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The National Charter Schools Conference – NCSC25 -- Takes Place in Orlando with Strong Involvement of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS)

Leaders from FCPCS member schools and FCPCS Preferred Partners attend NCSC25 seminars and network there. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTO CAPTION: Students from Orlando Science Schools Jazz Band perform “Cry Me a River” during a general session at NCSC25, the National Charter Schools Conference of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.  The Jazz Band’s performance was facilitated by the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS), of which Orlando Science Schools is a member. 

ORLANDO, Fla. (July 9, 2025) – Many representatives of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) participated in the recent National Charter Schools Conference – NCSC25 – presented by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and held at the Orlando World Center Marriott. 

The National Charter Schools Conference is the largest national education conference of educators, advocates and leaders of the charter school movement.  Participants are empowered by people, resources and expertise to inspire their work.  The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools states the Conference, “offers the best learning experience for those shaping K-12 education.” 

Dozens of NCSC25 sessions covered informative and diverse topics such as the Classroom of the Future, Navigating Digital Distractions, Transforming School Culture, the Age of Artificial Intelligence and STEM Excellence. 

Leaders from member schools of FCPCS attended National Charter Schools Conference general sessions and participated in professional development seminars.  They also networked with other public charter school professionals from throughout the state and the nation.  NCSC25 also attracted many participants in FCPCS’ Preferred Partners Program, including companies that provide goods and services to charter schools. 

Among the National Charter Schools Conference attendees was Sherard Parker, Director of Member Services for FCPCS.  Parker noted the significant involvement of leaders from FCPCS member schools and representatives of FCPCS Preferred Partners. 

“The Central Florida location of NCSC25, the National Charter Schools Conference, presented a great opportunity for participation by representatives of members schools of FCPCS, as well as participants in our Preferred Partners Program” said Parker.  “We heard positive comments from many of our members, who said they were learning a lot and enjoying the opportunity to network with other representatives of charter schools from around the state and the nation.” 

One highlight of FCPCS involvement in the National Conference was a general session performance of “Cry Me a River” by students from Orlando Science Schools’ Jazz Band.  Their performance was facilitated by FCPCS, of which Orlando Science Schools is a member. 

FCPCS President Robert Haag thanked its many member school representatives and Preferred Partners who participated this year. 

“The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools salutes representatives of many of our member schools who invested their time in learning and networking at NCSC25 in order to increase their knowledge and skills,” said Haag.  “We applaud their commitment to education and note the positive impact it has on their students.” 

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary as part of the 2024-2025 school year, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.
 

12 Florida Charter High School Graduates Win Prestigious Scholarships 

Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Scholarships awarded based on academic accomplishments and financial need. 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (June 18, 2025) – Twelve Florida charter high school graduates have been named recipients of the 2025 Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Scholarship by the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS). 

The Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Scholarships are merit-based financial awards of $1,500 each.  They are awarded to college-bound or technical school-bound recent graduates of Florida charter schools.  

Scholarship recipients have strong academic records and demonstrate financial need.  Scholarship funds may be used towards college expenses, including tuition, textbooks, materials and supplies, and computer equipment. 

Dr. Carlo Rodriguez was an education advocate who worked tirelessly to expand quality school choice options for children.  He was the head of the charter school office of Miami-Dade Public Schools and was named to head the Florida Department of Education's Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice.  He passed away unexpectedly in 2007. 

Listed alphabetically, the recipients of the 2025 Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Scholarships are: 

--Amaya Baker, Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores

--Emilly Dos Reis, Discovery High School, Lake Alfred

--Justin Duke, River City Science Academy Middle and High School, Jacksonville

--Cole Dunsford, McKeel Academy of Technology, Lakeland

--Jake Hutchinson, Pensacola State College Charter Academy, Pensacola

--Pooja Khalil, SouthTech Academy High School, Boynton Beach

--Amari Lopez, Sarasota Military Academy, Sarasota

--Alyssa McIntyre, SouthTech Academy High School, Boynton Beach

--Jethiel Morales, Pepin Academy Tampa

--Emily Reyes, River City Science Academy Middle and High School, Jacksonville

--Polina Tiukova, Avant Garde Academy of Broward High School in Hollywood

--Gage Yarbrough, Pineapple Cove Classical Academy, Palm Bay 

“The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools salutes the hard work and dedication of the 2025 winners of the Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Scholarship,” said Robert Haag, President of FCPCS.  “We applaud their achievements during high school and expect more great things as they move forward with their future educational endeavors.” 

