(Washington, DC) – Today, following the Council of the District of Columbia’s confirmation of Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, Mayor Bowser’s nominee for Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools, Mayor Bowser and Dr. Ferebee released the following statements:

Statement from Mayor Bowser:

“Over these past few months, our community has gotten to know Dr. Ferebee as a genuine educator who is committed to uplifting our students and supporting our educators, building trust within our community, and prioritizing transparency.

“With Dr. Ferebee at the helm of DCPS, we will work with the Council, our school communities, and residents and stakeholders across all eight wards to build on the progress we’ve made at DCPS and ensure that every student in every neighborhood has access to a high-quality public school. Together, we will make the investments necessary to close the math and literacy gaps that hold too many students, particularly our African American students, back; we will ensure that our schools offer students the behavioral and mental health supports they need to achieve at high levels – both inside and outside the classroom; and we will transform our neighborhood schools into hubs of opportunity that provide the programming and wrap-around services our students and families need to thrive.”

Statement from Chancellor Ferebee:

“Since January, I have visited schools across every grade level in every ward, and met with DC Public Schools students, educators, families, and stakeholders to hear their stories and their feedback. I’ve seen our educators’ tireless efforts to ensure every student receives a high-quality education and I’ve heard from students and community members that DCPS needs a champion. I know that we have more work to do to accelerate student achievement, engage our stakeholders, and maintain trust between DCPS and the communities we serve. I am ready to be the chief champion for DCPS and ensure our community has a voice in defining the success for our students and setting expectations of excellence for our schools. At this transformational moment for DCPS, we will be transparent about our actions, celebrate our victories, and address our challenges.

“I thank Mayor Bowser for nominating me to serve as Chancellor and the community for welcoming me to the District. I am also grateful for our partners on the DC Council for their support. Together, we will lead DCPS into its next phase of excellence.”