Susan Bragato, led charter schools effort By Sue Chenoweth Posted on Sun, Jan. 09, 2005 Susan Bragato, founder and former executive director of the California Network of Educational Charters, was in the late stage of breast cancer when she announced: ``I am one of the luckiest people alive.'' It was August, at a rally kicking off the San Carlos-Belmont Chapter of the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. She had previously participated as a volunteer with her children, Jenna and Chris. This time around, she did laps as a cancer patient. God willing, Ms. Bragato told the crowd, she would be back next year. But this August, Sue Bragato will be among the ``noticeably absent.'' She lost her two-year battle with breast cancer Wednesday. She was 47. Ms. Bragato was ``mother of the charter schools movement,'' said Gary L. Larson, vice president of communications for California Charter Schools Association (formerly CANEC). A measure of Ms. Bragato's vision and dedication are the 500-plus member schools now serving 200,000 students in California, he said. After San Carlos Charter Learning Center opened in 1994, it became the model for charter schools throughout the county and Sue Bragato, the sought-after expert. Larson said she was a ``natural leader'' of every organization she joined, from the Eaton Hills 4-H Club to the center -- the first charter school established in California and the second in the nation. Ms. Bragato worked tirelessly and without pay during CANEC's first two years, and became executive director in 1996, he said. During her tenure, she chaired the annual California Conference on Charter Schools, which draws more than 1,500 participants each year. In 1997, President Clinton toured the pioneer charter school. Ms. Bragato, who graduated from Pepperdine University with degrees in journalism and political science, was driven by the belief, Larson said, that every child could learn given the right opportunity. But Ms. Bragato's case created her own opportunities. At San Carlos High School, she was yearbook editor, a Youth in Government leader and the ``Outstanding Senior.'' During college, she finagled an interview with Nazi war criminal Rudolf Hess during a study-abroad term in Germany. And in 1980, before launching a career in advertising and communications career, Ms. Bragato was a press secretary for Jimmy Carter's re-election bid. Ms. Bragato was presented the Hart Vision Award in 1997 and in 2002. She also received national and state awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. Shortly before her death, Ms. Bragato initiated a Web Site: www.thedarker sideofpink.org. Even in kindergarten, her potential was apparent. Her mother loved to tell how Ms. Bragato's teacher refused to make the ``fidgety'' 5-year-old stand in a corner. ``I don't want to squash Susan's spirit because someday she is going to grow up and impact the world.'' Susan Jean Steelman Bragato Born: Aug. 25, 1957, in Los Angeles Died: Jan. 5, 2005, in San Carlos Survived by: Daughter, Jenna Bragato, and son, Chris Bragato of San Carlos; ex-husband, Larry Bragato of San Carlos; parents, Claude and Leota Steelman of San Carlos; sister, Nancy Steelman of New Suffolk, New York; a niece and a nephew. Service: 11 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Catholic Church, 880 Tamarack Ave., San Carlos. Memorial: Donations in Susan Bragato's name can be sent to BOK Ranch, 1815 Cordilleras Road, Redwood City, Calif., 94062. Susan Steelman-Bragato -- cancer-research advocate San Francisco Chronicle Susan Jean Steelman-Bragato, a pioneer in the nation's charter school movement and an activist who recently urged the federal government to spend as much money on breast cancer research as it does on Mars exploration, died of the disease Wednesday at her San Carlos home. She was 47. Ms. Steelman-Bragato was a mother of two in 1993 when, like so many parents, she became frustrated with the lack of alternatives to attending public schools. The timing was perfect. A new state law had just passed permitting experimental public schools called charters, in which parents and teachers could invent their own educational program and run it independently of the traditional public school bureaucracy. With her can-do attitude and talent for turning big ideas into reality, Ms. Steelman-Bragato helped found the state's first charter school, the San Carlos Charter Learning Center, which was also one of the first charter schools in the country. The school is still a thriving model for the nearly 400 charter schools operating in California today. Ms. Steelman-Bragato sat on the new school's governance council for five years, from 1993 to 1998 -- but her vision for charter schools went beyond her own community. In 1994 she established CANEC, the California Network of Educational Charters, the first statewide charter school association in the nation. She remained its executive director for eight years, serving a critical role in helping parents and many others navigate the complexities of opening and operating a public school. In 2003, CANEC became the California Charter Schools Association. "Sue was the mother of this movement," said Caprice Young, President of the California Charter Schools Association. "Sue believed every minute that charter schools would serve students best by empowering parents and educators to make their dreams for their children real. We will all miss her tremendously." Ms. Steelman-Bragato was born in 1957 in Los Angeles. Raised in Redondo Beach until age 11, she moved to San Carlos in 1968 and, except for her college years, remained there. She graduated from San Carlos High School, where as yearbook editor and as an active participant in the Youth in Government group, she was named Outstanding Senior. She graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu in 1980 after studying journalism and political science. An old friend, Pam Jones, recalled Ms. Steelman-Bragato as "a natural and effective leader who never doubted her ability to figure out how to get something done." It didn't take long for Ms. Steelman-Bragato's moxie to propel her to high places; within months of her college graduation, she was named Western states press secretary for Jimmy Carter's re-election campaign. She entered public relations after the election and later joined the EF Foundation to find American hosts for international exchange students, and to train participants in