Who We Are
Longtime charter school advocates, Jill Shahen and Andrea Rogers Barry, each of whom have more than 20 years of charter school experience, founded Empire Charter Consultants (ECC) with a clear mission: to provide candid guidance and expert technical support services to charter schools, charter support organizations, and authorizers seeking to make positive strategic changes. Charter school comms expert Jessica Mokhiber and charter school data expert Wendy Diamante also joined the team, making ECC a strong, women-led consulting firm. Each member of the team cares deeply about the charter school movement and the children and families it serves.
In addition, ECC has a network of service providers who work on special projects. Our service providers have a deep well of charter school experience and a desire to do meaningful work on behalf of children and families.
Our team has navigated decades in the charter school movement, as advocates, educators, and authorizers. We have worked in multiple cities and states across the nation, and we aren’t ready to quit anytime soon!
Why We Do This Work
Our team has unique skills within the charter school movement – and an unshakeable desire to spend our days helping charter schools accomplish meaningful and positive results. We provide honest, direct advice and support to the charter community without the fluff or spin. We mean it - we will tell it like it is, even if what we're saying is unpopular. Just ask New York State authorizers. We routinely hold them accountable in our public stances and writings, even when we are the only ones publicly calling out practices that do not help children and families.
Like our tagline says – Candid Conversations, Direct Results.
After launching ECC in 2018, we work every day directly with charter schools, charter school associations, charter support organizations, and authorizers.
We are mission-aligned to the goals of the charter school movement. We are a team of true experts who able to help with a wide range of needs. Our core organizing principle is a commitment to quality and continuous improvement, always with children and families in mind.
Let’s work together to foster and grow a high-quality charter school movement!
What We Offer
· Support for new school development – from needs assessment and work plan development to application writing to project management
· Targeted support packages for charter schools at every stage of their life cycle, including writing renewal applications
· On-going board coaching and experienced strategic planning
· Social media management, photography, and videography; we will customize our offerings to best fit your needs
· Short- or long-term project work for charter support organizations and charter management organizations for tasks large and small
· Assist charter authorizers, notably with new school development support services, including application reviews and interviews
what PEOPLE are saying about OUR team
Michael Thomas Duffy, Great Oaks Charter Schools
Tolga Hayali, Superintendent, Syracuse Academies of New York
Michael Thomas Duffy, Great Oaks Charter Schools
"Simply put, Jill and Andrea were worth every penny that we spent on their services. The process of charter renewal is nerve-wracking given the stakes for our teachers, families and students. There is no one that I trusted more to guide us through the thicket of expectations than these two skilled and experienced professionals."
John Sheffield, Charter School of Inquiry
Tolga Hayali, Superintendent, Syracuse Academies of New York
Michael Thomas Duffy, Great Oaks Charter Schools
"The Charter School of Inquiry is grateful for all of the support that Empire Charter Consultants provided us this year. As we prepare for the renewal of our charter, we feel very secure knowing that we have a competent, responsive, knowledgeable, and professional team as our partner."
Tolga Hayali, Superintendent, Syracuse Academies of New York
Tolga Hayali, Superintendent, Syracuse Academies of New York
Roberto Gutiérrez, Michael Regnier, LEEP Dual Language Academy
"Empire Charter Consultants' expertise, dedication and passion is truly amazing. Working with them has resulted in proven benefits to Science Academies of New York in all aspects!"
Roberto Gutiérrez, Michael Regnier, LEEP Dual Language Academy
Roberto Gutiérrez, Michael Regnier, LEEP Dual Language Academy
Roberto Gutiérrez, Michael Regnier, LEEP Dual Language Academy
"Empire Charter Consultants' expertise made all the difference as our applicant group went through the authorizing process. The ECC team provided clear guidance, direct feedback, and customized support, above and beyond anything else available. Amazing!"
Matt Salvatierra, Brilla Public Charter Schools
Roberto Gutiérrez, Michael Regnier, LEEP Dual Language Academy
Matt Salvatierra, Brilla Public Charter Schools
"When we started with Empire, I was a bit skeptical about the value-add to our work. But all it took were 1-2 crisis moments that needed quick solutions for me to get it. Jill and her team are incredibly responsive and have helped us navigate multiple challenging situations. They bring with them a breadth of knowledge in the charter sector, a long list of influential contacts, and a practical understanding of on-the-ground needs of charter operators. We will definitely continue our membership with them in the coming year. "
Dr. Vasthi Acosta, Amber Charter Schools
Roberto Gutiérrez, Michael Regnier, LEEP Dual Language Academy
Matt Salvatierra, Brilla Public Charter Schools
"We are so grateful to be affiliated with Empire Charter Consultants because they support the work we do to build life long learners. They help us prepare our board for interviews and visits, they are a sounding board and problem solver when difficult issues arise, and they keep us informed of the political climate in Albany. They are a true partner in our work at Amber Charter Schools to build life long learners."