Lisa Karmacharya

Lisa Karmacharya

2021 NACSA Leader

Executive Director, Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board

Dr. Lisa Karmacharya is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board. Dr. Karmacharya works to ensure that board decisions align with national best practices to maintain high standards for charter schools, uphold school autonomy, and protect student and public interests. She has served as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Association of School Administrators (MASA) where she honed her skills for marketing, budgeting, conference and program planning. Dr. Karmacharya has over 25 years of experience in public education, having served as a special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, superintendent, and Executive Director of Federal Programs and Curriculum and Instruction for both elementary and secondary schools. Dr. Karmacharya holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the University of Mississippi, a Masters in Supervision of Instruction from Mississippi College, and an Educational Specialist and Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi.


Most Recent Posts
Research on School Closure Messaging: What Works
Five years ago, I was the COO at a charter school, and something was becoming increasingly obvious: we consistently did not have enough students enrolling to fill all our seats....
Better Together: Reflections from the DCSC Convening
I attended the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition (DCSC) convening earlier this month, and I’ve been reflecting on what stayed with me most. This year’s theme was “Better Together.” DCSC even...
2026 NACSA Leaders Program Cohort
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...