ABOUT
US
We believe in Alabama’s children. All of them. Every child has a fundamental right to a quality school.
Our mission is to support the growth of excellent public charter schools in Alabama to ensure that every child has access to a quality public education.
At New Schools for Alabama, we believe every child has a fundamental right to attend a quality school offering a safe, supportive, and academically-challenging environment. Unfortunately, abundant evidence shows that far too many students in Alabama today do not have access to such a school, especially students of color and students in low socioeconomic communities.
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New Schools for Alabama was established to rectify this injustice. We will do so in an inclusive, collaborative manner, by recruiting high-caliber leaders to establish new schools in underserved communities and by fostering a policy environment that supports the growth of excellent charter schools in high-need areas throughout the state. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit, public charity organization created to serve kids in Alabama.
WHAT WE DO
We support the growth of excellent charter schools in Alabama
by working within 4 Strategic Pillars.
01
New school development.
We recruit high-quality charter school operators and develop homegrown leaders to build great schools throughout Alabama.
02
Technical assistance.
We provide applicants and operators with expert guidance on technical needs such as developing an application, finding a facility, managing the back-office, and more.
03
Community Engagement.
We ensure that parents and communities have access to clear information about school quality and the benefits that other options may present.
04
Policy Advancement.
We work with policymakers and administrative agencies to ensure that the regulatory landscape is supportive of high-quality charter schools.
OUR TEAM
ShaElla Askew
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
ShaElla Askew started her career founding a communications firm specializing in managing social media platforms for entrepreneurs and organizations. With extensive experience in the field, ShaElla is passionate about utilizing social media to connect with target audiences. She has a particular affinity for social media and a deep-rooted passion for education and the social issues that impact students. Through her leadership and expertise, ShaElla brings a strong commitment to driving positive change and making a difference in the lives of students.
Tyler Barnett
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Tyler started his career in the classroom, and after earning his law degree, he worked for two state departments of education. He previously served as Charter School Director for the Arkansas Public School Resource Center, and prior to founding New Schools for Alabama, he served as State Policy Director for KnowledgeWorks.
Jackie Bretl
DIRECTOR OF LEADER DEVELOPMENT
Jackie is a former teacher and school leader, serving in various elementary, middle and high school communities around the country. She is most passionate about building and leading systems at the program, school and district level that use data in innovative ways to improve equitable learning experiences for all children.
Mike Brown
CHIEF SCHOOLS OFFICER
Mike is a school leader at heart, having been a school leader with KIPP, a principal at the Tennessee Achievement School District, and Chief Schools Officer with Freedom Preparatory Academy in Memphis. He also served as Executive Director of the Freedom Fellows Institute.
Dr. Mark Davis
AEROSPACE AND AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL AT TUSKEGEE
Dr. Davis is a regionally recognized leader and champion for children. His educational career began over 16 years ago as a high school teacher in St. Louis, Missouri. Since that time, he has been blessed with opportunities to serve and lead students across the country as a vice principal, principal and regional network administrator.
Melanie Haynes
DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING
Having spent three years in a private school system and seven years in various roles within a newly formed Alabama public school system, Melanie brings a strong understanding of what it takes to start a school and how to support school leaders. She has a passion for education and uses that by providing financial and accounting expertise to school leadership.
Jane Ivey
SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER
Jane spent three years as a third grade teacher during which her passion for creating and maintaining equitable learning environments for all students took root. However, she saw that her skill set would be better utilized in a behind the scenes role helping school leaders rather than in the classroom. Serving on the New Schools for Alabama team allows her to use her organized, strategic and efficient planning and execution skills while continuing to work with her passion.
Dr. Angela Lang
THE STEAM SCHOOL AT STILLMAN COLLEGE
Dr. Lang has over two decades of education experience as a classroom teacher, principal, district director, and state specialist. She has taught in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee, grade levels 6th-12, and diverse content, including Reading, Social Sciences, History, Algebra, Geometry, and Physical Science. Her classroom experience stems predominately from inner-city, Title I, and alternative school settings, and her ability to connect with students and parents to create engaging learning environments was reflected in test data that exceeded school and state averages yearly. As an administrator, she served as a turnaround principal, helping to elevate a low-performing elementary school to exemplary status. She helped to lead a $30M Personalized Learning Technology Initiative in North Carolina before serving as the founding principal of Pike Road High School in Alabama. Dr. Lang led the Pike Road School System through its first Accreditation, laying the foundation for its instructional program, Transportation Department, and Career and Technical Program.
Michelle Locke
FINANCE MANAGER
Michelle brings 19 years of experience in school finance to the NSFA team. Michelle's varied roles as the Coordinator of Finance & Operations with Alabama Association of School Boards for 8 years and her work in school finance bring expertise to the NSFA team. In addition, Michelle holds several certifications through the Alabama Association of School Business Officials (AASBO).
