2025 CSGF Seed Cohort

Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School provides bilingual, culturally responsive education that ensures all students have access to excellent learning opportunities. Executive Director Jesús Urdiales brings over 20 years of experience in bilingual education as a second-generation educator and former dual-language student from Mexico. Before joining Arco Iris in 2023, he served in leadership roles across multiple states, including founding principal of Academia Antonia Alonso, a dual-language charter school in Delaware. “What sustains me in this work—what keeps me grounded and motivated—is the privilege of continuing my family’s legacy in education. I come from a long line of educators, and it’s an honor to carry that forward. I am continually renewed by the joyful moments I witness in classrooms each day—students’ smiles, their curiosity, and their laughter,” says Urdiales. Under his leadership, Arco Iris has strengthened its focus on instructional excellence, cultural understanding, and social-emotional learning—an approach that helps students develop self-awareness, manage emotions, and build positive relationships. His deep commitment to ensuring language access and honoring all cultures drives the school’s mission to create transformative educational experiences for every student. The school is expanding to a second campus in Tigard, Oregon, in Fall 2026, extending its dual-language Spanish-English immersion program to more families.

Founded in 1997 by parents seeking educational excellence, Crown Pointe Academy embodies a collaborative spirit and champions academic excellence, serving a diverse student body in Westminster, Colorado. Executive Director Keith Ouweneel brings over 25 years of educational experience as a teacher, principal, and administrator, leading Crown Pointe since 2012. “What motivates me is the ability to change the trajectory of the lives of children and their families for the better,” he says. “We only get one chance to help kids navigate the challenges of childhood, and trusted school partnerships with families can make a tremendous difference.” Under his leadership, Crown Pointe has expanded English language support services, implemented daily Spanish instruction, and consistently outperformed surrounding schools while serving significant numbers of students requiring special education and language acquisition services. Crown Pointe will expand its impact by adding a second campus in Fall 2026 to serve more students across its K-8 program.

East Mountain High School shapes forward-thinking leaders through inquiry-based learning, serving as a beacon of excellence in rural New Mexico for 25 years. Executive Director Trey Smith has led the school since 2017, bringing 18 years of dedicated service and deep institutional knowledge. “By offering a coherent, cohesive pathway of a supportive culture and high expectations, we can raise outcomes for students in New Mexico,” says Smith. Under his leadership, EMHS earned the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Award in 2018 and Building Hope’s 2025 Model Charter Leadership Award, while maintaining top ratings from the New Mexico Public Education Department. His vision extends beyond maintaining excellence—Smith recognizes that true educational transformation requires reaching students earlier in their academic journey. After twenty-five years as a standalone high school, the school has set out an ambitious plan to reinvent itself by adding middle school grades. Currently serving grades 9-12 with proven college readiness outcomes, EMHS will add grades 6-8 by 2026, creating a seamless educational experience that brings the school’s transformative model to students three years earlier.

Empower Memphis Career and College Prep will support career and technical education starting in kindergarten, becoming the first charter school to introduce workforce readiness from a child’s earliest school years. Founder Muna Olaniyi brings a powerful personal understanding of education’s transformative potential, having navigated her own journey as a Nigerian immigrant to become an educational leader. “What keeps me in this work is my belief in the power of education to change lives and build brighter futures. Every day, I am motivated by the potential of students and the opportunity to help them discover their passions and prepare for careers that inspire them. Seeing students grow, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals reminds me of my own journey and fuels my commitment to creating a school community that empowers every learner to succeed,” she says. Her nearly 20 years in education began with a transformative internship that sparked her passion for teaching. Under her leadership, Empower Memphis will combine rigorous academics with hands-on career exploration, allowing even the youngest students to connect learning to real-world applications. The school’s unique model will introduce age-appropriate career skills from kindergarten, building a foundation for students to make informed choices about their futures while maintaining high academic standards. Empower Memphis opens in August 2025 with 100 students in grades K-2 and will add one grade level per year until reaching full K-8 enrollment.

