It’s hard to believe that my time with the State Board is coming to a close – it feels like yesterday I was meeting the team for the first time as we reorganized the office, which had been closed for over a year due to Covid-19. Since then, the Board has undergone many changes, from personnel to the 5th floor’s makeover. I have enjoyed each day working at the State Board, whether it be in-person or communicating over Slack-mojis and GIFs. As I reflect on my favorite moments, I am also excited for all the great work that lies ahead.
3. Attending Local Events
During my year as a policy fellow in D.C., I was fortunate to attend many education-related events, some national and some local. Local events included EmpowerK-12’s DC Bold Schools, EmpowerEd’s Educator Wellness Symposium, SBOE’s Back-to-School Event, an event hosted by the DC Special Education Cooperative, and more. National events that I attended included Secretary Cardona’s Raising the Bar: Literacy and Math Series to Address Academic Recovery at the Department of Education, The Atlantic’s Education Summit, the Aurora Symposium (virtually), and more. From these experiences I was able to connect with like-minded people and learn more about a range of education issues and opportunities.
2. Team Lunch and Coffee Outings
When I began working at the State Board in August 2023, there were 5 full time employees pulling off a tremendous amount of work. In November, we welcomed two more staff members to the team who helped to alleviate some of it. Since then, we said farewell to two staff members, and welcomed two more full time employees and two additional fellows. All of this is to say, there has been a tremendous amount of transitions happening, but one through line is that we all enjoy getting together outside of the office and enjoying good food and each other’s company! During these times together we got to learn more about one another and strengthen our relationships. I look back on these moments fondly.
1. Organizing a Public Meeting Panel
Before beginning my fellowship with the State Board, I was a special education teacher for eight years. Much of my work with the Board has centered around improving special education inputs and outcomes for teachers and students. I was honored to be granted the opportunity to arrange March’s Public Meeting Panel, which focused on special education. I enjoyed the challenge of researching local partnerships and finding a range of individuals who could provide Board Members and the public with a well-rounded picture of the current state of special education from various perspectives. I am proud of how the panel turned out and encourage members and staff to continue the important work of improving outcomes for students with disabilities in the District.
D.C. State Board of Education Blog 