The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools acknowledges the meaningful support it receives for the Dr. Carlo Rodriguez Scholarship Program from EGIS Insurance & Risk Advisors of Boca Raton.  The company sponsored four of the scholarships and is a preferred partner of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.  Eight of the scholarships are sponsored by FCPCS. 

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary as part of the 2024-2025 school year, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. 
 

Eighteen Charter School Champions of the Year Win State Awards

Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Presents Twelfth Year of Statewide Awards Program 

(Photo caption of Charter School Champions follows the photos.)

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

PHOTO CAPTION OF CHARTER SCHOOL CHAMPIONS, (ALL HOLDING AWARD TROPHIES) – TOP ROW: Areon Atkinson, Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School; Candice Britton, Championship Academy of Distinction; Camille Caudill, Nature Coast Middle School; Sean Gordon, Collegiate High School; SECOND ROW: Larry Kimpel, Oakland Avenue Charter School; Jennifer Lively, Spring Creek Charter School; Sylvia Mencner, St. Johns Classical Academy; Donna Nieschwietz, Tallahassee Classical School; THIRD ROW: Sevasti Varitimidis, Athenian Academy Charter School; Vivian Bryant, Franklin Academy Pembroke Pines; Wendi Nolder, Odyssey Charter School; Stanley Kroh, Learning Gate Community School; FOURTH ROW: Heidi LoCicero, Destin High School; Pascale Royale, Imagine Weston; Dogan Tozoglu, River City Science Academy Schools; Elizabeth Villanueva, Mascotte Charter School; FIFTH ROW: Constance Ortiz, Odyssey Charter School

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  (June 5, 2025) – Eighteen winners of the Charter School Champions of the Year Awards for 2025 were announced today by the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS).  The award period covers the 2024/2025 school year calendar. 

For the twelfth year, FCPCS received nominations in several categories, including charter school teachers, charter school leaders, charter school governing board members, charter school innovators and charter school pioneers. 

2025 Charter School Champions of the Year come from all parts of Florida and represent schools at grade levels ranging from kindergarten through high school.  Nine Champions of the Year are teachers, three are school leaders, three are governing board members, two are charter school pioneers and one is a charter school innovator. 

Listed alphabetically by category, winners of the 2025 Charter School Champions of the Year Awards are: 

--Charter School Champions of the Year – Teachers

Areon Atkinson, PE Coach and PE Department Head, Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, Tampa

Candice Britton, Instructional Coach, Championship Academy of Distinction, Hollywood

Camille Caudill, Teacher, Nature Coast Middle School, Chiefland

Sean Gordon, Biology Instructor, Collegiate High School, Niceville

Larry Kimpel, PE Teacher, Oakland Avenue Charter School, Oakland

Jennifer Lively, 5th Grade Science Teacher, Spring Creek Charter School, Paisley

Sylvia Mencner, Kindergarten Teacher, St. Johns Classical Academy, Orange Park

Donna Nieschwietz, 4th Grade Teacher, Tallahassee Classical School, Tallahassee

Sevasti Varitimidis, Foreign Language Teacher, Athenian Academy Charter School, Clearwater 

--Charter School Champions of the Year – School Leaders

Vivian Bryant, Assistant Principal, Franklin Academy – Pembroke Pines, Pembroke Pines

Dr. Janjay Gehndyu, Principal, Visible Men Academy, Bradenton

Wendi Nolder, Principal, Odyssey Charter School, Palm Bay 

--Charter School Champions of the Year – Governing Board Members

Stanley Kroh, Board Member, Learning Gate Community School, Lutz

Heidi LoCicero, Board Member, Destin High School, Destin

Pascale Royale, Board Member, Imagine Weston, Weston 

--Charter School Champions of the Year – Pioneers

Dogan Tozoglu, Co-Founder and Executive Director, River City Science Academy Schools, Jacksonville

Elizabeth Villanueva, Former Board Member, Mascotte Charter School, Mascotte 

--Charter School Champions of the Year – Innovator

Constance Ortiz, Founder, Odyssey Charter School, Palm Bay 

“Congratulations to the 2025 Charter School Champions, and to their schools and communities,” said Robert Haag, FCPCS President.  “Each is an important contributor to Florida’s hugely successful charter school movement.  All of them help to deliver quality education to many of Florida’s charter school students.” 

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary as part of the 2024-2025 school year, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.
 

