x102 | email
Nora Flood, Senior Vice President of School Services
Nora serves as the League's Senior Vice President of School Services. She works with League staff to continue implementation of the strategic plan regarding school quality and applicable performance standards. She also oversees the League's school service programs (general member services, business member services, new school support, and research and performance management) to ensure effective and integrated coordination and service delivery. Nora provides direct support and technical assistance to the League’s member schools. She has nearly thirty years experience in education in international, public and private schools. She was the co-founder of The Classical Academy in Minneapolis, served as Head of School of Madison Country Day School and most recently was the Director of Sonoma Charter School in Sonoma, California. She also served in a volunteer capacity as the elected North Coast Regional Member Representative of the California Charter School Association.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x109 | email
Jeff Johnson, Communication and IT Associate
Jeff joins the League's Member Services team to help with production of the League's print and electronic communications, manage the League's website, and maintain the League's technology systems. Jeff also plays an integral role in the website redesign and our contact database development. Prior to joining the League, Jeff worked as a Computer Support Representative, helping specialty retailers enhance their online presence through effective use of their websites.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x101 | email
Jessica M. Johnson, Esq., Director of Advocacy Programs
Jessica is the League's Director of Advocacy Programs in the Public Affairs department. Jessica heads up several projects including advocacy for charter school facilities and the Colorado charter school employment initiative. In addition, Jessica manages the League's legal advocacy fund, and acts as the League's in-house counsel for small legal issues and opinions. Prior to joining the League, Jessica practiced law in Denver in the areas of corporate transactions, employment law and defense litigation. Jessica earned her Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Sociology and Political Science from the University of New Hampshire, and her Juris Doctorate from the College of William and Mary School of Law.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x121 | email
Tiffany Kallevik, Assistant Director, Member Business Services
Tiffany works directly with member schools to help them access cost-effective, high quality products and services through the League’s group purchasing and vendor guide programs. Her goal is to ensure member satisfaction with the League's Member Business Services program offerings. Tiffany has over 15 years of business development and customer relationship management experience. Prior to joining the League, she was a Director of Sales Education and Training in Florida. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida, with an emphasis in Marketing.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x116 | email
Joni Malli, School Services and Program Associate
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Joni supports the League's School Services team by coordinating the logistics of the many professional development opportunities offered to League members. Joni is also a key support staff in the League's national facilities initiative, and helps manage Charter411, the League's help desk, as well as the League's database and school finder.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x115 | email
Farrah Nicole Martin, Director of Education Policy and Practice
Farrah Nicole Martin serves as the League’s Director of Educational Policy and Practice. Farrah oversees the work of the Colorado Teacher Effectiveness Collaborative, which is a project that integrates quality teaching and learning efforts with the latest in teacher evaluation systems. She also works closely with the League's Teacher Effectiveness team, providing professional development opportunities to improve teacher capacity and student performance within schools. A 2001 Teach For America corps member, Farrah has worked in education as a middle school science and mathematics teacher, a PreK-8th grade Master Teacher, Science and Social Studies Content Specialist and Curriculum Designer, and a staff developer for schools across Mississippi and Louisiana. Farrah holds a Master’s degree in Public Health as well as a Master’s of Educational Leadership and Administration. In 2010, Farrah was chosen by NBC Network as one of 40 outstanding Education Champions across the country. This acknowledgement led to her appointment as a 2011 Urban Fellow Educational Policy intern with Senator Mike Johnston of Colorado.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x125 | email
Michael Munier, Vice President of Finance and Strategy
Mike serves as the League’s Vice President of Finance and Strategy. He is responsible for directing all financial policies and practices, and for overseeing the continuing implementation of the organization’s strategic plan. In his role, Mike is also a member of the League's management team responsible for overall direction, setting specific milestones and objectives, evaluating performance, and maintaining a strong organizational culture. Prior to joining the League, Mike was the founding principal and business manager at Jefferson Academy Charter School which opened in 1994. During a two-year sabbatical from 1999-2001, Mike served as a Regional Director for the Core Knowledge Foundation and a Regional Service Manager for the Colorado Department of Education. He returned to serve at Jefferson Academy in 2001 until his appointment at the League. Mike has worked in private schools as principal and/or business administrator for 10 years prior to joining the charter school movement in Colorado. Mike holds a B.A. in Psychology from the California State University at Fullerton and a Masters of Administration in Educational and Business Administration from the University of California’s Gary A. Anderson School of Management at Riverside.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x118 | email
Lisa Jarvi Nolan, Director of Special Education Initiatives
