Charter School Authorizer Conversations: Shenita Johnson Reflects on Leadership, (In)Equity, and Change

Charter School Authorizer Conversations: Shenita Johnson Reflects on Leadership, (In)Equity, and Change

“We all know education is the great equalizer, but even with all of the education in the world… certain groups are still subject to being dehumanized. How do you educate students, teachers, leaders about that fact and how do we shift and change the way in which education is delivered to change that?” –Shenita Johnson, Esq., Independent Consultant, ElevatEd Spaces LLC

In this conversation with NACSA’s David Greenberg, Shenita shares her unique perspective as a leader and veteran authorizer at the recently dissolved Illinois State Charter School Commission. She reflects on her learning over the last few years at ISCSC, how she sees authorizing in our current reality of COVID-19, and the elevation of racial injustices into the forefront of the public discourse.

 


Most Recent Posts
Public charter schools are not religious schools
In 2025, a divided U.S. Supreme Court preserved an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that blocked the application for what could have become the country’s first religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville...
Communities want unique and innovative schools. Are authorizers ready?
By Jay Whalen From their inception, public charter schools promised to provide innovative ways to meet the students’ learning needs. At NACSA, we’re invested in helping authorizers be responsive to those needs, to ensure that...
NACSA Transition Updates
NACSA’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Guerschmide Saint-Ange, NACSA’s Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as Interim CEO following the departure of Karega Rausch. Guerschmide’s extensive leadership...