Leading a Charter School: Real Talk for Passionate and Overwhelmed School Leaders

Leading a charter school is one of the most rewarding—and most challenging—roles in education today. Whether you're founding a new school or managing the day-to-day operations of an established one, you’re constantly navigating shifting expectations, limited resources, and high-stakes accountability. My name is Peggy Downs, and I’ve been where you are. With over 20 years of experience in charter school leadership—as a teacher, principal, board member, and founder—I created this blog to support leaders like you. Here, you’ll find practical guidance, honest reflections, and tools to help you lead your school with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

Charter schools can be sources of innovation, inspiration, and genuinely satisfying work.

• Do you wake up at night thinking, “What if….?”

• Do you feel like the rules keep changing?

• Does it feel like it’s always your fault? Even when it’s not?

• Do you feel like no one else understands the weight you carry?

• Are you trying to do your best, with limited support and fewer resources?

• Do you have more questions than answers and no time to process the information you need to understand?

Back in 1999, I saw a meeting notice in the local paper, seeking parents interested in starting a charter school in Boulder, Colorado. I went to the meeting and discovered my life’s purpose. Over the past 20 years, I have helped to start four charter schools, serving as parent, teacher, executive director, and board member. I earned my Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, with an emphasis in Charter School Leadership, and I hold a Colorado Principal License. I am currently supporting the development of a new association called the Coalition for Public Independent Charter Schools (CPICS) and have served on the board of directors for the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools (UAPCS). I have seen effective leadership and board governance, and I have seen mistakes and struggles that nearly destroyed a school community.

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How can  you create the vision and lead your school to meet its goals?  Click here to grab your FREE copy of my eBook, "Leadership Essentials," packed with practical information for anyone thinking about starting a new charter school. 

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I have seen parents and teachers come together with awesome unity to create a school, and I have seen them feel frustrated and disenfranchised by people they trusted. I am driven by my passion for developing effective school leadership that enables each charter school to fulfill its mission and vision.

Let’s work together so you can lead your charter school toward success, however you define that success. Here you will build connections with other school leaders and find support so that you can feel successful in the face of your unique challenges. You can be the hero that leads your school toward achieving its goals; I am here to support and guide you.

Please leave a comment to introduce yourself and share what’s on your mind, and subscribe below to join our community of charter school leaders!

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