Jonas S. Chartock

JOnAS S. Chartock (born May 18, 1975, Great Barrington, Massachusetts) is a policymaker and national expert on United States public charter schools. He currently resides in Albany, New York.

Career in education reform

Chartock was named Executive Director of the Charter Schools Institute of the State University of New York in May of 2008. In this role, Chartock leads the process of evaluating initial applications for the opening of charter schools, ongoing monitoring of student academic performance and overall school operations, and presenting findings and recommendations regarding the renewal of a school’s charter to the State University Trustees. The SUNY Trustees have authorized over 65 school in New York State.

Chartock previously served as the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Charter School Policy Institute (CSPI) in Austin, Texas, a position he held since 2005. At CSPI, Chartock provided overall strategic and tactical leadership to the organization, managing all daily operations and executing the policies of the CSPI board of directors. He served as a liaison to constituents, funders, other charter organizations, and the general public regarding the issue of public school choice and developed and directed programs providing high quality, web-based policy and research.

Prior to joining CSPI, Chartock served as Executive Director of Teach For America in Houston, Texas, where he was responsible managing both a regional staff and board of directors dedicated to ensuring the effectiveness of over 500 first- and second-year teachers.

He began his professional career as a teacher through Teach For America in the Compton Unified School District in Compton, California.

Chartock currently serves on the boards of The British American Project and The National Association of Charter School Authorizers

Education

Mr. Chartock is an Ed.D. candidate at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds an Ed.M. in School Leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education; an M.A. in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Chapman University; and a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Family

Raised in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Chartock is the son of political scientist and commentator Dr. Alan S. Chartock and education professor and author Dr. Roselle Kline Chartock. His sister Dr. Sarah Chartock is Assistant Professor of Political Science at The College of New Jersey.

Music

Chartock is a vocalist and guitar player, and has been a member of a number musical acts. He currently performs with the duo Po'Tok1 and the Chartock family band The Berkshire Ramblers2. Former acts include Cornell University based 'StuPidwish' (vocals, harmonica, washboard) and University of Houston based Judeo-Mexican folk music group, 'Los Gains Dramaticos' (vocals, guitar).