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Episode #17 - Getting the people right as you scale with Jason Watts, Founder/CEO of Scholarship Prep and Jason Sitomer, Managing Director of Finance at Charter Impact
SHOW NOTES
2 min read
SHOW NOTES
GUEST INFO
Episode Guest:
SarahGennie Colazio, Director of Finance and HR, Windsor Charter Academy
Website:
https://www.windsorcharteracademy.org/
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President of BuyQ, sits down with SarahGennie Colazio, Director of Finance & HR at Windsor Charter Academy.
What happens when a charter school dares to rethink one of its biggest expenses—employee health insurance? For Windsor Charter Academy, the answer was staggering: $1.4 million in savings over six years.
SarahGennie shares how her school shifted from a traditional fully insured model to a self-funded captive insurance plan, unlocking cost savings while enhancing employee benefits. From IVF coverage and hearing aids to mental health support and retention bonuses, Windsor turned financial savings into a stronger culture of care.
This episode is a case study in financial strategy, employee retention, and innovation—perfect for school leaders looking to stretch every dollar while supporting their teams.
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
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Health benefits are one of the largest budget line items for charter schools—often 68–73% of total expenses.
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Windsor Charter Academy reduced costs and gained flexibility by moving from a fully insured model to a self-funded captive model.
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Over six years, the school saved $1.4 million, reinvesting in:
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IVF and fertility support
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Hearing aid coverage
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Comprehensive mental health services
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In-house short-term disability
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Retention bonus programs
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Thoughtful benefit design has helped Windsor attract and retain top talent, even against schools offering higher salaries.
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The key to starting this journey: ask your broker the right questions and explore if self-funded or captive options are available
RESOURCES
Windsor Charter Academy – Visit Website
HUB International, Charter School Practice – Visit HUB International
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:01 Exploring Employee Health Benefits
03:56 The Captive Model Explained
06:39 Understanding Fully Insured vs. Self-Funded Models
09:24 The Benefits of Customization in Health Plans
12:20 Financial Insights and Cost Management
15:15 Captive Insurance and Risk Sharing
24:28 Understanding Claims and Savings in Health Insurance
27:15 Building Reserves for Health Costs
30:16 Enhancing Employee Benefits with Surplus Funds
35:57 Implementing Mental Health Programs
41:23 Retention Strategies for Long-Term Employees
44:06 Starting the Journey to Self-Funded Insurance
ABOUT OUR GUEST
SarahGennie Colazio is a charter founder and advocate since 2004.
Founder of New Vision Charter School in Loveland, startup supporter of Fort Collins Montessori, and Mountain Sage in Fort Collins. Contract CFO over the years, and full time Director of Finance and HR at Windsor Charter Academy since 2015. Mother of three charter school graduates, avid pickleball player and hobby rancher.
Business goals- crafting and supporting decisions that keep students/staff at the forefront of the mission and vision, and always exploring creative solutions to complex issues that arise in public education.
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.
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