Q&A with Naomi Rubin DeVeaux, Deputy Director, PCSB
Originally Published by Charter Board Partners
March 18, 2015 | by Kate Williamson
A national charter school expert, Naomi Rubin DeVeaux is the Deputy Director at the DC Public Charter School Board. She manages the team responsible for charter authorizing, including negotiating charter agreements and holding charter schools accountable for their performance against rigorous standards. Naomi also serves on the Board of Directors at Charter Board Partners.
The DC Public Charter School Board (PCSB) is an independent authorizing body for public charter schools in Washington, DC. It is the only authorizer in the city and one of the most well respected in the nation because of its unwavering focus on quality.
We talked with Naomi to get her take—from the authorizer’s seat—on charter school governance, boards’ responsibilities, common missteps boards make, as well how boards can impact school quality:
Q: Every existing public charter school is granted a "charter." What is the purpose and significance of this document?
A “charter” is the legal agreement between a school and its authorizer and is signed by the board chair of the school. It means that before we permit a charter school to open, the board must commit in writing the contribution the school will make to DC’s educational landscape. If the nonprofit fails to meet its goals, we hold the board accountable. In Washington, DC a charter has a term of 15 years.
Q: Charter schools are governed by independent boards of directors. What is the board's responsibility as it pertains to the charter document you just described?
A board governs every public charter school. As a member of the board, it is your responsibility to make sure the school meets the terms of its “charter.” It’s important to constantly focus on the school’s finances, operations, and academic performance.
Q: From the authorizer's perspective, what should board members be most focused on (or think about most)?
As a former teacher in both traditional and charter schools, I find academic performance to be the single most important aspect of a school. The board should fully understand the school’s program, mission and philosophy. And, more importantly, be ready to make tough decisions if students are not learning how to read, write, or do math.
Q: What is the most common misstep you see boards make?
1. Far too many times I find that boards work in isolation. Boards should seek the counsel of external parties so they always have an objective and fair view of their school. Build a partnership with the authorizer, if possible, and other agencies that evaluate school performance, such as a local charter association or other schools serving similar populations or with similar missions.
2. Keep a close eye on the money and make sure that it all goes to the kids you are serving! Don’t forget that you’re using taxpayer dollars. And make sure you disclose any conflicts of interest you may have.
3. Make sure all decisions are made with the best interest of your students in mind.
Q: As a charter school authorizer, what kind of relationship does PCSB seek to have with charter school board members?
PCSB seeks to have an open and transparent relationship with boards. We appreciate when school leaders and board members contact us directly with questions or are in the early stages of planning something big or new—whether positive or negative. It’s great to work together and we want to help.
Q: How can boards impact school quality?
A school’s board should definitely have an academic committee that looks at the performance of the students at the school both on external measures, such as the state’s assessment or accountability system, or the authorizer’s accountability system, and internal measures developed by the board to measure the effectiveness of programs. Remember, don’t abandon an approach or strategy right away if the needle doesn’t move quickly. Give the school some time to stay the course!
Charter Board Partners sits down with Naomi DeVeaux, PCSB's Deputy Director.