Recently, we announced the seating of 10 new representatives on CCSA’s Member Council. These leaders come from all different types of charter schools and embody the diversity that has long been a strength of the charter school sector.

But wait, did you know that CCSA had a Member Council representing charter school leaders?

The 27-seat body is comprised of leaders from high-quality charter public schools from across the state, serving in an advisory capacity within our organization by informing our work and priorities at every level. The Member Council’s responsibilities include:

• Advising CCSA staff and board on policy priorities impacting charter schools throughout the state
• Weighing in on key strategy by sharing insight with CCSA's board
• Playing a key role in getting leaders across the movement to work together
• Promoting and leading statewide collective action and grass roots efforts to support charter schools

Get to know the 10 new passionate, student-centered educators added to the council by learning more about their backgrounds below:

Mary Cox, Executive Director, CORE Butte

Mary Cox has worked at CORE Butte Charter School for 16 years and has been the Executive Director for five. Core Butte offers a personalized learning education for students ranging from homeschool to an early college model. Students gain independence in this model that is highly engaging. Because their model uses less instructional minutes, Mary and her team have an eye for using instructional time only for the most rigorous and meaningful instruction giving students time to process and practice independently.

Kathleen Hermsmeyer, Superintendent, Springs Charter Schools

Kathleen Hermsmeyer Ed. D., has been the Superintendent of Springs Charter Schools for more than 20 years. Springs is a network of 6 schools, and has been recognized for its innovative programming and more recently for its support of other charter schools and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kathleen has been active in local issues around California as the Superintendent of Springs, which represents 10,453 students in 6 counties in Southern California. Working with 6 authorizers, including the CA State Board and three county offices of education requires her constant involvement, communication and advocacy for her schools and the charter school movement at large.  

Jared Austin, Executive Director/Co-founder, Kairos Public Schools

Jared Austin is currently the Executive Director/Co-founder of Kairos Public Schools and has more than 15 years of experience in the charter school movement. Prior to his current role, he was a site principal at Natomas Charter Schools in Sacramento. At Kairos, Jared emphasizes the importance of community engagement with his students. Additionally, Jared has served as an adjunct professor at Touro University, serves on the Vacaville Public Education Foundation Board, and is active in a number of educational non-profits in Solano County. Lastly, Jared is the Founder and Board Member of the Solano Coalition for Outstanding Public Education (SCOPE), a political action committee focused on public education in Solano County. 

Jason Sample: Deputy Superintendent Gateway Community Schools

Jason has served in a leadership role in Sacramento for over 15 years. He is dedicated to the success of Sacramento County charters, as well as the role CCSA plays in the future of the charter movement. He currently serves as Deputy Superintendent for Gateway Community Charter Schools, as well as the Chief Communications and Strategy Manager for the program. He has over 20 years of serving as a mentor and Black leader and father in his community, and is committed to education at all levels of the system: from home life to classroom (in person or distance learning) to school board participation.

 Ben Claassen, Director, Shasta Charter Academy

Ben has been at Shasta Charter Academy for 20 years and has served as the Executive Director for 11 of those 20. Ben has been an active member with CCSA for many advocacy efforts at the Capitol. Ben also served on CCAA’s Political Council where the council most notably weighed in and approved the restructure of the local Political Action Committee program.  

Jillayne Antoon: Director of Growth + Community Engagement, Rocklin Academy Family of Schools

Jillayne Antoon (pronounced Jill-lane An-tone) started as a teacher at Rocklin Academy Family of Schools (RAFOS) in 2006 before moving into administrative/leadership roles. She is responsible for the successful replication of RAFOS in Rocklin and Citrus Heights. Right now, in response to the needs of her community, Jillayne holds two roles: leading Rocklin Academy Gateway as principal while also still leading the organization’s growth and replication work.

Farnaz Golshani Flechner, CEO, Environmental Charter Schools

Farnaz has been an active member of the Los Angeles charter community for over a decade and an experienced educator and non-profit operator for longer. She has served as the Executive Director of two charter organizations, served on the Board of Environmental Charter School (ECS) for many years before assuming a leadership role on staff, and held senior roles at several other education and workforce-development nonprofits. Even before succeeding Environmental Charter School’s founder Alison Diaz—the 2020 Hart Vision Award winner for Leader of the Year—Farnaz was active and engaged in collective action efforts to oppose the suite of anti-charter legislations and was part of the ECS team critical in pushing back on AB 1507.

Alex Lucero, CEO, Real Journey Academies

Alex has been involved in the California charter school movement for over 15 years. Alex started as a development manager at PUC schools before developing his first school, New Vision Middle School, in San Bernardino. Now he is the CEO of Real Journey Academies which has five schools across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

Kevin Humphrey, Charter Schools Superintendent, Guajome Schools

Kevin has been a leader at Guajome Schools for many years: he has been the Superintendent of Guajome Schools for the last five years and served previously as the Administrator of School Culture and Climate and as a teacher leader.

Dr. Cheryl Ward, CEO/Chief Engagement & Innovation Officer, e3 Civic High School

Dr. Cheryl James-Ward is the CEO/Chief Engagement & Innovation Officer of e3 Civic High. To take on this role, Dr. Ward retired from San Diego State University Department of Educational Leadership. While at San Diego State University, Dr. Ward served as the Founding Director of the online Master of Arts Program in Educational Leadership, led the SDSU Chinese and American Educational Leadership Symposiums, and taught both master’s and doctoral level courses. As an SDSU professor emeritus, Dr. Ward continues to support the doctoral program and chair dissertation committees. Before SDSU, she was a principal and director supervising schools in the Long Beach Unified School District. Additionally, Dr. Ward has worked to support charter schools locally as a candidate for San Diego County School Board.

Are you from a member school? Reach out to your Member Council representative to share your perspective. You can find their contact information here.