Pre-Con Deep Dive Workshop Charter Board Summit

Dr. Franci Sassin recently joined ExED as Vice President of School Finance. Her career in education began when she became part of a founding team that opened the first parent-initiated charter school in Orange County over 20 years ago. Since then, she has been involved in the approval, start-up, and successful operations of seven other charter schools. In addition to her role in a large CMO as Director of Business Services, Dr. Sassin has also served in a variety of other roles in the charter sector, including as a consultant, a board member, and a proud parent volunteer.

YM&C Partner Jerry Simmons has represented charter schools in every aspect of their operations for more than nineteen years. Between his work at the firm and the Charter Schools Development Center, Jerry has personally assisted in the development of hundreds of California’s charter schools through drafting charter petitions, memorandums of understanding for business and special education services, facilities use agreements, private leases, property purchases, and development of school policies covering every facet of charter school operations. Jerry has also assisted charter schools with employment and labor law matters, board governance and training, and zoning and building code compliance.

Widely recognized throughout the state as a leading authority in charters, education, and government law, John has counseled charters, public agencies, and nonprofits on operations, facilities, finance, governance, policy, innovation and other legal issues for nearly three decades. John is experienced in political advocacy and has litigated many of the most significant charter lawsuits. He regularly handles charter material revisions, petitions/renewals, lease/purchases, strategic planning, and authorizer relations, and has deep expertise in NCB schools. John is a frequent presenter to CCSA and numerous other professional and academic organizations, covering charter school law and policy, education, and government law.

Julie Ashby Umansky serves as the California Charter Schools Association VP of Legal Advocacy. In that capacity, she manages CCSA’s legal advocacy efforts and funding programs, and advises on various collective legal advocacy strategies statewide. Prior to joining CCSA, Julie worked as a senior counsel at the national law firm Foley & Lardner. Julie advised charter schools, school districts and charter school management organizations on the variety of issues facing the charter school movement. Julie served eight years on the board of the High Tech High charter schools.