South Carolina Children’s Fund, the University of South Carolina College of Education, and The Mind Trust Announce Inaugural Cohort of South Carolina Charter Founders Fellows

SOUTH CAROLINA — (August 31, 2026) — Six education leaders have been selected as the inaugural cohort of the South Carolina Charter Founders Fellowship, a new statewide initiative designed to support leaders as they develop and launch high-quality public charter schools across South Carolina.

The fellowship is powered by a first-of-its-kind partnership among South Carolina Children’s Fund, the University of South Carolina College of Education, and The Mind Trust. Through individualized coaching, cohort-based learning, and access to national education leaders and resources, the fellowship equips school founders with the support needed to build strong, sustainable charter schools.

“South Carolina is home to an incredible group of leaders who are ready to build excellent schools for their communities, “ said Brandon Brown, CEO of The Mind Trust. “We’re thrilled to join the South Carolina Children’s Fund and the University of South Carolina to support these six fellows as they build schools that expand access and opportunities for students across the state.” 

“As the state’s largest preparer of future educators, it is critical that we are offering that same research-based, community-focused support to our state’s educational leaders,” says Dean Thomas Hodges from the University of South Carolina College of Education. “This partnership highlights our college’s excellence in professional coaching and commitment to serving leaders across the state as they advance education for all.”

“The South Carolina Children’s Fund exists to elevate the collective understanding of what is possible for students across our state”, says Christopher Ruszkowski, CEO of the South Carolina Children’s Fund. “Being in this work alongside respected institutions such as the University of South Carolina and The Mind Trust means that we are able to support the ambitions of excellent educators and leaders to serve greater numbers of students in South Carolina in a high-quality and sustainable way. We expect great things from our fellows.” 

About the South Carolina Charter Founders Fellowship

This year’s fellowship runs from August 2026 to May 2027 and includes two tracks designed to meet leaders at different stages of the school development process. 

The Founders Track supports leaders who have received a charter and are preparing to open their schools. The track focuses on executing a high-quality, on-time launch and building strong enrollment and operations.

The Future Founders Track supports leaders who are refining their school vision and preparing to apply for a charter. The track focuses on strengthening the school model and developing a compelling charter school application.

The South Carolina Charter Founders Fellowship is modeled after The Mind Trust’s successful fellowships and supports that have supported the launch of more than 50 public schools. Fellows receive individualized coaching and advising alongside cohort-based learning with education leaders throughout South Carolina and across the country. The fellowship offers insight into key areas of school development, including academic model, governance, enrollment strategy, special education, multilingual learning, talent and organizational management, financial sustainability, and facilities.

Fellows will also visit excellent schools across the country, learn from national experts, and learn with a cohort of leaders working toward similar goals. Programming is tuition-free, with stipends provided to all fellows. 

Cohort 1 Fellows

Dr. Nataliya Panasiuk, Bridge Point Charter School — Founder Fellow  

Bridge Point Charter School, authorized by Charter Institute at Erskine, will bring a STEAM-integrated, project-based K–8 program to Indian Land, with plans to open in 2027 and grow to approximately 800 students. The school will combine Project Lead The Way engineering and design coursework with relationship-centered instruction.

Dr. Nataliya Panasiuk, Bridge Point’s founding principal, brings more than two decades of leadership in K-12 charter schools, advancing from classroom teacher to assistant principal to principal at both the high school and elementary levels. She has served as a founding principal in K-8 South Carolina school, leading it through rapid enrollment growth and significant staff expansion with strong retention, and previously led a California charter high school through multiple successful renewals and regional accreditation. Her expertise spans multilingual learner programs, engineering and STEAM program design, organizational development and human resource development. 

Lalah Radney, C.R. Neal Academy — Founder Fellow 

C.R. Neal Academy, authorized by Voorhees University’s Charter Institute of Learning, will be the first charter school in the United States authorized by a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Opening in Columbia in fall 2027, the school will offer workforce-aligned Career and Technical Education pathways in healthcare and advanced manufacturing. The school is part of the national network of Rooted Schools and will grow to serve students in grades 6-12. 

