Today, the Bowser Administration, through an initative led by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), began the distribution of more than $64 million to nearly 140 public charter schools representing 70 local education agencies in the first installment of the charter teacher pay program. The charter teacher pay program builds on historic investments by the Bowser Administration in DC public and public charter school educators.

“By investing in our educator workforce, OSSE is continuing its commitment to improving outcomes for students across the District,” said State Superintendent Dr. Christina Grant. “We are not accepting the status quo; rather, we are purposefully and diligently creating an educational ecosystem that can attract and retain quality educators and meets the needs of all students.”

The charter teacher pay program is part of a more than $73 million investment by Mayor Bowser to provide 7.6 percent retroactive payments to returning teachers and increase charter teacher pay by 12.5 percent going forward. The second installment of remaining funds will go out in June 2024. These pay increases coincide with the significant salary increases received by teachers at DC Public Schools. These payments are designed to increase teacher compensation, incentivize teacher retention, and provide increased transparency for charter teacher salaries in the District of Columbia.

Other new programs and investments aimed at supporting DC educators include:

• The launch of the new OSSE Learning Management System (LMS), which provides teachers, instructional coaches, school administrators, and other school-based staff with on-demand, asynchronous coursework on a variety of critical topics, such as serving students with dyslexia and trauma-informed practices.
• An investment of over $3 million in Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to provide training and $1,000 stipends for the first 1,000 teachers who complete science of reading training.
• A $1.6 million investment of federal recovery funds for educators to attend math bootcamps. Nearly 200 teachers from all eight wards are currently enrolled in math bootcamps.
• A new Special Education micro-credential and the Special Education Endorsement Recovery Initiative (SEERI) that enable DC educators to build their foundational knowledge to serve students with disabilities, as well as earn an add-on endorsement to their existing teacher credential. Over 200 educators have enrolled in both the micro-credential and SEERI pathway program, which qualifies for a $1,500 incentive payment upon completion.
• A $1.2 million flexible teacher scheduling pilot program, launching in 2024, which aims to ensure that teaching in DC remains an attractive and sustainable option for top teachers.
• “Grow Your Own” (GYO) programs that allow DC high school students and paraprofessionals to pursue training to become a certified teacher at no cost.
• An investment of $1.6 million to launch a registered apprenticeship in teaching program in the 2024-25 school year, which will enable teacher apprenticeships for up to 100 new educators to learn critical skills to become effective teachers while earning an income.

To ensure future investments and programs are aligned with educator needs, OSSE facilitates annual Superintendent Advisory Councils. The Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) and Principal Advisory Council (PAC) will help to inform future investments and programs by providing critical feedback and insights to the Superintendent and members of the OSSE team on a variety of topics. Members of the TAC and PAC represent both DCPS and public charter schools, and reflect the population and rich diversity of DC’s teacher and student populations. The TAC and PAC include educators working with students in early learning, K-12 and adult education spaces. Members of the 2023-24 councils are included below.

Engagements with educators who are working tirelessly in the field will ensure that OSSE policies are reflective of what DC schools, teachers and leaders need.

To learn more about OSSE’s work to support educators, visit OSSE’s website.

2023-24 School Year Teacher Advisory Council

• Alex Clark, Grades 9-12 Health & Physical Education Teacher, Dunbar High School
• Alfons Prince, Grades 7-8 Math Teacher, Center City Public Charter School– Brightwood Campus
• Aliyah McNeely, Grade 4 Science & Social Studies Teacher, JO Wilson Elementary School
• Andrew Valent, Grade 2 Reading Interventionist, Inspired Teaching Demonstration School Public Charter School
• Beth Barkley, Grades 9-10 English Teacher in the International Academy, Cardozo Education Campus
• Dennis Chavez, Grades 9-12 Special Education/History Teacher, Cardozo Education Campus
• Electra Bolotas, Grades 9-12 Art Teacher, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School
• Jessica Puyo, Grade 4 English & Social Studies Teacher, Friendship Public Charter School – Chamberlain Campus
• Jermar Rountree, Grades K-8 Health & Physical Education Techer, Center City Public Charter School – Brightwood Campus
• Joseph Dillon, Grades 6-8 Math & Social Studies Teacher, KIPP DC: Aim Academy
• Katie Soffer, Grade 4 Math & Science Teacher, Inspired Teaching Demonstration School Public Charter School
• Kerstin Schmidt, Pre-K Teacher, Briya Public Charter School
• Keturah Williams, Grade 1 Multilingual Teacher, Takoma Elementary School
• Madra Harden, pre-K 3-Kindergarten Special Education Teacher, LaSalle Backus Elementary School
• Monica Vigo, Grades K-5 Special Education Teacher, Ross Elementary School
• Octavia Wolf, Grade 5 English & History Teacher, Barnard Elementary School
• Rica Spriggs, Grades pre-K 3-4 Special Education Teacher, Thomas Elementary School
• Shawn Hardy, Grade 6 Math Teacher, Kelly Miller Middle School
• Yvette Carmouche, Grades 2-3 Special Education Teacher, Hendley Elementary School

2023-24 School Year Principal Advisory Council

• Charlie Crabtree, Principal, AppleTree @ LEARN DC
• Dr. Chunita Pilgrim, Principal, Burrville Elementary School
• DeWayne Little, Principal, Roosevelt STAY High School
• DuRay Stevens, Principal, Meridian Public Charter School – Elementary Campus
• Jon Rolle, Principal, Garfield Elementary School
• Kerry Richardson, Principal, Brookland Middle School
• Kortni Stafford, Principal, McKinley Tech Middle School / High School
• Dr. Kristie Edwards, Principal, Randle Highlands Elementary School
• Micah Westerman, Principal, Center City Public Charter School – Brightwood Campus
• Michelle Johnson, Principal, Capital City Public Charter School
• Milton Laurence, Assistant Principal, Dunbar High School
• Natalie Smith, Head of School, Global Citizens Public Charter School
• Nicole Blair Barzey, Principal, Meridian Public Charter School – Middle School Campus
• Nicole Bodner, Assistant Principal, Inspired Teaching Demonstration School Public Charter School
• Nicole Ugel, Assistant Principal, Janney Elementary School
• Queneia Harley-Burkeen, Assistant Principal, Goodwill Excel Center
• Sara Arranz, Assistant Principal, Thaddeus Stevens/Military Road Early Learning Center
• Tracie Dow, Principal, Friendship Public Charter School – Southeast Academy Campus