SHOW NOTES
GUEST INFO
Episode Guest:
Jen Davis Wickens, Founder of Impact Public Schools & Co-Founder of Seminar
Website:
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this special live episode, recorded at the Colorado League of Charter Schools Conference 2025, host Daniel Casselli sits down with powerhouse education leader Jen Davis Wickens. As the founder of Impact Public Schools and co-founder of Seminar—a national community platform for charter leaders—Jen shares the top leadership insights, trends, and challenges emerging from Seminar’s first year.
With over 1,500 school leaders across the country now connected through Seminar, Jen brings a national perspective on the evolving needs of charter leadership today. From succession gaps and post-COVID recovery to the urgent demand for tactical skills in enrollment, governance, and fundraising, this episode offers a timely pulse-check on the movement. Jen’s reflections on what makes today’s leaders uniquely positioned to shape the next era of charter education will inspire and inform anyone working to elevate their school community..
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
Seminar’s Origin Story: Built by and for charter leaders seeking support and shared resources in real time.
Post-COVID Leadership Trends: High turnover brought in new leaders hungry for practical training—not just adaptive inspiration.
Top Pain Points: Enrollment, governance, fundraising, and addressing academic/social-emotional gaps post-pandemic.
Shifting Leadership Demographics: Today’s leaders more closely represent the communities they serve—and they’re eager to lead with purpose.
The Power of Peer Connection: Seminar offers more than just resources—it builds a network for real-time problem-solving and collective growth.
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RESOURCES
Site: Seminar Community Platform
Site: Impact Public Schools
Partner organization supporting Seminar: Charter School Growth Fund
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests
03:01 Understanding Seminar: Origin and Purpose
06:04 Observations on the Charter School Movement
08:48 The Profile of New Charter Leaders
12:02 Addressing Practical Challenges in Charter Leadership
14:58 Collectives: Community and Expert Support
18:09 Surprising Insights from Leadership Needs
21:00 Toolbox: Resources for Charter Leaders
24:07 Future Directions for Seminar
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Jen Davis Wickens has led the launch of over a dozen high performing Pre-K-12 schools across various states throughout her career. She is the innovative founder of Impact Public Schools, the largest network of public charter schools in Washington State. A graduate of Willamette University, Davis Wickens earned her Master’s Degree in education from Seattle University. She then trained as a school administrator with New Leaders for New Schools, and was selected as a Stanford Principal fellow.
Prior to founding Impact Public Schools, Davis Wickens co-founded the Washington state charter sector, and served as the Chief Regional Officer for Summit Public Schools. Under her leadership, Summit Public Schools grew its first out of state region into Washington state. Davis Wickens held the position of Vice President of Teaching and Learning at Envision Schools, and she served as the founding principal of Impact Academy.
Davis Wickens has long been a champion of the public charter school movement, advising and consulting with non-profits and school districts across the country in efforts to provide every child access to excellent academic opportunities.
Jen Davis Wickens is a Pahara Fellow and an active volunteer for the National Charity League. She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization - Seattle Chapter.
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...