Lalah Radney, founding executive director, led the school’s authorization process making C.R. Neal the first charter school in the nation authorized by an HBCU. She has since built a prospective enrollment pipeline of nearly 1,000 interested students and a coalition of 32 community, industry, and higher education partners. Radney has held college access and student success leadership roles at Louisiana State University (LSU) and the Harlem Children’s Zone. At LSU, she achieved 97.2% retention cohort scheduling among more than 300 high-need students and helped drive student engagement to nearly 100% across the freshman class. At Harlem Children’s Zone, she supported more than 5,000 K-16 students, expanded program participation by more than 800 students in a single year, and oversaw initiatives that helped graduating students secure more than $200 million in scholarships.

Meghan Coleman-Fletcher, FORWARD Academy — Future Founder Fellow 

FORWARD Academy is poised to be Berkeley County’s first secondary public charter school, opening with grades 6 and 7 before expanding through grade 12. The school will combine rigorous mathematics and literacy instruction with workforce development, competitive athletics, and the arts, with personalized pathways for career development as early as 7th grade. The school plans to apply for a charter in 2027, with a proposed open date of fall 2029. 

Meghan Coleman-Fletcher, founder of FORWARD Academy, grew up in Berkeley County and has more than a decade of experience leading STEM and school culture initiatives across public and charter networks in three states. She currently serves as a 5–8 STEM assistant principal at KIPP Antioch Global Middle School in Nashville and previously led at Nashville Classical Charter School and KIPP Texas.

Stacy Drakeford, college-prep, globally-focused high school— Future Founder Fellow 

Stacy Drakeford’s proposed school will prepare students to become globally competent and college-ready leaders through project-based learning, leadership development, and global studies.

Stacy Drakeford most recently served as principal of a Title I high school in Richmond, California, where he led the school out of probationary status within one year through a redesign of its instructional program. Under his leadership, math proficiency increased 17 percent and average SAT scores rose 90 points. Drakeford previously held leadership and founding roles across charter schools in California and New York.

Dr. Trevor Ivey, Liberty STEAM Foundation — Future Founder Fellow 

Liberty STEAM Charter School has grown over seven years into a nationally recognized, high-performing public charter school in rural Sumter, South Carolina. Beginning with ninth grade in 2029, its new Early College & Technical High School will expand the network to four campuses serving more than 2,000 scholars, with college pathways and industry credentials in fields including mechatronics, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. The current campus is growing its middle school, beginning with 6th grade, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Currently, Liberty STEAM Charter has a waitlist of 2,102 scholars for the 2026-27 school year. 

Dr. Trevor Ivey, a National Board Certified Teacher and co-founder of Liberty STEAM Charter, will lead the high school’s design and launch. A nearly two-decade veteran of South Carolina public education, Ivey has served as a teacher, principal, assistant principal, and district leader. Since 2019, he has managed Liberty STEAM’s charter incubation and authorization process and was recently appointed to serve as a member of the South Carolina State Board of Education representing the Third Judicial Circuit.  After seven years leading Liberty’s day-to-day operations, Dr. Ivey has transitioned to launch the Liberty STEAM Charter School Foundation. His focus now shifts from daily operations to delivering on Liberty’s long-term charter promise by building the partnerships, resources, and strategy needed to grow the network through 12th grade.  Dr. Ivey will lead Liberty’s participation in Fellowship in close partnership with Superintendent Dr. Brenda Hafner, inaugural Junior Academy Director, Jennifer Cribbs, and other senior leaders including, LeAndrea Montgomery, Dr. Michelle McDonald, Sally Harris, and Craig Shelton to refine the middle school experience today while intentionally designing and building the high school of tomorrow. 

Jennifer Murray, New Promise STEAM Academy — Future Founder Fellow 

New Promise STEAM Academy is a proposed elementary school that would open serving kindergarten through second grade before expanding to K-8 in future years. Its model combines rigorous literacy and math instruction with hands-on STEAM learning, individualized support, and a culture of high expectations and belonging.

Jennifer Murray has spent her 18-year career in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, progressing from classroom teacher to instructional coach to principal of Greeleyville STEAM Academy, where she currently serves. She has also held district-level roles in math, curriculum, and instructional leadership and was named Williamsburg County School District’s Teacher of the Year in 2013–14.

For more information about the South Carolina Charter Founders Fellowship, visit https://www.sccharterfounders.org/.