Rep. Eboni-Rose Thompson

On this day, we remember six members of the DCPS family we lost 23 years ago: students Asia Cottom, Bernard Brown, and Rodney Dickens, and teachers Hilda Taylor, James Debeuneure, and Sarah Clark.

They had been chosen to participate in a trip to study ecology in California beside National Geographic Society researchers. On September 11, 2001, less than 35 minutes into the trip, their flight was hijacked. At 9:37AM, the plane crashed into the Pentagon. All passengers on board were killed, and 125 Pentagon employees lost their lives.

Asia was a new student at Backus Middle School. Her father worked at the school as a coach and a classroom aide. Teachers remembered Asia as kindhearted and eager to help her classmates.

Bernard was the type of student who kept teachers on their toes at Leckie Elementary School. Bernard’s teachers agreed that he was showing real progress, and that was one of the reasons why he was recommended to participate in the trip. He loved basketball and wanted to play professionally one day.

Rodney always made the honor roll at Ketcham Elementary School. His mother expected him to be a role model for his two younger brothers, as his two older sisters had been for him. His favorite activity was watching professional wrestling—no matter what he was doing, “…he made it home to see wrestling,” his aunt remembered.

Asia, Bernard, and Rodney were each 11 years old.

Hilda Taylor was a veteran teacher at Leckie Elementary School, teaching 6th grade. Originally from Sierra Leone, she immigrated to the United States to create a better life for her family. Ms. Taylor was a mother and a grandmother.

James Debeuneure returned to the classroom as a second career. He was a 5th grade teacher at Ketcham Elementary School. He was known for arriving early and leaving late. Mr. Debeuneure was a father of three.

Sarah Clark began teaching in DCPS in 1965, and worked as a 6th grade teacher at Backus Middle School. She was engaged to be married. Ms. Clark was a mother of two.

Asia, Bernard, Rodney, Hilda, James, and Sarah are forever in our hearts. Our deepest sympathies remain with their families.

Wishing everyone a bright and merry season!

From my family to yours, wishing you a full of gratitude, joy, and the company of those who make your heart feel at home.

🚨🚨🚨
School Boundary Meetings coming up in Ward 7

get ready for a spooky good time!

Join Friends of Kingman Park, Events DC, East River Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc., Washington Teachers' Union, & CFSA for this fun and safe Trunk or Treat on !

Attend 🎃: https://bit.ly/Ward7TrunkOrTreat2023
Volunteer 🚘: https://bit.ly/Ward7TrunkOrTreatCars

Our working session has started.

We’re meeting on a rare 5th Wednesday to avoid upcoming holidays & spring break.

On the agenda:
✅OSSEDC revisions to the studies standards
✅budget
✅governance next steps

Watch 📺: https://sboe.dc.gov/events

When I learned of Karen’s passing yesterday, I had no words, only sadness.

While many will lift up Karen’s titles and positions (as we all should), I want to lift my predecessor on the DC State Board Of Education up as a person. Karen was a public servant who contributed to our community and our city. The things and people she touched, the places and spaces she was in, she all left better than she found them.

I’m still searching for the words to adequately honor Karen, but I have one word that begins to describe my feelings for her: gratitude. I so appreciate her time, energy, and efforts. I also am thankful for Earl and his devotion to her daily. If there is anything you needed to know about who Karen was, you could see it in the way Earl loved and looked at her on any given day.

Congratulations Washington Literacy Center for a marvelous grand opening!

Huge shout out to Executive Director & resident Jimmie Williams for working with LIFT Labs to bring literacy to adults in our ward & citywide.

There's a lot of work that goes beyond public meetings & sometimes beyond of local DC policy.

Grateful DC State Board Of Education brings our knowledge & work to the national table by serving on National Association of State Boards of Education Public Education Positions Committee. Learn more at: nasbe.org/committees/

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Wishing everyone a great start to the week after what I hope was a great weekend celebrating all the grads 🎓, mothers 💐and mother figures 💖 in your lives.

Our May DC State Board Of Education working session is in-person & underway.

On the agenda tonight:
✅Accountability Update from Office of the State Superintendent of Education
✅Revisions to Attendance Regulations
✅Committee Workplans

Watch📺: https://www.youtube.com/c/DCSBOE/featured
Agenda & materials🗒️: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=9000

Can we take a minute to celebrate that has phenomenal teachers?!?! 🎉🎉🎉

Last night Office of the State Superintendent of Education celebrated award winning teachers including our back to back teachers of the year!

Congratulations to the all the amazing DC Public Schools & DC Public Charter School Board educators from:
🏅Friendship Public Charter School
🏅Ron Brown College Preparatory High School
🏅Kimball Elementary School
🏅Aiton Elementary School
🏅Miner Elementary School

Grateful to start my week yesterday with inspiration.

I joined an amazing group of DC Public Schools educators on their journey to redesign high school.

Visiting Purdue Polytechnic HS with teams from H.D. Woodson High School, Bard High School Early College DC McKinley Technology High School and Benjamin Banneker Academic High School was an opportunity to lean into possibilities.

Looking forward to continuing the journey not to replicate what we say but to reimagine our own future of education for all our students.

Thanks to the staff & students of Purdue Poly Tech High for hosting and sharing the inspirational work you do.

Thanks to everyone who made it a great Enrollment Saturday.

It was great to see students, staff & families at Aiton, Kelly Miller, Smothers & Plummer.

If you couldn’t make it today, stop by DC Public Schools or visit https://enrolldcps.dc.gov to enroll your child.

Deadline approaching: 9 days remaining. Don't miss up to $5,000 in scholarships.

Apply at https://tinyurl.com/WOLCFScholarships2022

Our 1st in-person DC State Board Of Education working session is happening now.

Tune in 📺: youtube.com/DCSBOE