Encompass Community School will champion mastery-based learning, revolutionizing how students progress through their education by ensuring deep understanding. Founder Megan Garry brings over a decade of experience transforming educational outcomes through innovative approaches grounded in behavioral science and special education expertise. “Mastery-based learning changes everything. It centers the whole child and meets each student exactly where they are. That’s equity in action. When we teach within a student’s zone of proximal development, we unlock deep, lasting learning—and we set students up for success,” says Garry. Her pilot program demonstrated the transformative power of this approach through remarkable student outcomes. At Encompass, flexible grouping will embrace each student’s unique learning profile, allowing learners to progress at their optimal pace. Students will advance based on demonstrated mastery rather than arbitrary age designations, creating truly personalized pathways. This innovative model particularly benefits students who have struggled in traditional settings, fostering an environment where every learner can thrive. Encompass opens in August 2025 and will grow by one grade annually until serving students across grades K-8.

Ethos Classical Charter School delivers culturally responsive, literacy- and arts-focused education with integrated Spanish and computer science instruction for South Atlanta families. CEO and founding team member Danielle Mack brings extensive educational experience and ensures every child feels seen, challenged, and cared for through personalized learning approaches. “What keeps me in this work is knowing the difference a great school can make—not just for one child, but for entire families and communities. I’ve seen what’s possible when we get it right: strong instruction, real joy, and growth that lasts,” she says. Under her leadership, Ethos has grown while maintaining its commitment to excellence through a comprehensive educational experience that integrates daily Spanish instruction, computer science, and arts education within a student-centered environment. Her vision centers on redefining what an extraordinary elementary experience looks like, particularly for communities that have historically lacked access to innovative educational options. Ethos will extend its transformative model by opening a middle school in Fall 2025, expanding from its current K-5 program to serve students through 8th grade.

Fort Worth STEAM Academy addresses educational gaps in Central East Fort Worth through rigorous STEAM education and personalized support designed to meet community-identified needs. Founder Nicholas Ditto transformed his original career aspirations into an educational mission focus after realizing the power of early intervention. “I originally set out to become a public defender—driven by a belief that everyone deserves a fair shot. But the more I learned about our education system, the more I realized that lasting change begins much earlier. True opportunity starts in the classroom,” says Ditto. Through extensive community engagement with over 1,500 stakeholders, he discovered critical needs for enhanced academic achievement, individualized instruction, and stronger family engagement. His six years of experience building and leading schools provided the expertise to design an innovative model that exposes students to high-demand career pathways while fostering inclusive environments. The school’s STEAM focus will address the growing need for technical skills while maintaining strong foundations in all academic areas to show that students from all backgrounds can excel in advanced STEM fields when given the right support and opportunities. Through his Building Excellent Schools fellowship and deep community partnerships, Ditto has positioned FWSA (expected to receive charter approval in Summer 2025) as an innovative educational model that will expose students to high-demand career pathways while fostering an inclusive environment where students can “discover their brilliance and step confidently into futures filled with purpose and opportunity.” The school plans to open in Fall 2026 to serve grades 6-8.

Founded by East Side House Settlement, one of New York City’s oldest social services organizations, Haven Charter will reimagine Career and Technical Education through a health sciences lens, creating pathways to high-demand healthcare careers for Bronx students who have been historically underrepresented in these fields. Founder Natalie Lozada, a proud Bronx native with nearly a decade of nonprofit leadership experience, brings deep community roots and proven ability to expand opportunities for youth. “I believe there can only be extraordinary outcomes when we invest meaningfully in our young people,” says Lozada. “Haven was founded to ensure students are not just seen for their potential, but equipped to fulfill it.” During her tenure in youth development, she successfully scaled organizational impact while designing programs that expanded horizons, including international travel opportunities that showed students worlds beyond their neighborhoods. Haven will pair academic rigor with hands-on learning and real-world internships across NYC’s healthcare sector, providing students with both college preparation and practical career skills in fields ranging from nursing to medical technology to healthcare administration. Haven Charter High School opens in Fall 2025 and will grow one grade per year until serving students across grades 9-12.

Invictus Nashville will create affirming, liberating education, particularly designed for Black and Brown students, through personalized, purpose-driven learning that celebrates identity and culture. Founder Dr. Brenda Jones brings over 20 years of public education experience and a deep understanding of what it means to create schools where all students truly belong. “I lead Invictus Nashville because I believe deeply that education is the key to unlocking freedom. What inspires me most are our students and families—their brilliance, their resilience, their dreams. I want our school to be a place where children feel seen, where identity is celebrated, and where learning is joyful, rigorous, and rooted in purpose,” she says. As a first-generation high school graduate, Jones understands firsthand the transformative power of education and the importance of creating schools that affirm rather than erase student identities. Her leadership has consistently driven academic and cultural transformation in schools serving similar populations. During the pandemic, she launched a Tutor Center to support families beyond the classroom, demonstrating her commitment to meeting students’ holistic needs. Invictus opens in August 2025 and will expand by one grade per year until serving students across grades K-8.

