Dr. Judith Stein on Charter School Week & History of Charter Schools in Florida

On this episode, we are celebrating National School Choice Week. And who better to talk to us about the history and growth of school choice in Florida than "Grandma choice", Dr. Judith Stein.

An advocate for parents, choice, and quality schools…

Dr. Stein was on the founding board of two Florida charter school organizations and organized the first four state charter school conferences in the state. Dr. Stein has served as Director of Career Education for Miami Dade, President of the American Association for Career Education, a policy board member of the American Vocational Association; and Guidance Director and the Executive Chairman of the International Collaboration Conference on Career Education in Miami.

She served as the Executive Director of the Division of Magnet/Innovative Programs for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and was the founding President of the State organization for Magnet Schools, Consortium of Magnets/Public Choice Schools.

Under her leadership the district’s magnet program – the original school option - flourished. The magnets she helped create – including (DASH) the Design & Architecture Senior High and Coral Reef – are nationally recognized, and still among the most popular school choice programs in the County.

Although officially retired, Dr. Stein is still very active. She’s a Florida Charter School Alliance board member and its original executive director; she sits on the board of several local charter schools, as well as the board of the South Florida Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation.

I recorded my conversation with Dr. Stein while on our way to a National School Choice event in Port Richie – on Florida’s west coast. We talked about the birth of magnet programs in Florida, the evolution of charter schools and why it should be called parental choice not school choice. It was a real pleasure chatting with Dr. Stein. I think you will enjoy our chat as much as I did.

Reach Dr. Stein on twitter https://twitter.com/JudithStein

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Providing Choice is a Florida Charter School Alliance podcast. Episodes highlight charter school leaders, educators, governing board members, stakeholders, prospective founders, students and parents, to provide a better understanding of the Charter School movement in Florida.

The Florida Alliance is a non-profit charter school support and advocacy organization. Our mission is to increase student achievement and meet the demand for parental choice by assisting high quality public charter schools in Florida.   Visit our website at flcharteralliance.org