Who We Are
We are an organization that acts as the bridge between single-site charter schools leaders of color and the resources/funding they need to continue serving students. We provide community, consulting, leadership development and access to education equity stakeholders.
Our History
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How We Started
Founded by education advocates and practitioners, Kim Smith and Trish Dziko in 2016, the two shared a passion for amplifying the voices of charter school leaders of color due to the specific and necessary nature of their work.
Here's What They Found
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Access, Funding and Resource Issues
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No Collective Influence Akin to White Leaders
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No Access to Networks of Privilege and Politics
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Difficulty Raising Funds and Securing Facilities
Here's Why It Matters
- Because 70% of charter school students are of color.
- Because research is clear on the impact of leaders and teachers of color.
- Because schools that embody communities are critical lifelines.
![Group of black children looking and pointing at open book teacher is reading them](https://chartercollab.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Group-18.png)
- An effective component of minority students academic success is a minority principal who serves as a role model for students
- Students at schools with LOC score significantly higher on state test and are suspended at much lower rates (4.2% less likely)
- Having just one black teacher in 3rd-5th grade reduced a black student’s probability of dropout by 29%; and by 39% for a low-income black boy
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Our Journey
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They always start the NCC story with "It started sitting by the fireplace with a glass of wine." And it's true. Once they decided they were going to work together for the Pahara project, that moment in time was pivotal in the creation of NCC.
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NCC Becomes a 501(c)3 and receives first round of funding from New Schools Venture Fund.
We set a MISSION: We build leader of color capacity to grow and sustain high-quality charter schools.
And we set a VISION: We envision an education system that centers and values Black and Brown student aspirations by enabling high-quality choice in marginalized communities.
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22 leaders from first annual Charter Leaders of Color Convening volunteered to be the charter members of the Collective Action Committee designed to create a Collective Action Agenda representative of the needs of charter leaders of color, their staff and students.
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We launched the Manati Fellowship at Salamander Resort & Spa in Virginia with six amazing school leaders.
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Knowing how important it is for our member schools to have a diverse teaching staff, NCC joined forces with Digital Promise in launching the Teachers of Color Showcase to generate ideas for recruitment and retention of teachers of color.
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Kim and Trish always knew the time would come when NCC needed a full-time leader just as dedicated as we are to the mission of NCC.
After a national search, we are pleased to introduce Naomi Shelton as our first CEO! Read more about Naomi.