Meet the newest members of NACSA’s Leaders Program. These leaders are committed to building systems that are transparent, equitable, and grounded in quality.
Bridgett Abston
Bridgett Abston is the Director of Authorizing for the Indiana Charter School Board (ICSB), where she leads statewide efforts to expand access to high-quality charter schools and promote strong accountability. In this role, she oversees the full charter lifecycle, from application through renewal, while driving initiatives that strengthen operational excellence and ensure schools deliver results for students and families. Bridgett is committed to reducing unnecessary administrative burdens so educators can focus on what matters most: teaching and learning.
Prior to joining ICSB, Bridgett served as Assessment Program Manager at the Indiana Department of Education, where she led statewide efforts to improve assessment implementation and leverage data for informed decision making. Her career spans more than two decades, including 17 years with the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indianapolis, where she developed systems for data analysis, assessment strategy, and student information integration.
Bridgett holds a bachelor’s degree from Butler University and an MBA from Xavier University. A lifelong Hoosier and strong advocate for accountability and innovation, she believes rigorous authorizing practices and parental choice are essential to ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education. Outside of work, Bridgett enjoys traveling, attending concerts and sporting events with her husband and two adult children, and spending time with family, friends, and her two beloved fur babies.
Katie Broughton
Katie Broughton serves as the Director of Authorizing for Nevada’s State Public Charter School Authority, where she leads the new charter application process and oversees performance monitoring for a statewide portfolio of 51 charter holders.
Her career in public education began in the classroom as a middle and high school English teacher at the high school she once attended, an experience that grounded her work in a deep understanding of school communities and student needs. After more than a decade in the classroom, Katie broadened her impact as an MTSS coordinator, supporting schools through systems-level improvement, data-informed decision making, and leadership development. She later served at the Nevada Department of Education, where she led education policy and legislative work in close collaboration with state leaders, legislators, and education stakeholders.
Katie holds a doctorate in educational leadership, with research focused on the experiences of women in educational leadership. In her current role, she brings together practitioner experience and policy expertise to support high-quality, innovative, and student-centered charter schools across Nevada. Outside of work, Katie enjoys reading, running, swimming, and spending time with her family.
Kristen Easterbrook
Kristen Easterbrook is the Director of New Schools at the State Charter Schools Commission of Georgia (SCSC). Currently, the SCSC oversees 56 schools, serving approximately 42,000 students. As the Director of New Schools, Kristen leads the evaluation of new charter school petitions and oversees agency programs that support the launch of high-quality charter schools across the state. Her work includes managing the charter petition process, reviewing applications, providing training, ensuring pre-opening compliance, as well as playing a key role in shaping agency policy related to charter development and authorization.
In addition to her charter development work, Kristen has held a wide range of roles within the agency, spanning internal operations, finance, training and technical assistance, school closure, and policy implementation. Before joining the SCSC, she worked at the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, where she supported the implementation of Georgia’s Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grant. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Mercer University.
Beth Figueroa
Beth Figueroa is the Director of Authorizing for the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. In this role, she oversees high-stakes authorizing processes, including new start-up applications, appeals, and renewal decisions. Under her leadership, the Commission has consistently maintained exemplary ratings and the highest state compliance with quality authorizing standards. In this capacity, she ensures that Commission decisions align with national best practices to maintain high standards, uphold school autonomy, and protect student and public interests.
Prior to moving to Tennessee, Beth served in multiple leadership capacities in California, including as an administrator in a charter authorizing office and as the Chief Business Officer of a charter school. She also served as the Executive Director of Fiscal Services for a school district with an annual budget exceeding $600 million. Beth’s diverse professional background as an auditor and administrator allows her to approach authorizing with a unique understanding of how fiscal health and operational integrity serve as the foundation for strong academic outcomes.
Beth holds both an MBA and a B.S. in Business Administration from California Baptist University. She remains focused on developing practices that promote fiscal sustainability and accountability in support of improved educational outcomes.
PJ Foehr
PJ Foehr joined the Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission in 2017 as a member of the Federal Programs Team. Since then, he has been a school lead, achievement team lead, Interim Deputy, and Interim Executive Director, and is currently the Deputy Director. These various positions have allowed him to deepen his understanding of high-quality authorizing by building familiarity with the frameworks, contract, and state statutes related to authorizing public charter schools in the state of Hawaiʻi.
PJ has 37 years of experience in the world of education. His work encompasses being a classroom teacher, school administrator, consultant, and state-level administrator. He began his career as an elementary teacher and then taught middle school for a short period. He taught in California public schools and in Saipan, as well. PJ served as assistant principal and principal in California and Hawaiʻi for pre-K, elementary, and secondary schools. During his time in California public schools, he honed his skills in working with diverse and underserved populations. He developed and delivered professional development and coaching in the areas of effective communication, 21st-century teaching, leadership skills, classroom management, and board governance. His passion lies in public education and, in particular, supporting practices that ensure all children have a great school experience.
PJ is the father of three adult children. His hobbies include cooking, exercising outdoors, and getting in the ocean! Living in Hawaiʻi affords him the opportunity to do all three of these year-round!
Marcus Harden
Marcus Harden is a lifelong educator, mentor, and community builder who has spent more than two decades investing in young people and the systems that serve them. He is a co-founder of the Academy for Creating Excellence (ACE), a former counselor and school founder, and serves as Executive Director of the Washington State Charter School Commission, where he leads statewide accountability and equity efforts in public education.
Marcus believes deeply in the power of community, humor, and love, especially in times that feel heavy. He brings levity where he can and shows up with care where it matters most. Occasionally, that looks like popping up on screen in One Shot: Overtime Elite or on Password with Keke Palmer. Other times, it’s unwavering loyalty as a Miami Heat, Dolphins, and Hurricanes fan, or still telling the story of being runner-up in the McClure Middle School 7th-grade spelling bee (taken out by lugubrious… respect).
