About DC PCSB
We are an independent DC government agency and the sole authorizer of public charter schools in our nation’s capital.
About Us
Our goal is to ensure every DC student receives a quality education that makes them feel valued and prepares them for lifelong learning, fulfilling careers, and economic security. We do that by creating the policies and conditions that empower teachers and school leaders to do their best work, and that’s educating students.
DC PCSB is an independent government agency of the District of Columbia, created in 1996, led by a volunteer seven-member board. As the sole public charter school authorizer in our nation’s capital, we provide oversight to 133 public charter schools which are managed by 66 independently run nonprofit organizations called local education agencies. These schools educated 47,525 students in school year 2024-25, nearly half of DC’s public school students.
Our Mission
DC public charter schools are environments where all students, especially those in historically marginalized groups, thrive. As DC’s charter authorizer, we:
- Approve, monitor, and evaluate schools, with an emphasis on equity and academic excellence
- Create policies and conditions to empower educators to do their best work in service of students
- Actively engage families, schools, and communities to inform our decision-making
Our Vision
Every DC student receives a quality education that makes them feel valued and prepares them for lifelong learning, fulfilling careers, and economic security.
Who We Are
Melodi Sampson
Chief School Performance Officer
Will Henderson
Chief Operating Officer
Michelle J. Walker-Davis, Ed.D.
Executive Director
Tomeika Bowden
Chief External Affairs Officer
Sarah Hampton Cheatham
General Counsel
Raven Freeman
Chief of Staff
Daniel Quandt
Associate Attorney
Michele Gray
Director, School Equity and Effectiveness
Hannah Cousino
Director, Sector Planning and Compliance
John Carlos Green
Manager, Community Engagement
Eduardo (Eddie) Roblero Diaz
Operations & Executive Support Coordinator
Sharif Hodges
Specialist, Communications
Kierra Jenkins
Manager, Special Initiatives
Gabriela Batista
Director of Human Resources
Jonathan Fisher
Manager, Data Analytics
Danielle Bell
Specialist, Sector Planning and Compliance
Charlene Haigler-Mickles
Operations Specialist
Blair Daniel
Specialist, Accountability
Nada Mousa
Strategic Initiatives Manager
Kristie Dennis
Manager, Sector Planning and Compliance
Aaron Hall
Senior Manager, Operations
Joanna Han
Director of School Finance
Jon Kobert
Policy Specialist, Policy & Legislative Affairs
Carol Harris
User Support and Knowledge Management Specialist
Tee Markham
Coordinator, Communications
Natalia Iannucci
Analytics Engineer
Chris Lin
UI/UX Engineer
Tricia Francisco
Senior Specialist, School Equity and Effectiveness
Travis Hartberger
Manager, School Equity and Effectiveness
Shakerah Sims
Senior Specialist, Talent Development and Recruitment
Agustina Moppett
Manager, Special Initiatives
Jane Pan
Junior Product Manager
Gordon Read
Analytics Engineer
Kathleen Rickmann
School Finance Manager
Kirsten James
Director of School Quality & Accountability
Nicole Keler
Specialist, School Equity & Effectiveness
J. Brianna Smith
Community Engagement Specialist
Bijon Lane
Specialist, Sector Planning and Compliance
Gina Lucchesi
Manager, School Quality and Accountability
Robert Ross
Director, Data Engineering and Analytics
Ernecia White
Senior HR Generalist
Racine Tucker-Hamilton
Director, Communications
Ben Widness
Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs
Valeria Sanders
School Finance Manager
Dannie McCollough
Specialist, School Equity and Effectiveness
Serena-Monet Lewis
Manager, School Quality & Accountability
Karlo Silbiger
Specialist, Sector Planning and Compliance
Starling Temp
Senior Specialist, Accountability
Francesca Woods
Manager, Special Initiatives
Mitch Suzara
Data Engineer
Crystal Williams
Public Policy Fellow
Vanessa Valdes Pinto
Analytics Engineer
Anna White
Senior Specialist, Partnerships
Strategic Priorities
Ensure that DC PCSB decision-making responds to citywide need and results in improved outcomes for all DC students.
Excellent Schools
Ensure that DC PCSB decision-making responds to citywide need and results in improved outcomes for all DC students.
Enduring Partnerships
Strengthen dialogue between families, school communities, and residents to create a shared understanding of our work, solicit feedback, and develop new partnerships across DC.
Effective Organization
Align our internal structure, processes, and culture with our strategic plan to allow DC PCSB to create the conditions for student success in DC.
Strategic Roadmap
Our Strategic Roadmap continues to center the students within the District. This plan will steer our efforts in three key areas: Excellent Schools, Enduring Partnerships, and Effective Organization
Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs)
As part of our Enduring Partnerships Strategic Roadmap priority, we seek to better engage with ANCs. To achieve our goals, DC PCSB offers helpful information to make the work of connecting with public charter schools easier.
School Reform Act
Congress opened the door for public charter school in the nation’s capital when it passed the DC School Reform Act of 1995 and all public charter schools in the District of Columbia are authorized under the DC Code. The DC Public Charter School Board is an independent body governed by the School Reform Act, which is codified in Title 38, Subtitle IV, Chapter 18.
