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Rhonda Dillingham, Executive Director
Rhonda Dillingham is a veteran educator who taught 9th -12th grade English for 18 years and brings a wealth of experience to her role as Executive Director of the NC Association for Public Charter Schools.
She graduated with honors from Greensboro College in 1996 with a BA in secondary English Education. In addition to earning her National Board Certification in 2005, Rhonda has completed Master’s work in Education Leadership at High Point University.
In 2007, she was part of the team that founded the Asheboro High School Zoo School, a satellite location of Asheboro High School at the North Carolina Zoo. The Zoo School serves grades 10-12 in a science-focused small learning community committed to project-based learning and environmental education. In 2013, she co-founded Uwharrie Charter Academy, the only charter school in Randolph County, where she served as Chief Curriculum Officer for three years. Now in its eleventh year, Uwharrie Charter’s mission is to prepare students for post-secondary life through a STEM-focused project-based learning environment.
As Executive Director of the NC Association for Public Charter Schools, Rhonda is proud of the progress the organization has made in serving the needs of the state’s public charter schools while she works to advocate, educate, and support the advancement of quality educational opportunities for all North Carolina children by supporting and expanding successful charter schools.
Email Rhonda at rhonda@ncpubliccharters.org.
Meredith Flowe, NC GROW CSP Project Director
Meredith is thrilled to be a part of the team at the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools. She began her career as a middle school math teacher. Meredith then spent the last 18 years in non-profit roles dedicated to ensuring children and families have access to excellent educational opportunities. At Self-Help Credit Union/Ventures Fund she focused on facility financing, policy, and technical assistance for charter schools across the country. Meredith served as Chief of Staff at the Impact Center and as the Development Director at Henderson Collegiate. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director of The Centers for Exceptional Children. She holds a B.A. with Honors from UNC-Chapel Hill and a J.D. from UNC School of Law.
Email Meredith at meredith.flowe@ncpubliccharters.org.
Emily Moore, Operations Support Specialist
Emily started her teaching career as a sixth-grade Social Studies and Language Arts teacher in a traditional public middle school. After five years she was blessed with the opportunity to transition to Clover Garden School where she taught fifth grade Math. Recognized for her hands-on, engaging lessons, out-of-the-box ideas, and leadership abilities Emily was given the opportunity to join the administration team as Assistant Principal. While serving in this role Emily went back to school and earned her Masters in School Administration from Liberty University.  Emily worked as a Strategic Consultant for Leaders Building Leaders prior to joining the team at NCAPCS where she worked closely with many charter schools in the state providing a variety of support and leadership growth services. Emily has a strong belief in the magical power that North Carolina Charters possess to revolutionize education for the students of our state and she is excited to be a part of the team at the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools.
Email Emily at emily.moore@ncpubliccharters.org.
Vanessa Baker, Technical Assistance Specialist
Vanessa Baker is an experienced school leader and systems thinker who brings nearly a decade of executive-level charter school leadership to her role as Technical Support Specialist. As Head of School of a growing K-12 charter organization, she led large-scale operational, academic, and organizational initiatives including campus expansion, accreditation, data-driven improvement planning, and coordination across instruction, technology, and compliance. She also served as a district grant coach, supporting schools in implementing funded initiatives and meeting compliance requirements. Vanessa is completing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Gardner-Webb University, expected in late 2026. Her work focuses on strengthening school systems so high-quality charter schools can grow, expanding school choice opportunities across North Carolina.
Email Vanessa at vanessa@ncpubliccharters.org.
LaKisha Cherry, Budget Specialist
LaKisha Cherry is an experienced compliance and finance professional with over three years of expertise in grant-funded financial operations, regulatory compliance, and executive support. A native of Greenville, North Carolina, she has partnered closely with senior leadership in nonprofit and higher education environments to ensure accurate reporting, funding compliance, and operational efficiency. LaKisha is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at the University of Phoenix, where she is pursuing her Doctorate in Information Systems and Leadership.
Email LaKisha at lakisha@ncpubliccharters.org.
Dr. Jameya Jones, Career Development Specialist
Dr. Jameya Jones is a Durham, North Carolina native and accomplished workforce development leader with more than a decade of experience advancing career-connected learning and building cross-sector partnerships. Inspired by her own experience in Durham Public Schools, she is committed to expanding equitable access and opportunities for students.
Dr. Jones began her career in 2014 as a middle school business teacher before moving into district leadership within Career and Technical Education. She most recently served as Lead Workforce Development Coordinator and Skilled Trades Pathway Coordinator, where she developed apprenticeship pathways, managed grants, cultivated strategic employer and higher education partnerships, and oversaw the district’s CTE Business Advisory Board to align industry engagement with workforce priorities. Her leadership is further informed by her experience teaching internationally in Madrid, Spain, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, which broadened her global perspective and continue to shape her culturally responsive, student-centered approach to education and workforce development. She founded the Rising Stars Summer Internship Program, connecting high school students with meaningful experiences at local and global organizations, and developed Summer Quest Career Exploration Camps in partnership with Durham Technical Community College and community stakeholders. She serves on the Durham Workforce Development Board and the Board of Bull City Woodshop. Dr. Jones is excited to join the North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools as a CTE Specialist, where she looks forward to leveraging her expertise in career development and workforce trends to help charter schools expand student awareness and access in CTE, STEM, and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence.
A proud alumna of Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University, she earned her Doctor of Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds licensure in Business Education and School Administration and will soon add
Superintendent licensure.
Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children, traveling to the beach, and enjoying a relaxing day at the spa.
Email Jameya at jameya@ncpubliccharters.org.Â
Spencer Busby Menzel, Grants Manager
Spencer is very excited about her role as Grants Manager with the North Carolina Association of Public Schools. She has extensive development and grant writing and managing experience, working with the Duke Annual Fund, SAFEchild, PAVE Schools, Durham Charter School, Research Triangle High School and some for-profit clients. While she started her development career focused on frontline fundraising and best practices, she has honed her grant writing skills and focused heavily on that for the past 8 years. Throughout her career, Spencer has seen the magic that successful charter schools can bring to children and firmly believes that all of North Carolina's children deserve access to a high-quality education and academic opportunities. She holds a Master in Management Studies degree from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a B.A. from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Email Spencer at spencer@ncpubliccharters.org.