As schools begin planning for the new school year, few conversations are more important than how we support students with disabilities and the educators who serve them.

In this technical episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, Jessica Chapman sits down with Reagan Chalmers, Director of Exceptional Student Education at the Florida Charter Institute, for a practical conversation designed specifically for school leaders.

Reagan Chalmers unpacks the leadership systems behind effective special education programs including IDEA, FAPE, LRE, MTSS, evaluations, timelines, service delivery, scheduling, communication with families, and progress monitoring.

This episode goes beyond compliance and paperwork to focus on what truly matters: building school systems that help students thrive.

Whether you are a veteran administrator or still learning the complexities of ESE, this conversation offers practical guidance, leadership insight, and actionable strategies you can immediately apply in your school community.

Topics include:
• MTSS and intervention systems
• Child Find and evaluation timelines
• IEP implementation and service delivery
• Inclusive practices and least restrictive environment
• Communication with families
• Scheduling and staffing considerations
• Monitoring student progress with fidelity
• The leadership mindset behind strong ESE systems

If you found this episode valuable, share it with another school leader, ESE coordinator, or student support team member.

In Episode 25 of Great Leaders, Great Schools, Jessica Chapman sits down with Wesley Locke, principal and CEO of Spring Creek Charter School in Paisley, Florida. Spring Creek was Florida’s first conversion charter school.

Wesley shares the story behind Spring Creek’s deep community roots and the relationships that have shaped its culture, leadership, and long-term success. Drawing on his service in the Marine Corps, his early years as a music teacher, and his path into school leadership, he reflects on what it takes to lead a school built on trust, consistency, and care.

This conversation explores how strong relationships between staff, students, families, and the broader community have defined Spring Creek’s identity, and why leadership is ultimately about people, not positions.

This episode offers a powerful look at how schools are built, sustained, and strengthened through the relationships at their core.

In this episode of Great Leaders, Great Schools, FCI's Jessica Chapman and special co-host Ramsey speak with Dr. April Smith, first-year principal of Treasure Village Montessori in Islamorada, Florida.

Dr. Smith reflects on stepping into leadership at a K–8 Montessori charter school housed in a real castle in Islamorada, FL. She shares what she’s learning in her first year, how she’s prioritizing stability and observation, and what it means to lead a long-standing school community while honoring its culture.

The conversation explores leadership challenges, systems thinking, classroom visibility, and why strong schools are built on people, patience, and connection.