cross-cultural communications. In February 2003, Ms. Steelman-Bragato announced to her colleagues and friends that she had been diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer. Even as she underwent dozens of chemotherapy treatments, Ms. Steelman- Bragato found the time and energy to advocate for more funding and research into breast cancer -- particularly the often-ignored late-stage cancer. Last August, speaking at the American Cancer Society's San Carlos-Belmont Chapter Relay for Life rally, Ms. Steelman-Bragato noted that the National Institutes of Health spent $698 million on breast cancer research in 2003, while a congressional panel recommended a budget of $15.1 billion for Mars exploration. "Have any of you seen a 'Relay for Mars?' " Ms. Steelman-Bragato asked the audience. "I say let's conquer cancer before we conquer Mars." She is survived by her children, Jenna Bragato of San Luis Obispo and Chris Bragato of San Carlos; her parents, Claude and Leota Steelman of San Carlos; and a sister, Nancy Steelman of New Suffolk, N.Y. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, 880 Tamarack Ave., San Carlos. Donations in Ms. Steelman-Bragato's name may be made to BOK Ranch, a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with disabilities, at 1815 Cordilleras, Redwood City, CA 94062. Page B - 7 Susan Bragato, 47; Founded State Charter School Organization Los Angeles Times Susan Bragato, 47, founder and former executive director of the California Network of Education Charters (precursor to the California Charter Schools Assn.), died Wednesday of breast cancer at her home in the Bay Area city of San Carlos. In 1994, she helped start California's first public charter school, the San Carlos Charter Learning Center. There are now more than 180,000 California students attending charter schools, which operate independently from a school district and are exempt from many state education regulations in the expectation that they will improve student achievement. Bragato also helped organize the annual California Charter Schools conferences. A native of Long Beach, she earned degrees in political science and journalism from Pepperdine University. Pioneer of charter schools, 47, dies San Mateo County Times
The longtime San Carlos resident was 47. "Sue left a legacy that has brightened the lives of literally thousands of California school children, because she cared enough to make a difference," Gary Larson, vice president of the California Charter School Association, said Thursday. "It wasn't just California's charter schools that were looking to Sue's leadership and vision," Larson said. "In many cases, the national charter-school movement relied on Sue's work and what she was able to accomplish in California." Steelman-Bragato co-founded the first charter school in California — the San Carlos Charter Learning Academy — in 1993, the year after the state passed legislation that made way for an alternative to traditional public schools. The next year, she started the California Network of Educa-tional Charters (CANEC), a resource center for fledging charter schools, in the diningroom of her San Carlos home. She worked for two years without a salary and was the executive director until 2002, when CANEC evolved into the California Charter Schools Association. Today, the organization has more than 500 member schools and hosts a state conference that draws nearly 2,000 participants. On a national level, Steelman-Bragato served as a conference planner for the U.S. Department of Education's National Charter School Conferences and worked with the Clinton White House to use the San Carlos charter as a model for a federal charter-school grant program. As much as she was an advocate for non-traditional public schools, she respected her two children's wishes when they chose not to attend the San Carlos charter. Friend Pam Jones said that was because she believed that parents must understand their children's own learning style and needs. Those who knew her well describe Steelman-Bragato as a natural leader and committed humanitarian who never sought recognition for herself. She loved to laugh and never hesitated to go out of her way to help a friend. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2002 and spent the last two years of her life campaigning for breast-cancer awareness while undergoing more than 50 chemotherapy treatments. Shortly before she died, she created a Web site, www.TheDarkerSideOfPink.org,, to raise awareness about the lack of research dollars allocated for metastatic breast cancer. She is survived by her children, Jenna and Chris Bragato, her ex-husband, Larry Bragato, her parents, Claude and Leota Steelman, as well as her sister, Nancy Steelman, brother-in-law, Tom Samuels, niece Katherina and nephew Erik. A memorial service for Steelman-Bragato will be held on Monday, at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, 880 Tamarack Ave. in San Carlos. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to BOK Ranch, a therapeutic riding program for people with disabilities, at 1815 Cordilleras, Redwood City, CA. 94062. http://www.insidebayarea.com/portlet/article/html/fragments/print_article.jsp?article=2517391 Also printed in the Oakland Tribune 1/7/05 http://www.insidebayarea.com/searchresults/ci_2517447 Longtime San Carlos education advocate dies Resident helpful in push for charter movement in state. By Ethan Fletcher | Staff Writer San Francisco Examiner SAN CARLOS -- A memorial service today will remember the life of Susan Steelman-Bragato, a longtime San Carlos resident, mother and advocate for the charter-school movement in California. Steelman-Bragato passed away Jan. 5 after a two-year battle with cancer. She was 47 years old. She served on the front lines of education as the co-founder and member of the governance council for the San Carlos Learning Center, the first charter school to open in California after they were legalized in 1992. She also served for eight years as the founding executive director of the California Network of Educational Charters, the country's first statewide charter school association. That group's membership has grown from a handful of schools in 1994 to presently more than 500. Don Shalvey, president of Aspire Public Schools and the superintendent of the San Carlos Elementary School District in 1992 when the Learning Center was first approved, described Steelman-Bragato as instrumental in developing a support system for the now-burgeoning charter-school system. "She was among a small cadre of individuals who believed school choice was important," Shalvey said. However, Shalvey said charter schools never overshadowed Steelman-Bragato's passion for her community and her family. Her parents moved to San Carlos in 1968 when she was 11 years old, and she lived there ever since. Friends remember her as a helpful, warm-hearted woman who always made time for her loved ones, especially her two children. "She would never brag or toot her own horn, but she accomplished so many things in so many arenas. We weren't even aware of how much she did," said longtime friend Donna Becht, adding that "and she had a marvelous sense of humor." A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, 880 Tamarack Ave., in San Carlos. