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Episode #33 - Operationalizing school moves with Julie Anne Garretson
SHOW NOTES
2 min read
SHOW NOTES
GUEST INFO
Episode Guest:
Reymie Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer of Dream Charter School
Connect with Reymie on LinkedIn
Website:
EPISODE SUMMARY
Managing school facilities isn’t just about keeping the lights on—it’s about creating spaces that inspire learning and reflect a school's mission. In this episode, The Charter School Insider Podcast welcomes Raymie Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer at Dream Charter School, to unpack the strategic side of facilities planning. With a background in operations and instructional leadership, Raymie shares how Dream transformed an abandoned ice factory into one of the world’s most stunning school campuses and offers insights into navigating capital projects, facility design, and long-term maintenance planning.
From proactive facilities management to ensuring alignment with organizational goals, this episode is packed with actionable strategies for charter school leaders looking to expand and improve their campuses.
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
- Design with purpose
Facilities should reflect your school’s mission and learning model.
- Cross-team collaboration is key
Engage finance, operations, and academic teams from the start.
- Plan for long-term sustainability
Avoid the "whack-a-mole" approach by implementing proactive maintenance strategies.
- Balance aesthetics with functionality
Beautiful spaces must also be cost-effective and maintainable.
- Facilities planning = strategic planning
Align your capital projects with your school’s long-term growth goals.
RESOURCES
Book: The Facility Management Handbook – Kathy Roper & Richard Payant
Best practices: International Facility Management Association (IFMA) – Industry best practices & networking
Website: Dream Charter School – Learn more about Dream’s innovative facilities
Other: PSWRX – Facilities & real estate consulting for schools
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Dream Charter School and Facilities Management
02:53 The Importance of Beautiful Learning Spaces
06:18 Strategic Planning for Facilities Projects
08:51 Common Pitfalls in Facilities Management
13:00 Design Phase: Critical for Success
20:33 Aligning Facilities Goals with Organizational Strategy
24:09 Creating a Comprehensive Facilities Plan
27:18 Capital Strategy and Financial Sustainability
31:27 Rapid Fire Tips for New Facilities Management
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Raymie Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer at Dream Charter School, is responsible for overseeing network and school-based operations across the organization, including food, facilities, health and safety, transportation, and procurement. As a key member of the Management Team, Raymie works closely with network and school leaders, to develop and execute a strategic vision for non-instructional components of the organization. He leads and develops a team of direct reports and dotted line leaders across multiple functions and diverse work portfolios (facilities, school-based operations, food, network operations, student enrollment).
Raymie has worked in education for the past 13 years and previously spent 8 years at Success Academy Charter Schools, where he served as Business Operations Manager, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Raymie is a graduate of the City College of New York, where he studied Spanish and is currently pursuing a masters degree in public education management at Yale University and a masters degree in facilities management at the Pratt Institute. Raymie is a Harlem native and is a product of New York City public schools.
ABOUT OUR HOST
Daniel Casselli is a life-long learner whose passion for education has driven his professional endeavors. He is a former classroom teacher and youth ministry director whose entrepreneurial spirit landed him in the world of education technology. At EVERFI Inc., Daniel helped run the business development efforts for EVERFI’s Financial Education Program and the company was eventually sold to Blackbaud for $750M in 2021. Shortly before EVERFI’s acquisition, Daniel joined Class Technologies as one of the earliest sales hires and went on to lead K12 Enterprise Sales and helped the company land its first 100+ K12 customers across public, charter, and private schools. Daniel brings his unique experiences to BuyQ where he is focused on growth, operational excellence, business strategy, and client satisfaction. He is a graduate of Grove City College where he studied Religion and History.
You can listen to Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators on your favorite podcasting platform...
