A native Washingtonian, product of DCPS and parent of DCPS students, Chunita Pilgrim taught inclusive classrooms while at CW Harris Elementary School in southeast DC before becoming an instructional coach and International Baccalaureate coordinator at HD Cooke Elementary School.

While teaching at CW Harris, Chunita served as a grade level chairperson for seven years, was on the school’s leadership team, and chaired the school’s restructuring team. At HD Cooke Elementary School, she worked with the Parents as Partners Program, which is designed to bridge the gap between bilingual parents and their local school communities, and also helped to create partnerships with the Reading is Fundamental Program and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. Chunita has worked as an instructor with the American Federation of Teachers’ Educational Research and Dissemination Program, teaching beginning reading instruction to DC teachers.

This is the seventh year that Chunita has served DCPS in this role.  During this time, Chunita has received training in BES services as well as self-contained classrooms and autism programs.  Chunita’s interests in inclusive programs have immensely grown out of her service with DCPS. One of her goals is to bridge gaps between general education teachers and special education teachers in efforts to build stronger inclusive programs throughout the city.

Chunita received a Bachelor of Arts in English from George Washington University and a Master of Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction from Regent University.

Chunita proudly serves as a Master Educator for Elementary and Special Education.