Alex Medler, Ph.D. - Founder
Alex Medler is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Network for District Authorizing. He previously served as Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA) and Chair of the NN4DA Governing Council. His leadership spans national policy, research, and technical assistance roles with organizations including NACSA, the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program, and the Education Commission of the States.
He has served on multiple boards, including NACSA and the Center for Learner Equity, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Boulder Valley School District. Medler holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Dr. Mackenzie Khan - Board Chair
Dr. Mackenzie Khan is the Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA) with over 12 years of experience advancing high-quality charter authorizing. She began her career as a teacher before moving into authorizing roles in Florida and later leading charter and choice programming in Colorado. A former FACSA Vice President and NACSA Leader Program honoree, she holds a doctorate in Leadership for Equity in Education from the University of Colorado Denver.
Dr. Valerie Hyer - Vice Chair
Valerie Hyer is the Acting Director of the Charter Schools Office in the School District of Manatee County, Florida and currently serves as the Vice-President on the board of the Florida Association of Charter School Authorizers (FACSA) board. During her 28 years in public education in Florida, Dr. Hyer has served as a charter school authorizer, a secondary school counselor, and a music educator. She also as served as an Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Argosy University, Sarasota.
Stephen Ayres - Treasurer
Stephen Ayres is a FACSA Board Director and Director of School Choice, Student Assignments, and Records for Marion County Public Schools, where he oversees choice programs, including charter schools. An active FACSA member since 2017, he brings 26 years of experience in public education, serving in roles from paraprofessional to high school principal to district leadership. He holds degrees in Psychology and Educational Leadership from Saint Leo University.
Bridget Schock Anderson - Member
Bridget Schock Anderson is the Director of Contracted School Services for Milwaukee Public Schools, overseeing charter, partnership, and other contracted schools. With 24 years in education as a teacher, coach, and administrator, she brings extensive experience supporting students and families. She holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, and Marquette University.
Marianne Blair - Member
Marianne is a former FACSA board member with 15 years of experience in Volusia County Schools, where she served as a business teacher and district administrator, including roles in Career & Technical Education and school choice overseeing charter authorizing and compliance. She is currently a Professor of Accounting at Stetson University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Sarah Hackett - Member
Sarah Hackett is the Director of the Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools at CESA 9. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and has led innovative public-school initiatives, including project-based and personalized learning models, across Wisconsin.
Tom Hutton - Member
Tom Hutton is the Executive Director of the California Charter Authorizing Professionals (CCAP). He has served as Executive Director of the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, a school attorney with the National School Boards Association and in private practice, and an independent consultant to authorizers nationwide. He is also a charter school co-founder, board member, and former Interim Executive Director of the Education Law Association.
Amelia Meunier - Member
Amelia Meunier is the Director of Charter Schools for Aurora Public Schools and Board Chair of the Colorado Association of Charter School Authorizers (CACSA). She brings experience across charter and district settings, including roles in special education, district leadership, and instructional coaching.
Kenlyn Newman - Member
Kenlyn Newman has over 20 years of experience supporting students and families across multiple school districts. She is currently a specialist and Charter School Liaison in School District 27J, working with six charter partners, and has served in roles including teacher, instructional coach, principal, and director.
Dr. David Patterson - Member
David Patterson is President and a founding board member of the California Charter Authorizing Professionals (CCAP) and an elected member of the Placer County Board of Education. He has held numerous leadership roles in charter authorizing and school systems, including serving as a charter schools director, superintendent, and founder of the Rocklin Academy Family of Schools.
Lucretia Peebles, Ph.D. - Member
Lucretia D. Peebles, Ph.D., is a member of the CCAP Board of Directors with over two decades of experience in charter schools as a founder, authorizer, researcher, and educator. She has held faculty roles at multiple universities, co-founded charter schools, and served in leadership positions within California education agencies. She holds a Ph.D. in Policy and Administration from Claremont Graduate University.
Tim Scottberg - Member
Tim Scottberg is the Associate Director of the Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools. He previously served as a principal, assistant principal, and teacher in Wisconsin, including leading a project-based STEM school. He holds degrees in Education Leadership and Elementary Education from UW–Oshkosh.
