CA Charter Schools Association Taps Hickman's Pat Golding to Its Board of Directors.

LOS ANGELES -- Respected Charter School Leader Becomes Fourth Charter Operator Appointed to Association's Board of Directors

The California Charter Schools Association announced today the appointment of Pat Golding, the Director of Hickman Charter School in Hickman, CA, to its Governing Board of Directors. Golding becomes the fourth charter school operator in California to be appointed to the Association's Board of Directors.

Golding joins a Board of Directors that consists of Peter Thorp, Principal of the San Francisco-based Gateway Charter High School and President of the Board of Directors; Johnathan Williams, Co-Director of the Los Angeles-based The Accelerated School and appointee to the state Board of Education; Rick Piercy, Director of the Academy for Academic Excellence in Apple Valley; Dr. Richard Atkinson, President Emeritus of the University of California (UC) System; John Walton of the Walton Family Foundation; Steve Poizner, a businessman and teacher; Scott Hamilton of the Pisces Foundation; and Caprice Young, CEO of the California Charter Schools Association.

"The charter school movement, which now consists of over 500 schools, and more than 8,000 public school teachers that educate over 180,000 students, is a promising path towards seeing that all of California's school children receive a quality education," said Golding. "With the proven examples of success in increased student learning and parental choice, the charter school movement is reaching unprecedented levels of acceptance. As the charter school movement continues to raise the bar for high-quality public school options, I am committed to sharing the successes in charter schools with the broader public school system so that all students benefit."

"Pat is a strong believer in public education and is passionately committed to improving learning for the students she serves," said Caprice Young, CEO of the California Charter Schools Association. "As a charter school veteran, Pat's creative talents, dedication and strength as an educator continue to provide unique educational opportunities for the Hickman Community. As a member of the California Charter Schools Association's Board of Directors, Pat will focus on bringing high-quality educational opportunities to students all across the state."

Golding has been involved in public education for 36 years as a teacher, curriculum director and now as a charter school director. Golding became involved in the charter school movement in 1994 due to her belief in creating high-quality public schools through choice and accountability. Golding served for two terms on the CANEC Board of Directors, the predecessor to the California Charter Schools Association. She was honored in 2003 with the Hart Vision Award for the state's Outstanding Charter School Administrator. She also serves on the Association's Member Council, the elected leadership body of the charter school community.

Golding was nominated to the Board of Directors by the Charter Schools Association's Member Council, the Association's elected charter school leadership body, and confirmed last week.

About the California Charter Schools Association

The California Charter Schools Association is the membership and professional organization serving over 500 public charter schools serving approximately 180,000 charter school students in the State of California. The Association's mission is to increase student achievement by strengthening and expanding public charter schools throughout California.