Bold by Choice, powered by the National Charter Schools Institute, is hosted by Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner, and in this episode, they’re joined by Sarah Anderson, CEO & Superintendent of Blackstone Valley Prep, for a conversation about what it truly means to expand opportunity for students and communities.

Season 3 of Bold by Choice is all about schools worth bragging about—and this episode delivers.

We head to Rhode Island to spotlight Blackstone Valley Prep (BVP), a charter school network intentionally designed to bring together students from four neighboring but historically unequal communities. Across six campuses, BVP blends rigorous academics, joyful school culture, and a deeply rooted college-going mindset that begins early and lasts well beyond graduation.

Sarah Anderson shares how BVP’s integrated model, co-teaching approach, strong family partnerships, and intentional design help expand the circle of success for more students—academically, socially, and culturally.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Going beyond college prep to prepare students for life

• Designing integrated public schools with purpose

• Creating belonging alongside academic rigor

• Supporting teachers through collaboration and coaching

• Leading with pragmatism, optimism, and heart

Listen in, share with a colleague, and join us this season as we celebrate bold schools, bold leadership, and bold choices.

The Bold by Choice podcast returns for Season Three — and this time, we’re celebrating schools worth bragging about.

In this premiere episode, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner sit down with Sonia Park and Ashley Heard, Executive Director and Deputy Director of the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition (DCSC). Together, they explore how DCSC is leading a movement to design public schools that reflect the richness and diversity of their communities.

From its 281 member schools in 26 states and D.C. — serving over 120,000 students — to its 22 Communities of Practice and leadership programs (the Fellows and Explorers), DCSC is redefining what it means to be diverse by design.

Sonia and Ashley share how their backgrounds — from Philadelphia classrooms to Teach For America — shaped their calling to lead this coalition. Their “why” stories reveal how courage and clarity fuel bold leadership in education.

Jim’s Reflection: “When you know your calling, it gives you courage — and courage is contagious.”

DCSC is a member-driven network focused on peer learning, equity, and sustainability. Sonia and Ashley explain how they use data, research, and storytelling to strengthen schools and grow leaders who build belonging through design.

Key stats:

• 281 member schools across 26 states + D.C.

• 120,000 students served nationwide

• 22 Communities of Practice for shared problem-solving

• 19 new schools launched through the Fellows Program

• Annual Convening “Better Together” — an energizing national gathering of educators

DCSC’s member schools span diverse models — from IB to project-based learning — united by shared commitments to excellence, culture, and love. Sonia and Ashley introduce DCSC’s High-Quality, Inclusive, Diverse (HQID) framework, developed with members to define what “excellent and equitable” really looks like.

The coalition is more than an organization — it’s a movement of practitioners. Sonia and Ashley share how listeners can get involved, from joining Communities of Practice to attending DCSC’s next Annual Convening in Washington, D.C.

Bold Question: “What’s the boldest choice you’ve made as a school leader to keep your promise to students — and what did it teach you?”

“Chartering at its best is about community, vision, and equity. Sonia and Ashley remind us that being bold together means designing schools that don’t just reflect our world — they help build a better one.” — Vashaunta Harris

As Season Three begins, Bold by Choice will continue to spotlight diverse-by-design schools across the nation — schools that prove what’s possible when leaders choose courage, community, and creativity.

Until next time — stay bold, stay mission-driven, and stay in community.

In this episode of Bold By Choice Podcast, Powered by the National Charter Schools Institute, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Don Cooper continue the Founders Library series with a tribute to one of the most influential builders in the charter school movement—Linda Brown, founding CEO of Building Excellent Schools (BES).

From the earliest days of Massachusetts’ charter experiment, Linda Brown saw what was missing: a system to ensure that new schools were not just open, but excellent. She founded BES to meet that need—developing rigorous fellowships, training future leaders, and creating schools built on discipline, love, and results.

“Excellence is not accidental—it’s engineered through vision, discipline, and belief in what’s possible.” — Linda Brown

Brown’s philosophy pushed beyond authorization or enrollment numbers; she believed success was only real when students achieved world-class academic outcomes. Through her leadership, BES has launched and supported more than 50 schools nationwide, and her imprint can still be felt in classrooms where high expectations meet deep care.

“Poverty is not a limit on potential. The limits we accept are the ones we place on ourselves.” — Linda Brown, Founders Library Interview

Linda Brown didn’t wait for permission. When she saw no clear pathway for ensuring excellence in new charter schools, she built one—from scratch.

“If it doesn’t exist, build it. That’s what founders do.” — Linda Brown

Brown rejected the idea that innovation alone was enough. For her, rigor, accountability, and consistency were non-negotiables. She championed longer school days, family engagement, and relentless follow-through.

She challenged deficit thinking head-on. Her mission: to prove that literacy, access, and opportunity were the real game-changers, not circumstance.

BES’s Fellowship model was demanding by design—long hours, constant feedback, and the requirement to move to where the need was greatest. Those who finished the program emerged ready to found and sustain great schools.

For Linda, the win wasn’t authorization or funding—it was when third-grade reading and math scores outpaced district averages. Student results were the measure of excellence.

Don Cooper:

“Linda Brown’s story reminds us that excellence doesn’t emerge by accident—it’s engineered through vision, discipline, and belief in what’s possible.”

Vashaunta Harris:

“Her legacy lives on in every BES-trained leader and every classroom where high expectations meet deep care. To be bold by choice is to build systems that last.”

• Interview: Interview of Linda Brown

• Collection: The Linda Brown Collection

• Organization: Building Excellent Schools (BES)

• Founders Library – Main Archive: charterlibrary.org

Call to Action: If Linda Brown’s story inspired you, share this episode with a fellow educator or leader who believes in the power of excellence. Visit Building Excellent Schools or explore her oral history in the National Charter Schools Founders Library to learn more.

Closing Line: “Until next time, stay bold, stay mission-driven, and stay in community.”