The Baltimore County Board of Education on Wednesday night revoked a charter agreement that would have allowed Puzzle Pieces Learning Academy Public Charter School to open next school year.

The unanimous decision comes after board member Pete Fitzpatrick in August called for the board to consider parting ways with the school after learning about the executive director’s legal past.

The board was expected to vote on whether to revoke the charter at its Aug. 25 meeting, but Fitzpatrick withdrew his motion. After that meeting, he said only that the school system “has a process and they’re following it.” He did not elaborate on why he withdrew his motion.

As a charter school in the Baltimore County public school system, Puzzle Pieces would be privately operated but publicly funded. Executive Director Chizarra Dashiell has said the school would focus on students’ mental health and social-emotional learning.

Advertise with us

Dashiell, 48, has faced legal, financial and professional trouble that includes pleading guilty to driving or attempting to drive while under the influence, filing for bankruptcy three times and being disciplined by two different occupational therapy licensing boards for dishonesty.

Dashiell told The Banner on Wednesday afternoon that a couple Puzzle Pieces board members were planning to pitch a new location to the county’s school board.

The school had planned to use a Catonsville location that’s owned by Our Lady of Victory, a Catholic parish. However, Puzzle Pieces was evicted from the location, according to Jennifer Mullenax, Baltimore County Public Schools’ chief academic officer. She asked the board in June to revoke the charter agreement, which was first granted in 2025. Instead, the board decided then to delay Puzzle Pieces’ opening from fall 2026 to the 2027-28 school year.

Dashiell said Wednesday that she didn’t want to share the address of the building that her team is looking at, but said it’s in the northeast part of the county and a location the school system once used.

A virtual attendee on Wednesday, who said they were reading a statement from Puzzle Pieces board member Darius Beckford, told school board members that the new location would be in White Marsh.

Advertise with us

Mullenax said Wednesday night the charter school had an opportunity to pitch a new location by a Sept. 30 deadline, but failed to produce a lease agreement by that time. She recommended the board immediately revoke the charter agreement. The board unanimously agreed.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.