Contact: Michelle Lerner (DCPS)
(202) 805-2885
[email protected]
(Washington, DC) Tonight, DC Public Schools (DCPS) celebrates the 6th annual Standing Ovation for DC Public Schools, which celebrates the best of the best teachers, administrators, and staff. Joined by city officials and the business, education, arts, and philanthropic communities at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Tim Gunn, fashion expert and mentor on Project Runway, will host the event honoring the work and dedication of these award winners. Fik-shun, winner of So You Think You Can Dance, will be the opening performer.
“Standing Ovation is an opportunity to thank our highest-performing educators and staff for the work they do each day to transform the lives of children in Washington, DC,” said Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “We are doing great things at DC Public Schools thanks to the very best of our teachers, principals, and school staff.”
James Cunningham, art teacher at School Without Walls High School, Kim Jackson, principal of Seaton Elementary School, and Phallon Lattimore, director of school strategy and logistics at Marie Reed Elementary School will each receive $10,000 thanks to the generosity of Alice and David Rubenstein.
These and the 26 other leader, teacher, school staff, and school winners will be honored with $230,000 worth of cash prizes at Standing Ovation. Nominations are received throughout the school year from parents, teachers, and community leaders.
Five new awards will be presented at Standing Ovation for DC Public Schools:
- 2015 Excellence in Classroom Innovation: M. Kamel Igoudjil, English Teacher, McKinley Technology Education Campus
- 2015 Excellence in Service Award: Constance Thayer, Kindergarten Teacher, Anne Beers Elementary School
- 2015 Excellence in School Innovation Award: Burrville Elementary School
- 2015 Excellence in Family Engagement Award: C.W. Harris Elementary School
- 2015 Excellence by an Academic Leadership Team (ALT): H.D. Cooke Elementary School
Rubenstein Awards for Highly Effective Teaching
- Ramiro Acosta, Bilingual Pre-K Teacher, Bruce-Monroe Elementary School
- Mary Ball, English-Language Arts and English as a Second Language Teacher, Cardozo Education Campus
- Rachel Broudy, English and AP English Teacher, McKinley Technology High School
- Kimberly Davila, Math Specialist, Moten Elementary School
- Lakia Kenan, Reading Teacher, Orr Elementary School
- Sarah McLaughlin, Special Education Teacher, Seaton Elementary School
- Britni Whitty, Science Teacher, Hardy Middle School
Rubenstein Awards for Highly Effective Leadership: Principals
- Kennard Branch, Principal, Garfield Elementary School
- Kim Burke, Principal, Nalle Elementary School
- Tanya Roane, Principal, Cardozo Education Campus
- Naimah Salahuddin, Principal, Drew Elementary School
Rubenstein Awards for Highly Effective Leadership: Assistant Principals
- Alethea Bustillo, Assistant Principal, Bruce-Monroe Elementary School. Bustillo is now principal at Bruce-Monroe Elementary School.
- Crystal Gatling, Assistant Principal, Cleveland Elementary School. Gatling is now assistant principal at Payne Elementary School.
- Caron Smith, Assistant Principal, Phelps High School
- Benjamin Williams, Associate Principal, School Without Walls. Williams is now the principal of the Empowering Males High School.
Rubenstein Awards for Highly Effective School Staff
- James Allen, Custodial Foreman, Hart Middle School
- James Davis, Educational Aide, Beers Elementary School
- Sara Ewbank, Instructional Coach, Brent Elementary School
- Pamela Lipscomb Gardner, Librarian, Woodrow Wilson High School
- Lertia Lopes, Behavioral Technician, Whittier Education Campus
- Elease McCants, Manager of Strategy and Logistics, Browne Education Campus
Standing Ovation for DC Public Schools is hosted by the DC Public Education Fund. Follow the action at #DCPSStandingOvation.