Jay Whalen

Jay Whalen

Director, Authorizer & School Quality

Jay works on the Authorizer Learning and Development team developing resources, guidance, and learning experiences to meaningfully support authorizers and impact their practices. He also facilitates the cultivation and dissemination of best practices for quality school evaluation.

Prior to joining NACSA, Jay supported authorizing work and led the implementation of the Charter Schools Program (CSP) grant at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Before that, he served as Deputy Director of Charter Schools for the Tennessee State Board of Education and as a data analyst for the KIPP Nashville charter school network.

Jay is currently pursuing his master’s in public administration at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and History from the University of Rhode Island.

Jay’s professional background has included working with students, schools, and communities most at risk of educational inequity. He believes deeply that all students can achieve at high levels, and it is incumbent upon all leaders, at all levels, to examine, implement, and evaluate programs and systems that work for every child.

As a former college decathlete, avid runner, and cyclist, Jay has completed multiple triathlons including a half-ironman, but now spends most of his time running after his daughter.


Most Recent Posts
How to Start Updating Your New School Application to Reduce the Paper Burden
Most authorizers will need some time to make NACSA’s suggested improvements to their new school application process. Here are some ideas on where to start.  1. Focus on the vision...
NACSA Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Charter Schools
Statement from NACSA President & CEO, M. Karega Rausch, Ph.D., on the Supreme Court of the United States decision in the case of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School...
After a Quarter Century: Time to Reboot the New Charter School Application Process
The public charter school sector was designed to be responsive and innovative, operating in a space freed from the bogged-down bureaucracy that so often hampers other public schools. Each new...