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to BOK Ranch at 1815 Cordilleras, Redwood City, CA 94062. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Gary Larson FOUNDER OF NATION’S FIRST CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION SUCCUMBS TO BREAST CANCER San Carlos, CA -- Sue Bragato, founder and former Executive Director of the California Network of Educational Charters (CANEC), the nation’s first charter schools association, lost her two-year battle with breast cancer last night. She passed away peacefully at her home with her family and loved ones by her side. Sue established CANEC, the predecessor to the California Charter Schools Association, a decade ago, making it the first statewide charter schools association in the country. For almost a decade, Sue's vision and dedication led the charter school movement to the point where it today serves more than 180,000 students in California. "All of us in the charter school movement owe a great debt to Sue," said Peter Thorp, Executive Director of San Francisco’s Gateway High School and President of the Board of Directors for the California Charter Schools Association. "In her role as the Executive Director of CANEC, Sue took a nascent movement and made charter schools into a powerful tool for educational reform. All of us who knew Sue are grateful for her kind and unwavering support over the years." "In so many ways, Sue was the mother of this movement," said Caprice Young, President of the California Charter Schools Association. "Sue believed every minute that charter schools would serve students best by empowering parents and educators to make their dreams for their children real. Sue's legacy lives on in the almost two hundred thousand California school children whose lives are brighter because Sue cared enough to make a difference. We will all miss her tremendously." During CANEC’s first three years, Sue worked tirelessly and on a volunteer basis, in a closet-sized space of CANEC’s first member school, the San Carlos Charter Learning Center. Sue understood the significance of her work -- that the success of this new type of public school would depend on a network for sharing information and experiences on issues including administration, hiring, finance, recruitment, curriculum and facilities. Sue helped create a model for state charter schools associations all across the country, and she spearheaded the first ten annual California Charter Schools conferences, which today are among the most successful charter school conferences in the country. Much of Sue's vision went into the transition of CANEC into the California Charter Schools Association — her desire to take the charter school movement to an even higher level of effectiveness on behalf of California's school children. Sue always remained full of hope and promise for the future of the charter school movement, and for the opportunities it continues to provide. In February 2003, Sue announced to the charter school community that she was diagnosed with Stage Four breast cancer. A natural fighter, Sue undertook aggressive chemotherapy treatments and was both encouraged and inspired by the tremendous outpouring of love and support she received from the entire charter school community. During the last two years of her life, Sue used her advocacy skills to campaign for breast cancer research and awareness while undergoing over 50 chemotherapy treatments. This past August, Sue was the featured speaker at the American Cancer Society’s San Carlos-Belmont Chapter Relay for Life rally. Ever crusading, she called for increased federal spending on cancer prevention and treatment. Shortly before Sue’s death, she initiated a web site called www.thedarkersideofpink.org. Sue’s goal was to raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer research and treatment and to urge women to take personal responsibility to seek treatment for breast cancer in its early stages. A scholarship fund for charter school students will be established in Sue’s name, and will be presented each year at the annual California Charter Schools Conference, beginning this January at the 12th Annual Conference in Pasadena. Sue was a natural leader who was tapped to head almost every organization to which she belonged. Sue never doubted her ability to figure out how to get something done. Sue never asked for recognition. Sue’s life was marked by a passion and commitment for everything she undertook. Sue was non-judgmental, accepting, positive, warm, humorous, self-deprecating and was always willing to help or recruit a friend into causes in which she believed. She laughed with friends and about herself. Sue was the mother of two, Chris and Jenna, who guided her children with love, participated in their activities, watched their many sporting events, and gave them the latitude necessary to become independent, capable, loving and responsible young adults. Sue Bragato was born on August 25, 1957 in Long Beach, CA. She was 47 years old. Susan is survived by her children, Jenna Bragato, a sophomore at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Chris Bragato, a junior at Serra High School in San Mateo; her ex-husband, Larry Bragato of San Carlos; her parents, Claude and Leota Steelman of San Carlos; her sister, Nancy Steelman, along with brother-in-law Tom Samuels, niece Katherine and nephew, Erik, all of New Suffolk, NY. A memorial service for Sue will be held Monday, January 10, 2005 at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church, 880 Tamarack Ave., San Carlos, California. A reception and celebration of Sue's life will follow. XXX
|
||