Jackson Museum School reimagines education through museum-style learning that transforms how students engage with knowledge and their community, replacing traditional classrooms with interactive discovery spaces. Founder Dr. Jean Little brings extensive educational leadership experience and a deep commitment to creating transformative opportunities for Jackson’s children. “What inspires me to lead Jackson Museum School is the belief that every child—regardless of background—deserves access to immersive, equity-driven learning experiences that ignite curiosity, creativity, and build confidence. I’m driven by a deep personal commitment to disrupt generational inequities and reimagine what school can be,” says Little. Witnessing her district struggle with low student proficiency in core subjects, she sought innovative solutions beyond traditional classroom models. Her residency at an Atlanta museum school revealed how hands-on, exploratory learning could engage students who had given up on education. Jackson Museum School replaces rows of desks with interactive exhibits and experiential learning spaces where students learn by doing, creating, and discovering. The school’s motto, “Explore. Engage. Empower.” guides an approach where students become curators of their own learning journey. Jackson Museum School opens in Fall 2026 and will add one grade per year until serving students across grades K-6.

Strategically located in downtown OKC, the school’s project-based curriculum capitalizes on partnerships with the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, local businesses, and civic organizations to engage students in solving authentic community challenges while developing leadership skills in a vibrant urban learning environment. Executive Director Patrick Duffy brings over 20 years of educational experience and a deep commitment to serving all students equitably. “I’m inspired to lead because I want to build the kind of school every child deserves—regardless of zip code. I stay in this work because I’ve seen what’s possible when students have access, opportunity, and adults who never give up on them,” says Duffy. As a 2020 National Blue Ribbon School, John Rex has nearly doubled proficiency rates compared to nearby schools under his leadership. The school’s innovative approach combines rigorous academics with comprehensive support systems, creating a model where students from all backgrounds thrive. His vision extends beyond academic achievement to building a school that serves as an anchor for downtown Oklahoma City, bridging economic and social divides through education. John Rex is expanding from its current elementary model to become a full K-12 campus by 2028, including a new high school featuring five industry-aligned career pathways.

Louisiana Academy of Production will create inclusive pathways into Louisiana’s booming film and television industry for underrepresented students who have been underrepresented in these creative careers. Founder Fallon Buckner-Ward combines expertise in education, community development, and film production to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry demands. “What inspires me is seeing the untapped creative potential within our state. There are so many bright, imaginative young minds here, especially in underserved communities, who just need the right tools, training, and pathways to realize their dreams,” says Buckner-Ward. Leveraging Baton Rouge’s emergence as a major film hub with resources like Celtic Studios, LAAP will provide students access to state-of-the-art equipment and real-world experience through industry partnerships. The curriculum blends comprehensive academics with hands-on training from working professionals, ensuring students graduate both college-ready and career-prepared. Her vision extends beyond technical training—LAAP is about unlocking storytelling abilities, equipping students with technical mastery, and fostering the collaborative spirit essential for the industry. Louisiana Academy of Production opens in Fall 2026 and will add one grade per year until serving students across grades 9-12.

MOXIE will offer a learning model specifically designed for diverse learners– including cognitively diverse, multilingual, and highly mobile students– through competency-based education rooted in deep personalization and meeting students where they are. Founder Beth Rabbit was approached by Maine’s Charter Commission to create stronger educational options after witnessing how traditional schools failed neuro-diverse learners, including her own child. “We’re facing huge and growing gaps in achievement, opportunity, and engagement, particularly for learners who need it most. MOXIE exists to prove that when we design schools around how students actually learn rather than how we think they should learn, every child can thrive,” says Rabbit. With 20+ years of experience at innovative schools nationwide, she brings proven expertise in transforming education for students who don’t fit conventional molds. The name MOXIE holds dual meaning—”energy, courage, and know-how” in English and “medicine” in Abenaki—reflecting her vision to bring healing to Maine’s education system. MOXIE’s approach recognizes and develops the genius in every student through inquiry-based learning that adapts to how each child learns best, setting a new trajectory for public education. MOXIE Public School opens in Fall 2026 and will add two grades per year until serving students in grades 6-12.

