As a nationally recognized expert in charter school governance and leadership, Brian has been invited by governors, legislators, professors in public and private universities, charter school authorizing organizations, as well as state and national association leaders to provide training and guidance. He regularly works with charter schools around the country. His name is listed in the Heritage Foundation’s annual guide to policy experts and he is an adjunct member of two state-based think tanks: The Mackinac Center for Public Policy (Michigan) and the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions (Kentucky). He is also a member of Nova Southeastern University’s board of advisors for its doctoral program emphasizing charter school leadership.

Drawing on more than three decades of experience that includes four years as CEO of the National Charter School Institute, twelve years as a school administrator, seven years active duty Marine Corps, community college instructor, certified addictions counselor, charter school board president, think tank scholar, author, wartime refugee relief-worker in the Balkans, Brian uses interesting real life stories to explain good governance. His unique combination of irreverent humor and straight talk continuously draw people to his seminars, consulting and publications.

Dr. Carpenter’s books, Charter School Board University and The Seven Outs: Strategic Planning Made Easy for Charter Schools (available on www.NationalCharterSchools.org and Amazon.com) are widely read by charter school board members and used by other consultants. Some of his publications have been included in the curriculum of Harvard University’s summer seminars. His numerous monographs can be downloaded free of charge at www.NationalCharterSchools.org.

Although he started adulthood as a high school dropout, Brian eventually returned to school to earn his associates, bachelors, masters, and most recently doctoral degrees. His Ph.D. was conferred by Capella University in the fall of 2008. Using his dissertation to study the impact of boards on dissolved charter schools, Dr. Carpenter became the first researcher in the country to study this particular aspect of charter school closures. He is also one of a few hundred consultants worldwide to have been personally trained by Dr. John and Miriam Carver in the theory and application of Policy Governance®. Brian is also a member of the International Policy Governance Association.