Testimony of Lea Crusey, Chair DC Public Charter School Board

Testimony of Lea Crusey, Chair DC Public Charter School Board

DC Public Charter School Board Confirmation Hearing for Shukurat Adamoh Faniyan

Committee of the Whole

July 7, 2023

Good morning, Chairman Mendelson, Councilmember Frumin, and members of the Committee of the Whole. I am Lea Crusey, Chair of the DC Public Charter School Board. 

I want to thank you for holding this hearing today and allowing me to testify, and to testify remotely today, in support of the renomination of Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan. And I would like to thank Mayor Bowser for putting forward her renomination.

DC PCSB is the sole public charter school authorizer in DC. Over the last year, Ms. Adamoh-Faniyan voted on policies to ensure families in the District have access to high quality and equitable educational opportunities. She has proven herself to be devoted to the students and communities of DC’s public charter schools throughout her career, and in her time on the Board.

Our mission, vision, and Strategic Roadmap put student success front and center, and I feel strongly that Ms. Adomah-Faniyan has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to students as a Board Member. She brings her perspective as a subject matter expert - including as former classroom educator, a local nonprofit leader in literacy, and as a school leader - to all the decisions we must make as we evaluate school performance and review
agreements with public charter schools. Her work as a Board Member reflects her commitment to the community and readiness to bring more equity to our policies, processes, and practices.

The Board is currently looking forward to another school year, and we will hold multiple important votes in the coming months. We will vote on DC PCSB’s comprehensive Charter Goals Policy, revisions to our accountability framework, and seven LEAs’ reviews and renewals this upcoming school year.

Ms. Adamoh Faniyan’s experience and perspective will be crucial as we make these important decisions.

For these reasons, I ask that you vote to confirm Shukurat Adamoh-Faniyan to the Board. Thank you again for allowing me to testify before you today; I am happy to answer any questions.