(Washington, D.C. – March 14, 2022) A collective of 16 brilliant educational leaders set out to begin their Surge Fellowship journey this month during the opening retreat on March 23-25, 2023. Since launching, the Washington, D.C. Surge Academy has welcomed two cohorts of emerging leaders of color.
“Coordinated efforts by collectives of passionate change-makers truly drive lasting change. I am honored and excited to facilitate this second cohort of leaders who will continue to shift the tide in education and bring about liberatory change for the youth of Washington D.C.,” said Janeen Lee, Washington, D.C. Academy Program Director.
Meet the Surge Academy 2023 Washington, D.C. Cohort!
Patricia Zaki – Assistant Principal at Ron Brown High School, DCPS
Dana Mitchell – Senior Partnership Strategist at Kindred Communities
John Johnson – Program Director at City Year
Maya Stewart – Partner at School Leader Lab
T. Michelle Colson – Dean of Students at District of Columbia Public Schools
Deidra Bailey – Project Implementation Director at CityBridge Education
Jessica Gonzalez – Director Inclusive DC at SchoolTalk DC
Jhonna Turner – DEI Project Management Consultant at Jhonna Amelia, LLC
Ashley Ogbonna – Director of Student Policy and Title IX Coordinator at KIPP DC
Aloysia Jean (AJ) – Digital Marketing Manager at PeerForward
Brittany Richardson – Humanities Teacher at Center City Public Charter Schools
Dignorlyn Poweriet – Corporate and Foundations Partnerships Director at City Year DC
Serena-Monet Lewis – Academy Director at Words Beats & Life, Inc.
Stephanie Renee Young – High School Principal at KIPP DC
Mark Harris – Program Analyst at DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Simone Webster – Independent Consultant for The Black Wildflowers Fund and Columbia University Center for Public Research and Leadership
During their time in the fellowship program, the collective will hone their executive skills, problem-solving abilities, and team-building techniques. They will navigate complex topics surrounding the historical inequity in education and politics.
The Washington, D.C. Surge Academy is made possible through the collaboration and support from Education Forward DC.
About The Surge Institute:
The Surge Institute is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was established with a simple but important mission to develop and elevate leaders of color who create transformative change for children, families, and communities. Founded by Carmita Semaan in 2014, the organization was designed to empower emerging diverse leaders to change the landscape of education by providing them with a unique, authentic leadership development experience. To learn more about The Surge Institute, please visit: www.surgeinstitute.org
