C4DC: What DC Public Schools needs in its next chancellor

An open letter to Democratic mayoral candidate Janeese Lewis George from the Coalition for DC Public Schools and Communities (C4DC):

Selecting the next chancellor of DC Public Schools will be one of the new mayoral administration’s most consequential decisions. The chancellor will shape the educational experiences of more than 50,000 students, influence the working conditions of thousands of educators, and help determine whether families continue to view DCPS as a school system worthy of their trust. Selecting someone with the right experience, vision and skills is critical.

From our vantage point as a citywide coalition of more than 20 organizations from across all eight wards, what DCPS needs is a chancellor who is: 

An experienced educational leader

Leading DCPS requires experience managing the complexity of a large urban public school system. In an environment where neighborhood schools have faced sustained pressures, the next chancellor should have:

• At least five years of executive leadership experience in an urban public school district and at least five years of school-based experience. 
• A demonstrated record of working well with others and implementing policies that improved teaching, learning and school operations. 
• Experience leading a large organization, managing budgets, and ensuring that district policies and legal requirements are effectively implemented.

A champion for DC Public Schools

DCPS serves a critical role as the by-right public school system, providing neighborhood schools for every child at every grade. DCPS needs a leader who is unequivocally committed to strengthening the by-right public school system.

The next chancellor must be an enthusiastic champion for DCPS with a commitment to:

• Protecting, growing and strengthening neighborhood schools across the city, which includes ensuring well-maintained buildings, no closures, and stable enrollment and budgets.
• Promoting the strengths and opportunities offered by DCPS schools, particularly in neighborhoods where families have many educational options, and ensuring that programming and opportunities are equitably distributed across DCPS schools, neighborhoods and wards.

A leader with a commitment to educational equity

Educational equity should be reflected not only in words but also in developing and implementing policies that prioritize DC Public Schools.

The next chancellor should have demonstrated success in:

• Addressing the root causes of educational inequities, including investment in school-based mental and behavioral health, community schools, and stronger connections between the government’s anti-poverty work and its education system. 
• Advancing equity by respecting the diversity and identities of DC students through operational decisions, resource allocation and district priorities.

A leader who ensures every child is supported, engaged and challenged

Academic success depends on more than academic instruction alone.

The next chancellor should:

• Recognize the importance of social-emotional learning and ensure that both students and educators have the support and skills they need to thrive.
• Expand opportunities for all students to access high-quality arts, athletics, enrichment activities, and other well-rounded educational experiences, while intentionally reducing disparities in opportunity, programming and educator training across DCPS schools.

A partner to school communities and educators

The next chancellor should:

• Regularly seek out the perspectives of teachers, principals, school staff, families and the community, and demonstrate that their input meaningfully informs decisions rather than serving only as a symbolic exercise.
• Prioritize high-quality and differentiated professional development, particularly for educators entering teaching through career-change pathways or with limited classroom experience.
• Carefully evaluate existing contracts with vendors to ensure they strengthen the professional capacity of educators rather than duplicating or oversimplifying their work.

A transparent, curious and adaptive leader

Strong school systems depend upon trust. The next chancellor should:

• Communicate openly and in a timely manner with parents, educators, students, community leaders and the public, especially in times of crisis, while supporting principals in doing the same. 
• Foster a culture of trust and transparency where students, teachers, staff and families feel safe sharing concerns and ideas.
• Demonstrate intellectual curiosity by seeking new information, learning from evidence, monitoring results, adapting when necessary, and approaching challenges with openness rather than defensiveness.

A capable manager and problem solver

DCPS faces significant operational challenges. The next chancellor should demonstrate the ability to:

• Solve complex problems with humility, while building strong collaborative relationships with educators, school leaders, families and community partners. 
• Recruit and retain talented staff while improving the working climate throughout DCPS.
• Effectively address long-standing challenges in special education, enrollment and long-term planning.
• Steward public resources responsibly by developing a master education plan that guides budget decisions.

Looking ahead

This is an initial blueprint. C4DC will support the formal process that will be used to select a chancellor as outlined in the DC Code. 

DCPS has exceptional educators, talented school leaders, dedicated staff and remarkable students. Should you be elected our next mayor, we urge you to select a chancellor who combines operational experience with educational vision; who is committed to equity through action rather than rhetoric; and who listens with humility and builds trust throughout the school system. The future of DC’s children depends on getting this decision right.

The Coalition for DC Public Schools & Communities (C4DC) is a citywide coalition of more than 20 organizations from across all eight wards committed to excellent and equitable DC Public Schools. Since 2015, C4DC has brought together parents, educators and community organizations to build consensus and advance practical solutions that strengthen DCPS.

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