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 160 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 one-person technical support/advocacy group to a fourteen-person, 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 / jgriffin@coloradoleague.org
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 / vbadolato@coloradoleague.org
Marcia Bickel, 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 x100 / mbickel@coloradoleague.org
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 / tbouwmeester@coloradoleague.org
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 / jdouglas@coloradoleague.org
Jody Ernst, Director of Research and Evaluation
Jody leads the League’s Research and Performance Management team, providing research-based practices for assessing school quality and developing sound performance measures. A specific focus of Jody’s work is developing strategies for assessing schools’ influence on student knowledge gained over time. Prior to joining the League, Jody worked as a research fellow for the Charter School Policy Institute in Austin, Texas where she was responsible for conducting research on charter school performance and policy analysis on charter-related legislation. Jody received her doctoral degree in Differential Psychology, with minors in statistics and measurement and evaluation, from the University of Texas at Austin.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x102 / jernst@coloradoleague.org
Nora Flood, Vice President of School Services
Nora serves as the League's 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 / nflood@coloradoleague.org
Kelly Grable, Director of Member Services
Kelly manages the League's member services team. She helps coordinate League services for nearly 160 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 / kgrable@coloradoleague.org
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 / jjohnson@coloradoleague.org
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 / jmjohnson@coloradoleague.org
Tiffany Kallevik, Member Business Services Associate
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 / tkallevik@coloradoleague.org
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 / mmunier@coloradoleague.org
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 both North Star Academy in Parker, and SkyView Academy which will open in 2010 in Highlands Ranch.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x120 / lnolan@coloradoleague.org
Sarah Pearman, Member Communications and Events Coordinator
Sarah serves as the League's Member Communications and Events Coordinator. She is responsible for external events planning and provides a variety of support to the League's communications, member services and performance management departments. Sarah assists the Director of Communications and Director of Member Services in providing timely communications to the League's member schools, answering help desk questions, and keeping the League's website and marketing collateral up-to-date. She also coordinates many of the League's trainings and events including the Colorado Charter Schools Conference, Colorado Charter Schools Board Retreat and Colorado Charter School Rally at the State Capitol. Sarah originally came to the League as an advocacy intern, but quickly took on additional responsibilities leading to her current role. Sarah has a BA in Communications from Metropolitan State College in Denver.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x114 / spearman@coloradoleague.org
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 / mrafanelli@coloradoleague.org
Stacy Rivera, Director of Communications
Stacy is the Director of Communications for the League. She 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 / srivera@coloradoleague.org
Donnell Rosenberg, Research and Policy Associate
Donnell is the Research and Policy Associate in the League's Public Affairs Department. She assists the organization's Vice President of Public Affairs by researching and communicating important policy issues, and keeping the League's member schools and the Colorado charter school community informed about the latest developments at the State Capitol during the legislative session. Donnell also assists with community outreach initiatives including overseeing the continued growth of the Colorado Charter Advocacy Network (Colorado CAN), and helps coordinate advocacy-related events such as Charter Schools Week. Donnell is a parent and former PTO member at Platte River Academy in Highlands Ranch. In 2009, she was highly involved with the Douglas County School Board elections.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x115 / drosenberg@coloradoleague.org
Jennifer Turnbull, Research Associate
Jen serves as the League's Research Associate. As a member of the Research and Evaluation team, she 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. the state average on CSAP scale scores and growth percentiles, as well as analyses to calculate normative growth on the MAP assessment for students attending Alternative Education Campuses (AECs). She also facilitated in the writing of several research proposals. Prior to joining the League, Jen was a research associate at RMC Research Corporation, where she conducted nationwide program evaluations using quantitative and qualitative statistical analyses and research methodologies. She also has experience conducting case studies of schools. Jen recently received training by Dr. Betebenner in the growth percentile methodology. She holds a Masters degree in Educational Psychology with concentrations in Statistics and Research and Evaluation Methods from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x111 / jturnbull@coloradoleague.org
Kara Vandas, Director of Teacher Effectiveness
Kara is the League's Director of Teacher Effectiveness. In this role, 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 for the Denver Street School, Emerson Edison Academy, and Wyatt Edison Academy in both middle school and high school grade levels.
Contact information: 303-989-5356 x122 / kvandas@coloradoleague.org
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 / kzlomke@coloradoleague.org