James Goenner

James Goenner currently serves as President/CEO of the National Charter Schools Institute, which was founded in 1995 to support the growth of the charter schools movement in Michigan and throughout the nation. Poised to influence educational policy, practice and performance across the country, the Institute provides and connects charter school authorizers, governing boards, school leaders, founders and other stakeholders who are serious about ensuring all students are prepared for success in college, work and life with the programs, tools, services, counsel and support they need.

Prior to joining the Institute, Mr. Goenner served as Executive Director at The Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University, the nation's largest university authorizer of charter public schools. He also served as Founding President of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies. Mr. Goenner has been instrumental in establishing the Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers, which he chairs, and is a founding Board Member and Chair of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.  In 2010, Mr. Goenner was inducted into the National Charter School Hall of Fame for his many years of dedication to the education reform movement.

In addition to his charter schools leadership, Mr. Goenner received gubernatorial appointments from John Engler and Jennifer Granholm to serve on the Board of the Michigan Higher Education Facility Authority. He was also appointed to serve on the Board for the Center for Educational Performance and Information, which is responsible for collecting and reporting data about the performance of Michigan's public schools.