The Rock Academy will become central Tennessee’s first Opportunity Public Charter School, specifically designed for students experiencing chronic absenteeism and disconnection from traditional education. Founder Dr. Ahmed White’s philosophy emerged from years of building genuine connections with students that other adults had given up on. “I’m inspired to lead Rock Academy because of a deep commitment to the students we seek to serve—students who are too often written off by traditional systems. I believe in their potential because I’ve seen what happens when young people are surrounded by adults who truly care, connect, and refuse to give up on them,” says White. His team’s research revealed that disconnected youth—particularly Nashville’s Opportunity Youth aged 14-24—felt unsafe, invisible, and struggled with basic needs like housing, transportation, and food security in traditional schools. The Rock will create an environment where underserved students are not only welcomed but celebrated, where their unique stories are honored rather than erased. White’s approach addresses the root causes of disengagement by ensuring students’ basic needs are met while building the relationships that make learning possible. The Rock Academy is slated to open in Fall 2026 and will add one grade per year until serving students across grades 9-12.

Spruce Community School will become their local district’s first project-based K-8 school where students learn by solving real community challenges, transforming Colorado Springs through youth innovation. Founder Loren Koszowski’s transformative experience watching disengaged students come alive through hands-on learning ignited her mission to reimagine education. “There is great joy to be found in learning, and every child deserves an education driven by curiosity and collaboration rather than lectures and memorization,” says Koszowski. When her innovative design thinking class empowered students to tackle real problems and was adopted district-wide, it proved that learning through doing could reach students failed by traditional approaches. Guided by core values of curiosity, kindness, and courage, Spruce helps students “dig into their roots” through deep relationships while “extending their branches” through meaningful projects. Students won’t just study their community—they’ll actively improve it, developing solutions to real challenges facing Colorado Springs. The school will shape a new generation of balanced leaders who listen before they guide, question before they answer, and connect before they influence. Spruce Community School opens in Fall 2026 and will add one grade per year until serving students across grades K-8.

Vivo Colorado will create a network of small high schools rooted in belonging, purpose, and possibility for youth navigating recovery from substance use and related mental health challenges. Founder Melissa Mouton didn’t set out to build a school, but an encounter with a young person who left traditional education to maintain their sobriety revealed the critical gap between education and rehabilitation. “No young person should have to choose between their education and their health,” says Mouton. Building on her first venture, 5280 High School—now recognized nationally as the gold standard for youth recovery support—she is expanding this proven model through charter school autonomy. Vivo will leverage the considerable role that high school plays in teenagers’ lives to establish solid foundations of community, purpose, joy, and long-term well-being. The school’s approach will integrate wellness support with rigorous academics, creating environments where students can heal while learning. “There is nothing more inspiring than celebrating recovery, academic, and life milestones with families over time—to celebrate how far they have come and how they’ve evolved into the people they were meant to be,” Mouton reflects. Vivo Colorado opens in Fall 2026 at both Aurora and Colorado Springs campuses, growing to serve students across grades 9-12.

Yuba River Charter School, California’s first public Waldorf charter, provides whole-child, arts-rich, place-based education on a 16-acre campus that serves as a living classroom for environmental and experiential learning. Director Denis Hill champions education that nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and character through hands-on learning rooted in the Waldorf philosophy. “We’re providing an education rooted in community that reveres childhood and honors every child and adult’s full humanity. It’s life-giving, soul-nurturing, and humbling to lead a school community that is so committed to the deep work of supporting children to become the people they’re destined to be,” Hill reflects. With nearly all of their teachers Waldorf-certified, YRCS offers a unique educational approach that integrates arts, movement, and academic learning while fostering deep connections to nature and community. Under Hill’s leadership, the school has become a model for holistic education that develops the whole human being—head, heart, and hands—preparing students not just for tests, but for life. The school’s extensive garden programs and outdoor classrooms create opportunities for students to develop environmental consciousness alongside academic skills. YRCS will open a second campus in Nevada City in 2026 and launch a high school by 2029, extending its transformative educational model from kindergarten through 12th grade.