Wyoming Public Charter Schools Logo

A Voice for Families

Charter schools are becoming a vital part of Wyoming’s public education landscape, and every parent deserves the freedom to choose the best educational path for their child.

The Wyoming Public Charter Schools Association (WPCSA) believes every child has a fundamental right to attend a quality public school offering a safe, supportive, and academically-challenging environment. Through our work, we put families in charge of their children’s education, principals in charge of their schools, teachers in charge of leading their classrooms, and students in charge of their futures. Our Association is a nonprofit 501c3 organization with membership open to public charter schools and charter school supporters, including families, partner organizations, community leaders, and business leaders.

When people know what charter schools are, who they serve, and how they work, they tend to like them. So that’s why here at the association, we’re making sure everyone understands what a charter school is and how they are a vital part of Wyoming’s public education system. Since our inception, we've been working directly with our state and local partners to ensure that charter schools have a policy and political landscape that helps students, educators, and families thrive.  To support our work, please become a member of the Wyoming Public Charter Schools Association.

Our Mission

We’re a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to putting students first by expanding education options through free public charter schools in the state of Wyoming. We believe in the power of choice, providing high-quality education options that complement existing schools, and advocating for parents and students.

Teacher in front of classroom

Meet our Leadership

The Wyoming Public Charter Schools Association is a non-profit organization governed by a group of dedicated board members.

  • Kari Cline

    Kari Cline

    Executive Director

    Kari began working in public charter school policy in 2007 as part of a group seeking to start a classical academy.  She went on to manage the WY state charter school association for nearly five years.  Kari re-engaged in public charter school advocacy in 2021 and continues to work as the Executive Director for the Wyoming Public Charter School Association.

    Kari has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.  Prior to her work in non-profit and association management, she was an Environment Chemist and Quality Assurance Manager in both the private and public sector.  Her transition to association management and working in advocacy came out of a personal desire to utilize her strong organizational and relationship management skills.  She is currently a member of the Wyoming Society of Association Executives, the International Association of Optometric Executives, and the Capitol Club. She lives in Cheyenne and enjoys reading, pickleball, and spending time with her grown children.

  • Haley Davis

    Chair, Board of Directors

      Haley Davis attended the University of Wyoming where she graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education.  She is married to her high school sweetheart and together they have five boys. Haley spends her time running kids to and from football, soccer, basketball and 4H projects. 

      Haley has worked on multiple political campaigns.  These campaigns include: Cynthia Lummis for Congress (2008), Ron Micheli for Governor (2010), Sam Galeotos for Governor (2018) and Megan Degenfelder for Superintendent of Public Instruction (2022).  It was on the campaign for Megan Degenfelder that she became passionate about ensuring that parents have more choices in their children’s education.  

      In 2023, Haley was a lobbyist for the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools. 

    • Frannie Bailey

      Frannie Bailey

      Member, Board of Directors

        Frannie Bailey was born and raised in Cheyenne, WY by Philip and Mary Sharp, where she was educated at both private and public schools. She attended St. Mary’s Elementary and McCormick Junior High and graduated from Central High School. She then attended Loyola Chicago and Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, obtaining her degree in Business Administration. After working several years in the business industry, Frannie chose to focus her talents and energy on raising a family full time. She and her husband, Doug Bailey, find great joy in their five children, ranging from a toddler to a high schooler. All the Baileys’ school-aged children have attended Laramie County School District 1 schools. When Frannie learned that community members were organizing Cheyenne Classical Academy, she was intrigued by the opportunity for Cheyenne to have a public, free charter school that would prepare graduates “intellectually, morally, and civically” using a Classical Education format. This curriculum was familiar to Frannie based on her liberal arts education, and she is excited that more of Cheyenne’s children will have this kind of opportunity. Frannie is grateful for the positive experiences the public schools in Cheyenne have offered her, her husband, and her children and is thrilled about the public option Cheyenne Classical Academy will offer this community when it opens in the Fall of 2024. 

      • Deb Mutter Shamley

        Member, Board of Directors

          Deb retired from the Wyoming Air National Guard in 2018 after serving nearly 36 years in various roles in the military.  She came to Cheyenne in 1996 and was commissioned as a Flight Nurse, she also served as an Admin Specialist, Practical Nurse, Inspector General, Labor Relations Specialist and Emergency Planner.  Her military experience lies in policy, problem solving and while working in Human Resources she enjoyed teaching and helping others with personnel type problems.  For fun she spends her time gardening, travelling, cooking, practicing financial planning, and serving as the Treasurer of the Laramie County Master Gardeners.  Deb is married to Kirk and has a grown son who lives in Laramie, she believes that children are much more capable than we give them credit for and feels strongly in each child staying engaged and challenged while in school. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s Degree in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University.