HOPE Online Learning Academy is proud to share that our founder, Heather O’Mara, has been named a 2026 Hall of Fame honoree by the Colorado League of Charter Schools, receiving the Founder of the Year Award. 

The League’s Hall of Fame Awards celebrate some of Colorado’s most dedicated and impactful educators, advocates, and leaders in charter education. Each year, the organization recognizes individuals who have made an extraordinary difference in the lives of students across the state. 

Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by a panel of League staff who recognize the dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment that continue to make charter schools a vital part of educational opportunity in Colorado. 

Heather’s vision helped shape HOPE’s unique blended learning model, combining the flexibility of online learning with meaningful in-person mentorship and support. What began as a bold idea has grown into a thriving statewide community that has now seen more than 1,500 students graduate, many of whom previously struggled to succeed in traditional school settings. 

Her commitment to meeting students where they are has changed the trajectory of thousands of Colorado learners and expanded access to high-quality public education for families who needed it most. 

“We are incredibly proud to celebrate Heather as a recipient of this year’s Hall of Fame Award,” said Dan Schaller, president of the Colorado League of Charter Schools. “This achievement reflects not only Heather’s outstanding dedication and vision but also how we, as a community, are moving Forward Together to create meaningful opportunities for students.” 

This recognition reflects not only Heather’s leadership, but also the heart of HOPE’s mission: Belong. Believe. Become. 

Congratulations, Heather, on this well-deserved honor. 

 
 
About the Colorado League of Charter Schools 

The Colorado League of Charter Schools is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that represents the interests of the state’s 262 charter schools and the families of more than 136,000 students who attend them.

Our mission is to improve student achievement by supporting Colorado’s charter schools, positively reshaping the public school landscape, and advancing opportunities for innovation and expanded choice.

We want all Colorado students to have access to high-quality, public school options. Please visit www.coloradoleague.org to learn more.