Lighthouse Community Public Charter Schools — Stronger Consulting Case Study

The Challenge

Inconsistent systems limited equity, clarity, and transparency

Lighthouse Community Public Charter Schools is a mission-driven public charter network focused on educational equity and student success. As the organization grew, it sought to strengthen internal systems to better support staff, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Three core needs drove this engagement:

1
Compensation alignment
Existing compensation structures were inconsistent and difficult to compare, creating internal inequities and confusion.
2
Transparency for staff
Staff lacked clear understanding of how salaries were determined, reducing trust and clarity.
3
Market competitiveness
The organization needed to align pay practices with market data while maintaining internal equity and mission alignment.

The Approach

Three phases from assessment to implementation

Discovery & compensation assessment

Stronger Consulting conducted a comprehensive review of existing compensation structures, benchmarking against market data and gathering stakeholder input. This phase identified inequities, inconsistencies, and communication gaps to inform redesign.

Design simplified pay framework

Using insights from discovery, the team developed streamlined job bands, clarified job families, and built a simplified compensation framework. Recommendations included equitable pay ranges and guidance for progression.

Communication & implementation planning

Stronger created a Total Rewards Communication Toolkit and implementation roadmap. Leaders were equipped with tools and messaging to clearly communicate compensation and benefits to staff.

Outcomes

What Lighthouse Community Public Charter Schools gained

Market-informed strategy

A compensation framework grounded in market data and internal equity, improving competitiveness and fairness.

Implementation roadmap

A clear, actionable plan to guide salary adjustments, rollout, and long-term sustainability.

Internal clarity for staff + leaders

Improved understanding of compensation decisions through transparent structures and communication tools.

Funding and board readiness

Positioned the organization for board review and budget alignment while staying within financial constraints.

This was a complex and high-stakes process, shaped by the realities of our prior compensation practices, a shifting funding environment, our commitment to remain responsive to local collective bargaining dynamics, and the need to manage many interconnected pieces. Stronger helped us navigate that complexity with clarity and discipline. In the end, we landed in a strong place. The board was pleased with the outcomes, we stayed within budget, and the final approach was tailored to our Oakland context. Most importantly, we centered our employees: their need for transparency, predictability, and long-term sustainability. We were also able to communicate the changes in a way that felt positive, values-aligned, and true to who we are as an organization. - Rich Harrison, CEO, Lighthouse Community Public Charter Schools

Stronger Insight

“

Lighthouse’s mission depends on talented educators and staff who feel valued, respected, and clear about how people decisions are made. This project helped translate that commitment into a more practical compensation architecture, one grounded in market data, internal equity, and long-term sustainability. The result was a framework that could support staff, leadership, and board decision-making in a more transparent way.” - Mike Montoya, CEO, Stronger Consulting

Building a transparent, equitable compensation structure for a growing charter network

Inconsistent systems limited equity, clarity, and transparency

Three phases from assessment to implementation

Is your organization ready for its next chapter?