# 61 Staff Budgeting from First Principles ft. Richard Royal, Executive Director of Denver Language School
- E61
- 49:11
- October 31st 2025
What happens when your mission requires more staff, but your budget says less spending?
In this insightful episode of The Charter School Insider Podcast, host Daniel Casselli sits down with Richard Royal, Executive Director of Denver Language School (DLS) — a top-performing K–8 immersion charter in Colorado — to explore how to build a sustainable staffing and budgeting model from first principles.
Richard shares how DLS achieves exceptional outcomes in both Mandarin and Spanish immersion programs while facing lower per-pupil funding than district peers. He walks us through his strategic shift in staff compensation, the challenges of realigning pay scales, and the importance of leading with transparency and mission alignment.
From tough board conversations to courageous leadership decisions, this episode is a masterclass in strategic budgeting for charter school executives — balancing people, purpose, and performance.
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Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators
Welcome to "Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation's Top Charter School Operators" the only podcast dedicated to the ‘behind-the-scenes” business of running a successful charter school.
Join us as we sit down with charter school leaders who share how they are overcoming the biggest operational hurdles facing their schools today. Each episode will leave you with unique insights and tactical strategies that you can implement at your school. Enjoy the show!