Beyond titles, Marcus is a curator of an exhibition celebrating local heroes at the Northwest African American Museum, a proud mentor, and an even prouder uncle. He may or may not be Batman—but he is committed to showing up with heart, laughter, and accountability, believing that love, rooted in community, is both a practice and a responsibility.
Teresa Henderson-Johnson
Teresa Henderson‑Johnson is the Administrator of Charter School Operations at the Orange County Department of Education, where she oversees and supports 30 charter schools authorized by the Orange County Board of Education. In this role, she supervises and coaches a team responsible for charter school oversight visits; leads the review of new and renewal charter petitions; prepares complex reports; and collaborates with county and state officials to ensure compliance, accountability, and strong school performance.
Teresa brings more than two decades of experience in public school education, which includes classroom instruction, site‑level leadership, and district administration. She began her career with the Los Angeles Unified School District, teaching in traditionally underserved communities. She later served as a high school teacher, mentor program coordinator, Dean of Student Culture, and Principal, where she focused on improving student outcomes, strengthening instructional practices, and building effective partnerships to support student success.
Teresa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Dance from Loyola Marymount University, a Master of Arts in Education from Loyola Marymount University, and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University. She also holds a Clear Administrative Services Credential and certifications as a Chief Business Officer and Director of Fiscal Services.
Kirsten James Floyd
Kirsten James Floyd is the Director of School Quality and Accountability at the DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB), where she leads the team responsible for charter reviews and renewals, and other key accountability policies and systems. Her team’s work includes school climate monitoring, the development and implementation of DC PCSB’s academic accountability system, ASPIRE, and the Charter Goals Policy, which outlines how new and amended charter goals are negotiated and evaluated. Kirsten led the development and launch of ASPIRE, an equity-focused accountability system that measures how well schools serve their students. ASPIRE informs school oversight and renewal decisions and serves as a transparent mechanism for communicating school performance to families and communities across the District.
Kirsten began her career in Baltimore City Public Schools, where she spent more than 11 years as a classroom teacher and later as an achievement trainer in the Office of Data and Accountability, supporting schools in implementing data-driven decision-making practices. She later transitioned to the private sector as a project manager and trainer, supporting the implementation of an instructional management system for the New York City Department of Education, and served as Manager of School Data and Performance, ensuring school- and district-level leaders used data effectively to inform strategic and comprehensive planning. Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Guilford College and a Master’s in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University.
Jason Moore
Jason has worked with Community Schools across Ohio since 2008, having served as a licensed Treasurer and Director for a number of community schools, as well as being a member of the founding team for five schools. In his current role as Senior Director at the Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, Jason brings experience in all aspects of operating and leading a school, combined with more than a decade in authorizing. Jason earned his B.S. in Business at Miami University, his MBA in Finance from Wright State University, and an M.S. in Financial Planning and Behavioral Finance from Kansas State University. Jason is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Financial Therapist in addition to teaching as an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Wright State University.
Paige Neuharth
Paige Neuharth is a values-driven education leader committed to advancing equity, integrity, and accountability in public systems. She serves as Director of Authorizing and Accountability in Denver Public Schools, where she oversees school performance, governance, and compliance, ensuring that students and communities are supported by high-quality, sustainable schools. Her work sits at the intersection of rigorous evaluation and human-centered leadership.
Paige is known for leading with clarity, courage, and empathy in complex or high-pressure environments. She believes strong leadership requires both high expectations and meaningful support through transparent decision making and continuous learning. Her approach emphasizes addressing challenges directly while fostering trust and shared ownership among teams. With deep experience navigating policy, data, and organizational dynamics, Paige is particularly interested in how leaders align values with action, remain accountable during uncertainty, and cultivate cultures where people can do their best work.
Outside of her professional role, Paige finds grounding and perspective through outdoor exploration and creative reflection, experiences that reinforce her belief in resilience, curiosity, and purposeful growth.
Joella Nortelus
Joella Nortelus, Ed.D., serves as a District Director of Charter School Operations for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where she manages the full life cycle of charter schools within Florida’s largest charter portfolio. In this role, she oversees charter application evaluations, contract execution, program reviews, and renewal processes for 162 charter schools, ensuring alignment with statutory requirements, performance expectations, and student-centered outcomes.
Joella’s work is currently focused on strengthening data-informed accountability, advancing renewal frameworks, and responding to the evolving legislative landscape affecting charter authorizing. She brings a systems-thinking approach to her leadership, balancing charter autonomy with rigorous accountability, transparency, and long-term sustainability through collaboration with school leaders, governing boards, and district partners.
Joella began her career in education as a classroom teacher in 2007, serving in elementary, middle, high school, and adult education settings. She later entered the charter sector as an instructional supervisor and progressed into district-level leadership, where she has played a key role in shaping authorizing practices and performance oversight. She also previously served as an education consultant, supporting professional learning and program implementation across Florida.
Joella holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and believes deeply in equity, access, and public stewardship. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in the principle: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Valerie Trevino
Valerie Trevino is the Division Director of Charter School Authorizing for the Texas Education Agency. In this role, she oversees a portfolio of over 180 charter schools, leads the new school application process and the approval of district charter authorization, and manages resources, grants, and technical assistance for charter schools. Prior to her current role, Valerie served as a school leader and regional leader with IDEA Public Schools in San Antonio, Texas. Valerie has her B.S. in Biology from Muhlenberg College and an M.Ed. in Education Leadership from Columbia University. Valerie lives in San Antonio with her husband and three daughters.
