The author founded Greater Newark Charter School in 2000 at a time when charter schools were little more than a nuisance to the traditional public school establishment. Just two years earlier, when first learning about charter schools, he recalls questioning the necessity for "new" schools when so many operational public schools were in need of reform. After dedicating the past 10 years of his professional--and much of his personal life--to Greater Newark Charter School's growth and success, the author finds himself more conflicted today about charter schools than when he entered the movement. In this article, the author shares what he has learned about charter schools after a decade on the front lines.