Lea Crusey

Chair

"I am inspired by the power and potential of DC’s scholars, PK through adult. My work as a Board member is grounded in the belief that every child can achieve, and my responsibility as an adult and Board member is to support students reaching their greatest potential. I work through my optimism that is rooted in this prize: All students are prepared for college and life."

Lea Crusey is the board chair of DC PCSB. Ms. Crusey began her career as a classroom teacher through Teach for America, first in the San Francisco Bay Area in northern California and later in Singapore. She has had a long career in and around public service. In education, Ms. Crusey worked for both StudentsFirst and Democrats for Education Reform. During the Obama Administration, Ms. Crusey served in the US Department of Education where she advised on a PK-12 education policy, teacher preparation, public charter schools, Promise Neighborhoods, and literacy. Currently, Ms. Crusey is a founder of an early stage start-up focused on economic agility. A Ward 6 resident and parent to two public school students, Ms. Crusey holds a bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College with a double major in government and history and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

She will serve until 2026.