Lisa Jarvi Nolan is the Director of Special Education Initiatives at the League. In this role, Lisa works to improve access to charter schools for students with disabilities and improve quality of special education services for these students. Lisa has worked in the field of education for over 15 years in a variety of roles. She received a Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University in Human Development and Family Studies, and a Master’s degree from the University of Colorado in Early Childhood Special Education. After teaching regular and special education in both public charter and neighborhood schools, Lisa joined Edison Schools, Inc. and became a national teacher recruiter. As a consultant, Lisa pursued certification as a trainer in Differentiated Instruction and Thinking Maps, and lead the start-up of multiple charter schools. Her administrative work included managing grant and evaluation programs with the Piton Foundation, Jones Knowledge, Metro State College and the Colorado Health Foundation. Lisa has served as a charter school founding board member for two new charter schools in Douglas County, and currently serves on both the Governing Board and Building Corporation for SkyView Academy.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x120 | email
Sarah Pearman, Member Communications and Events Coordinator
Sarah serves as the League's Member Communications and Events Coordinator. Sarah acts as the organization's internal event planner for the League's signature events including the Colorado Charter Schools Conference, Colorado Charter Schools Board Retreat, Chipping for Charters Golf Tournament, and the Colorado Charter School Rally at the State Capitol. Sarah also assists the Director of Communications in providing timely communications to the League's member schools and keeping the League's website and marketing collateral up-to-date. Sarah has a BA in Communications from Metropolitan State College in Denver.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x114 | email
Marco Rafanelli, Director of Member Business Services
Marco is responsible for the management and administration of the League’s group purchasing program and related business services. Prior to joining the League in October 2006, Marco was the Assistant Director of Regional Contracting at the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) Services Inc., a New York City based healthcare group purchasing company. Marco holds a BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is currently pursuing an MBA from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x108 | email
Stacy Rivera, Director of Communications
Stacy is responsible for developing and implementing the League’s overall communications and branding strategy, and assisting member schools with communications and public relations consulting assistance. Stacy works to increase overall public awareness about Colorado charter schools, including battling myths and misinformation, and is the League’s main point of contact for the local media. In addition, Stacy is responsible for creating the League’s marketing and membership information materials and works to ensure that the League’s member schools are in the know about important information ranging from upcoming events and trainings to their membership benefits with the League. Stacy created the League’s Colorado Charter Advocacy Network (Colorado CAN), growing this grassroots listserv from 1,200 to 10,000+ names in 18 months. Prior to joining the League, she was the Director of Marketing/Media Relations at the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado. Stacy holds a BA in Communications from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x112 | email
Jennifer Turnbull, Senior Research and Evaluation Associate
As a member of the League's Research and Evaluation team, Jen facilitates in providing research-based practices for assessing school quality and developing sound performance measures. During her time at the League, Jen has conducted numerous data analyses, such as comparisons of charter vs. traditional public school performance on CSAP scale scores, growth percentiles, and adequate growth achievement as well as analyses to calculate normative growth on the MAP assessment for students attending Alternative Education Campuses (AECs). She also facilitates in the writing of several research proposals, stays up-to-date on the state accountability model, and provides trainings to Colorado charter schools on the School Performance Framework and the Unified Improvement Planning template. Additionally, Jen leads the League’s internal evaluations of the numerous grants the League receives to fund its work with Colorado charter schools. She holds a Masters degree in Educational Psychology with concentrations in Statistics and Research and Evaluation Methods from the University of Colorado at Denver. Prior to joining the League, Jen was a research associate at RMC Research Corporation conducting nationwide educational program evaluation.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x111 | email
Kara Vandas, Director of Teacher Effectiveness
Kara Vandas is the League's Director of Teacher Effectiveness. Kara serves to leverage professional development opportunities and to network teachers throughout charter schools in Colorado in order to improve teacher effectiveness, and ultimately, student achievement. Kara has worked in education as a teacher, teacher leader, trainer, and program developer. Prior to joining the League, Kara served with the StreetSchool Network and worked to create an innovative teacher education program for teachers serving high-need students. In addition, Kara worked with Edison Learning to train teachers around the country in effective instructional and management practices. She taught at the middle school and high school grade level at two Colorado charter schools and one private school and holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x122 | email
Kathy Zlomke, Program Manager for New School Development
Kathy is the Program Manager for New School Development at the League. She has been involved with the charter school movement since 1996. Kathy was a founding board member of Twin Peaks Charter Academy in Longmont, where she served on the board for over five years. Kathy's charter experience includes curriculum, assessment, budget, grants, accountability, special education, policy development, re-chartering, negotiations, strategic planning, hiring and performance reviews, elections, governance, self-study and external reviews, grievances, public relations, writing and reviewing applications, and conference and individual training for new board members, developers, and staff
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x104 | email