SHOW NOTES
GUEST INFO
Episode Guest:
Ebonie Durham, Executive Director, Great Lakes Academy
Website:
EPISODE INTODUCTION
On this episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli, President at BuyQ, sits down with Ebonie Durham, Executive Director of Great Lakes Academy, to discuss how strategic partnerships can transform the student experience and strengthen charter school communities.
Drawing on her background in charter school operations and leadership, Ebonie shares how Great Lakes Academy has built powerful partnerships that support students beyond the classroom. From behavioral health programs and emotional tutoring to innovative nutrition initiatives and community-based services, she explains how schools can align partnerships with mission, culture, and student needs.
This episode explores how charter school leaders can identify the right partners, build operational systems to support collaboration, and create sustainable programs that improve student outcomes. Ebonie also shares how an abundance mindset and strong operational leadership can turn partnerships into long-term community assets.
EPISODE SUMMARY
This episode explores how charter school leaders can develop strategic partnerships that support student well-being and academic success. Ebonie Durham explains how Great Lakes Academy aligns partnerships with its mission, including collaborations focused on behavioral health, college access, and nutrition. She shares practical insights on evaluating potential partners, measuring impact through student data, and creating operational systems that allow partnerships to thrive. The episode is especially valuable for charter school leaders seeking to expand student supports through community collaboration.
EPISODE TAKEAWAYS
Strong partnerships begin with mission alignment and a shared commitment to the community the school serves.
Schools should build internal capacity for widespread student needs while using partnerships for targeted supports affecting smaller groups of students.
Operational systems and strong leadership structures are essential for partnerships to succeed.
Behavioral health and emotional support programs can significantly improve attendance, behavior, and student engagement.
Schools that actively listen to families and act on feedback build trust that strengthens partnerships and program sustainability.
KEY DISCUSSION TOPICS
Building strategic partnerships that align with a charter school’s mission and community
Using operational systems to make partnerships sustainable and effective
Supporting student mental health through community-based behavioral health providers
Implementing emotional tutoring programs to support student well-being
Using nutrition programs as part of a broader student success strategy
Creating internal decision frameworks to evaluate potential partnerships
Building trust with families through feedback and responsive leadership
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR CHARTER SCHOOL LEADERS
Charter school leaders face increasing pressure to support students academically while also addressing broader needs such as mental health, nutrition, and family engagement.
This episode highlights how partnerships can help schools extend their impact without overburdening internal staff. By working with mission-aligned partners, schools can offer services that improve student well-being, increase attendance, and strengthen community relationships.
Ebonie’s approach demonstrates that strong operational leadership is critical for successful partnerships. Schools that build systems for collaboration, accountability, and feedback are far more likely to create partnerships that deliver measurable results for students.
WHO SHOULD LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE
This episode is particularly valuable for:
Charter school CEOs and founders
Charter school COOs and operations leaders
Charter school finance and budgeting leaders
Charter school network leaders managing multiple campuses
School administrators responsible for operational systems
NOTABLE QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE
“Schools are human development spaces and not just academic centers.”
“Before learning can happen, students must be safe, warm, dry, fed, and well.”
“You’re only going to be able to partner successfully with organizations that operate as well or better than your own.”
“If we can’t envision what’s possible for our school, then it’s never going to happen.”
EPISODE RESOURCES
Touch of Wholeness - Community-based behavioral health organization providing counseling services for students and families.
OpenSeat - An emotional tutoring platform that provides virtual one-on-one support to help students develop social and emotional skills.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) - A federal grant program that helps schools provide fresh fruits and vegetables to students while promoting nutrition education.
EPISODE FAQs
How can charter schools build strong community partnerships?
Charter schools can build strong partnerships by aligning with organizations that share their mission and values. Successful partnerships require operational systems, clear goals, and consistent communication between the school and the partner organization.
What role do partnerships play in supporting student well-being?
Partnerships allow schools to provide services such as mental health counseling, enrichment programs, and nutrition education. These services help address non-academic barriers that affect student learning and overall development.
How should charter schools evaluate potential partners?
Schools should evaluate partners based on mission alignment, operational capability, and proven results. Leaders should avoid partnerships that lack a track record or require the school to act as a testing ground.
How can schools measure the success of partnerships?
Schools can track metrics such as student attendance, behavior, engagement, and program participation. These indicators often reveal whether partnerships are improving the conditions that support academic success.
Why is operational leadership important for partnership success?
Operational leadership ensures that partnerships are structured, coordinated, and sustainable. Strong systems allow schools to manage relationships, measure outcomes, and integrate partner programs effectively.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Ebonie Durham and GLA
02:16 Understanding Partnerships in Education
05:30 Developing a Partnership Strategy
08:35 Measuring Partnership Effectiveness
11:21 Mobilizing Community Partners
14:29 The Touch of Wholeness Partnership
17:19 The School of Care Initiative
19:59 Operational Success in Partnerships
22:54 Food and Nutrition as a Strategic Element
25:56 Nutrition as an Academic Strategy
27:35 Funding and Meal Provision Mechanics
29:45 Sustaining Partnerships for Long-Term Success
32:03 Building Trust with Families and Community
35:21 Staff Retention and Workplace Culture
37:16 Learning from Partnership Experiences
38:56 Future Vision for Community Engagement
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Ebonie Durham is the Executive Director of Great Lakes Academy, a charter elementary school serving the South Shore and South Chicago neighborhoods of Chicago. A third-generation Chicagoan and graduate of Chicago Public Schools, Ebonie has dedicated her career to improving educational opportunities for students and communities like the one she grew up in.
Before joining Great Lakes Academy, she spent eleven years at Noble Network of Charter Schools, where she held several leadership roles including founding administrator for Johnson College Prep. Her work focused heavily on operations, student admissions, and campus leadership.
Ebonie holds a master’s degree in Education Leadership and Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also a Pahara Fellow in the Aspen Global Leaders Network and serves on the board of the Illinois Network of Charter 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.
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