Candie A. Mitchell-Price
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Candie has extensive experience developing and executing PR, marketing, social media, and branding strategies for numerous organizations, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Candie’s passion for educational equity and advocacy for marginalized communities brings her to her role at NSFA. She is also a former middle and high school teacher for Birmingham City Schools.
On'Draya Morris
GRATIA INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
I began my educational career in 2009 working with the Children’s Defense Freedom School in Louisville, KY as a 4th grade Summer Reading Teacher. In 2013, I joined Teach for America Metro Atlanta Corps in Clayton County as an 11th grade English Teacher. Throughout my career I have supported students in all grade bands. Serving in the Bronx, NYC as a 7th/8th grade Reading Teacher at a public charter school. In
Springfield, MA as a founding charter school ELA teacher/teacher leader. In Gwinnett County GA at one of the top performing middle schools as an ELA teacher, and in Birmingham as a middle school ELA teacher. Most recently I served on the founding leadership team of the first Aviation high school in AL, Alabama Aerospace & Aviation High School (AAHS), as the Dean of Culture & Instruction. I am committed to serving our future generations and their families.
Russell Raney
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Russell brings extensive experience to the financial services at New Schools for Alabama, having served as Chief School Financial Officer with multiple school districts in Alabama. He has also holds numerous relevant certifications and has served as finance director for the Alabama Association of School Boards.
Chris Reynolds
SENIOR ADVISOR
Chris is a former CPA with an extensive background in charter school leadership, nonprofit management, and philanthropy. He has founded multiple high-performing charter school networks and supported the development of a national facilities funding strategy.
Gail Smitherman
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
Gail has over 22 years of finance experience, focusing on local schools, central office, and payroll. She has worked with several different systems and has experience starting new school systems. Gail holds AASBO certificates in local schools as well as payroll. She considers working with school educators an honor.
Adrienne Stallworth
ACCOUNTANT
Adrienne joins NSFA with more than five years of school finance and ten years of banking experience. Implementing processes and tools to ensure financial success to school leaders is something she is passionate about. Her love of numbers and belief that all children deserve excellence in education is what led her to her current role here at NSFA.
Natalie Tucker
CHIEF OF STAFF
Natalie's experience as part of a school founder team (as a teacher, school administrator and district administrator) led her to find her niche in organizational strategy and growth. Natalie has worked with both young learners and adult learners throughout her career as a classroom teacher and as a professional learning designer and facilitator.
Dr. Krista Williams
FLORETTA P CARSON SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS
Throughout her educational career at the secondary and higher education level, Dr. Williams has served as a Professor in Education, Teacher, and Administrator. Dr. Williams has earned the respect and admiration of mentors, colleagues, students, and the community through her dedication and commitment to inclusion and equity in education and the arts. Dr. Williams learned early in her career about the importance of arts education as a key component for supporting the social, emotional, and academic learning needs of students. As an advocate for arts education, Williams has presented numerous research papers and practitioner workshops at notable state, national, and international conferences, including the International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education (ISSME) in Oslo, Norway and the Music Education and Social Inclusion (MESI) Symposium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Khadijah Abdullah
Shipt
Nick Gaede
Bainbridge, Mims, Rogers & Smith, LLP
Maria Kennedy
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
Richard Perry
DuPont (Retired)
Dave Borden
Aldridge, Borden & Company (Retired)
Brian Hamilton
Trillion Communications Corporation
Miho Kubagawa
Coursemojo
Dr. JJ Wegworth*
University Charter School
*ex-officio
Carol Butler
The Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation
Charles Jackson
Alabama Power
Dr. Jan Miller
University of West Alabama
ADVISORY BOARD
Dr. Jeremiah Newell
Accel Day & Evening Academy
Dr. JJ Wedgworth
University Charter School
Erik Estill
LEAD Academy
Dr. Martin Nalls
i3 Academy
Ann Sikes
Montgomery Education Foundation
Darren Ramalho
Breakthrough Charter School
Dr. Patton Furman
Magic City Acceptance Academy
Dr. Reneta Johnson
Legacy Prep
Dr. Anthony Oliver
Empower Community School
Ruben Morris
Aerospace & Aviation High School
KEY PARTNERS
Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation
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United States Department of Education
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CenterPoint Education Solutions
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Ed Farm
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The Max & Lorayne Cooper Foundation
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama
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National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
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Black Alabamians for Education
James M. and Sallie R. Johnson Foundation
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The Louis Calder Foundation
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Protective Life Foundation
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Montgomery Education Foundation
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Adams & Reese, LLP
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National Charter Schools Institute