SYEP Participant says Farewell to PCSB

Six weeks ago, I walked into the Communications Department of the DC Public Charter School Board nervous and anxious to see what the summer had in store for me. This isn’t my first interaction with the DC Public Charter School Board as I am a product of DC public charter schools.

My relationship with public charter schools started in 2004 when I started attending KIPP DC: Aim Academy and graduated as part of their founding class. I then went to a traditional public school for a year but I didn’t feel that I had the right support in school so I transferred to Thurgood Marshall Academy.

At Thurgood Marshall Academy, I was a part of so many activities that allowed me to grow as a person. I was involved in student government, drama club, newspaper club, among other things. The most rewarding experience I had was becoming a student ambassador. The position allowed me to not only represent Thurgood Marshall Academy, but also improve my public speaking skills, which helped me further my skills to go on and major in Mass Communication in college. I had the opportunity to even do a whole tour in Spanish for our pen pals that came to visit from Mexico.

Three years later, I was selected to be a participant of Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which placed me at the DC Public Charter School Board. This was based on my chosen career field of Mass Communications. Over the past six weeks I have sat in on several meetings and discussions that have helped me understand the different tasks that take place here.

The atmosphere at the DC Public Charter School Board is different than the other offices I have interned. Although each person on staff has specific projects to complete, everyone is willing to work with one another to get each project done. Also, everyone is very friendly and welcoming to new staff, which gives the office a positive feel.

Here I learned the process of how to open a charter school, how they grade each school based on performance, and how important it is that they receive information and data that is up-to-date. I am very appreciative to have been given this opportunity to be a part of the PCSB staff because I learned so much this summer. 

Darahrose Allen, PCSB's Summer Youth Employment Program participant, gives a recap of her summer experience.