A Member School of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Wins $10,000 Grant Award 

SouthTech Schools of Boynton Beach Receives Award at Building Hope IMPACT Summit in Miami 

MIAMI, Fla.  (May 22, 2025) – SouthTech Schools, a member of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS), has received a $10,000 grant award from the national nonprofit organization Building Hope.   SouthTech Schools is a leader in innovative charter school education and is located in Boynton Beach.  It received the grant award at Building Hope’s recent IMPACT Summit at the InterContinental Miami Hotel. 

Representatives of FCPCS and many of its member schools attended the fourth annual Building Hope IMPACT Summit, which brings together charter school leaders, educators, authorizers and education advocates to advance the charter school movement.  FCPCS sponsored student singers from Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores, who performed during the IMPACT Summit Awards gala dinner. 

FCPCS member school participants also heard inspiring presentations from award-winning schools and took part in solution-focused sessions and dynamic networking opportunities.  Some FCPCS member school participants were presenters at key sessions held during the 2-day event. 

“Congratulations to SouthTech Schools and all the award-winners and finalists at the Building Hope IMPACT Summit,” said Robert Haag, President of FCPCS.  “And thanks to FCPCS Director of Member Services Sherard Parker and all of the attendees from member schools of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.  They came together in a common purpose to enhance charter school education and advance the charter school movement.” 

SouthTech Schools is made up of SouthTech Preparatory Academy and SouthTech Academy High School, which provide a strong focus on Career and Technical Education (CTE).  Students at the Boynton Beach schools take part in hands-on learning through advanced facilities like a cosmetology lab, commercial kitchen, cybersecurity, nursing, auto tech bay and expanding agri-tech offerings.  Students engage in daily real-world, career-focused training. 

SouthTech Schools was one of five finalists for the prestigious S. Joseph Bruno Model Charter Award and one of three schools to receive a financial grant award.  S. Joseph Bruno is the President and CEO-Emeritus of Building Hope and a member of its Board of Directors. 

Twenty schools were named Building Hope IMPACT Awards finalists earlier this year.  They were selected from nearly 200 applications from charter schools located in 41 states and the District of Columbia.  Three final winners were announced in each category at the Building Hope IMPACT Summit and $160,000 in grants were given out. 

In 2024, HIVE Preparatory School of Hialeah, Fla., and River City Science Academy of Jacksonville, Fla., won awards and grants as part of the Building Hope awards program.  Both schools are members of FCPCS. 

Now in its fourth year, the Building Hope IMPACT Awards Program recognizes schools for their profound impact on the communities, families and students they serve.  According to Building Hope, each application was evaluated by judges based on measurable impact, innovative educational approaches and the strength of their engagement with students and their communities. 

The program has awarded $440,000 to 33 charter schools and $40,000 to eight school volunteer leaders.  For more information about the Building Hope IMPACT Awards, visit https://impactawards.buildinghope.org/. 

About Building Hope

Building Hope is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to increasing educational opportunities for K-12 students through its expertise in real estate, finance and operational services.  During its 21-year history, Building Hope has supported over $1 billion in the development of school facilities. 

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary as part of the 2024-2025 school year, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools. 
 

Florida Public Charter Schools to Celebrate National Charter Schools Week, May 11-17, 2025

Member Schools of Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Encouraged to Join the National Celebration of the Charter Schools Movement 

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (May 1, 2025) – May 11-17, 2025 is National Charter Schools Week, and many of Florida’s charter schools are expected to take part in a national celebration of the charter schools movement.  

National Charter Schools Week is a recognition and celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the first Charter Schools Program grant award to support the growth and promise of charter schools.  The Charter Schools Program of the U.S. Department of Education is the nation’s only source of dedicated federal funding to support the creation, expansion and replication of public charter schools. 

In cooperation with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is encouraging its member schools to bring elements of the national celebration to their local Florida communities, where the impact of the charter school movement has had the greatest impact on Florida students. 

2024-2025 also marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of FCPCS, which was created to help facilitate the development of charter schools in Florida.  FCPCS is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  

According to the National Alliance, nearly half of the charter schools educating students today have received Charter Schools Program funds.  They have supported the launch and replication of charter schools in 42 states, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.  Because charter schools cannot access per-pupil funding until students enroll, Charter School Program grants provide essential short-term funding to cover school startup costs. 

“This year marks a significant anniversary for both the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools and the national Charter Schools Program,” said FCPCS President Robert Haag.  “We encourage our member schools to find meaningful ways to celebrate the success of charter schools in their communities.” 

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools    

The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven. FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.
 
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