The Alliance is a nonprofit 501c3 organization with membership open to public charters schools and public charter school supporters including families, community leaders, and business leaders. Since our inception in 2001, a dedicated group of staff members, volunteers, and member schools have worked for significant legislative change to benefit South Carolina's charter public schools and to develop resources and supports for South Carolina's charter schools. Our strategic plans call for developing critical resources and powerful new ways to advocate for public charter schools in South Carolina.

Originally, from Canada via Denmark, Carol has over sixteen years’ experience supporting and advocating for charter schools in South Carolina. During the past seven years, she has worked for the Public Charter School Alliance of South Carolina in many different roles providing advocacy, new school development, member engagement, expanding business partnerships and operational support services for charter schools and now serves as our executive director.

Carol’s interest in the school choice movement started 16 years ago as a founder of (CCSMS) Charleston Charter School for Math and Science. She served on the founding CCSMS executive board for 3 years and was instrumental in bringing the community together in downtown Charleston. She currently serves on the Tax Credit Advisory Board of the SC Community Loan Fund. Carol was a long time board member of The Charleston Catholic School. In 2011, while serving as president, the Charleston Catholic Board was recognized and awarded the “Catholic School Board of the Year” by the National Catholic Educational Association.

Prior to working in the charter school sector, Carol worked in finance and property management overseeing several affordable housing complexes. Raised in Europe and Canada, she offers a unique understanding of multi-cultural and socio-economic issues. Carol is an avid cook, volunteer of the Trident Head Injury Support Group, enjoys travelling and is a graduate of Roskilde Handelsskole, Denmark.

Joe joined the Alliance in 2017, to assist with member and business support services.  Prior to joining the Alliance Team, Joe was very active in the Lowcountry community advocating for school choice. He is involved in local and state politics, having worked on numerous political campaigns.  Elected in 2014 as the top vote-getter of the four seats on the ballot, he served for four years as a member of the Board of School Trustees of St. James-Santee Constituent School District No. 1 of Charleston County. In 2016, he served on Charleston County School District’s Strategic Planning Committee, appointed by the county superintendent of education.

Joe is an eighth-generation native South Carolinian, a member of the Monsignor John L. Manning Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Charleston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, the South Carolina School Administrators Association, and the South Carolina Society of Association Executives. He has served on the Awendaw Blue Crab Festival Committee, appointed by the mayor, and was a founding committee member of the Bull’s Bay Nature Festival.  He attended Bishop England High School and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from The Citadel.

Margaret became deeply engaged in the school choice movement twelve years ago, while advocating for her children’s education. She has been actively involved in charter schools for the past six years while volunteering and working at her sons’ charter school, Palmetto Scholars Academy, in every capacity she could. She has experienced first hand what it takes to build and grow a successful charter: the committed and exceptional parents, faculty, staff and community leaders passionately working together to bring a vision to life for the enrichment of the students. She feels fortunate to now be able to assist charter schools throughout the state to successfully provide the opportunity for alternate choices for each child to be able to flourish and grow in the best environment for them. Margaret helps support members with the Alliance policy program and as a resource for general legal questions and additional legal services unique to charter schools.

Margaret is a member of the SCSBA Council of School Attorneys and the NCSBA Council of School Attorneys. She graduated from the University of Washington, in Seattle, where she was recruited to practice law in Alaska. During her time in Alaska, Margaret developed an expertise in employment and human resources law.  Coming to the realization she would rather live at the beach and visit the snow rather than vice versa, Margaret relocated to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where she still currently lives with her two children, assorted pets- and where she happily keeps a beach bag packed and ready.  

Patti comes to the Alliance with 12 years of Charter School experience.  She was a founding member of Spartanburg Preparatory School and spent four years at High Point Academy in Spartanburg. Patti is a true “people person” who loves building relationships.  

Patti moved to South Carolina with her family, in 2007, from Wisconsin.  Her passion for public charter education was sparked when, in February of 2008, she walked into a planning meeting for Spartanburg Preparatory School (originally Spartanburg Charter School). She and her husband quickly joined the planning committee and as the school opened its doors in 2009, she filled the position as Office Manager. While at SPS, she was a primary contact for board meetings, enrollment, lottery, audit readiness, HR, insurance, purchasing and Power School.  

In 2015, Patti moved to High Point Academy, also in Spartanburg.  This move allowed her to gain useful knowledge in Dual Enrollment, transcripts and “all things” high school, while increasing her skills in PowerSchool. In 2017, while still at HPA, she took on the role of HR and benefits, gaining experience with State PEBA Retirement.

After several years of volunteering and assisting with the Alliance, Patti yearned for an avenue where she could share her knowledge of what it takes to open a school with new charter school leaders across the state.  In October, 2018, she became the Director of School Development with the Alliance. This position has allowed her to further build the relationships that she values with the charter school community in South Carolina. Patti looks forward to bettering her relationship with you, or getting to know you, as we all move towards closing the achievement gaps and bringing quality educational options to SC. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in Geography, and lives in Spartanburg with her husband.