Committee of the Whole

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITNESS LIST 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004 CHAIRMAN PHIL MENDELSON COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC HEARING on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Oversight: The Office of the State Superintendent for Education on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. Hearing Room 412 (Track B) John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW DC Council Website (www.dccouncil.gov) PUBLIC WITNESS LIST 1. Danielle Robinette Senior Policy Attorney, Children's Law Center 2. Scott Goldstein Executive Director, EmpowerEd 3. Anne Gunderson Senior Policy Analyst, DC Fiscal Policy Institute 4. Audrey Kasselman Public Witness 5. Lauryn Johnson Public Witness 6. Jamal Berry President and CEO, Educare DC 7. Adam Barragan-Smith Director of Public Affairs, Educare DC 8. Lauren Hooper Parent, Educare DC 9. Dominique Williams Parent, Educare DC 10. Jhovi Polius Parent, Educare DC 11. Cesalie Jenkins Grandparent, Educare DC 12. Lawanda White Parent, Educare DC 13. Zharray Johnson Lead Teacher, Educare DC 14. Niesha Kibler Lead Teacher, Educare DC 15. Erica Brewer Assistant Teacher, Educare DC 16. Dominique Moore Community Organizer, EmpowerEd 17. Shremaine Stewart Assistant Teacher, Educare DC 18. Artia Brown Instructional Coach, Educare DC 19. Jakira Johnson Lead Teacher, Educare DC 20. Sharnetta Meyers Lead Teacher, Educare DC 21. Shelly Ward Lead Teacher, Educare DC 22. Raul Echeverria Founder and CEO, CommuniKids Preschool and Children's Language Center 23. Cristina Chapman CommuniKids Preschool and Children's Language Center 24. Whitney Martin Parent, St. Albans Early Childhood Center 25. Donna Mason Executive Director, St. Albans Early Childhood Center 26. Megan Rothman Parent, St. Albans Early Childhood Center 27. Leah Getsinger Parent, St. Albans Early Childhood Center 28. Emma Kelly PKEEP Parent 29. Marcia St. Hillaire-Finn Founder and CEO, Bright Start Early Care & Preschool 30. Ruth Roman Kiddie Academy - West End 31. Min Li Lead Teacher, Kiddie Academy - West End 32. Gracy Obuchowicz Director of Educator Wellness, EmpowerEd 33. Cristina Encinas Estrellitas School 34. Caroline Pryor Director of Policy and Powerbuilding, EmpowerEd 35. Joangelee Hernandez Pre-K Manager, CentroNia 36. Alejandro Crucet-Choi CentroNia 37. Mary Ellen Wiggins PKEEP Parent 38. Joanna Schwartz PKEEP Parent 39. Daniel Smith PKEEP Parent 40. Yasmin Reyes PKEEP Parent 41. Florencia Paz PKEEP Parent 42. Mikaela Rodkin PKEEP Parent 43. Amaury Sibon PKEEP Parent 44. Molly Scalise PKEEP Parent 45. Christina Valentiner PKEEP Parent 46. Kishan Putta PKEEP Parent 47. Jordan Clark PKEEP Parent 48. Shar Caesar-Douglas PKEEP Parent 49. Jessica Sarriot PKEEP Parent 50. Nora Toiv PKEEP Parent 51. Tyrell Holcomb Vice President of External Affairs, Jubilee Housing, Inc. 52. Kirsten Wittkowski Adult Education Manager, Briya Public Charter School 53. Ingrid Andersson Medical Assistant Advisor, Briya Public Charter School 54. Santiago Sanchez Principal, Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School 55. Isis Ramirez Post-Secondary Workforce Advisor, The Next Step Public Charter School 56. Vivian Robledo Executive Director, The Next Step Public Charter School 57. Nicole Hanrahan Co-Founder & Executive Director, LAYC Career Academy 58. Dmitriy Fotiyev Public Witness 59. Lorena Flores Public Witness 60. Andria Tobin Executive Director, Kid Power, Inc. 61. Sarah Pasqualini Director, Elementary Programs, Kid Power, Inc. 62. Noah Dougherty Director of School Talent and Academic Strategy, DC Charter School Alliance 63. Gabriela Silva Senior Program Manager, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 64. Brandi Reese Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 65. Christine Miller Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 66. DaSean Jones Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 67. Katrice Turner Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 68. Laura Fitzgerald Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 69. LaSheema Burnett Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 70. Shani Arowolaju Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 71. Simone Scott Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 72. Ty Andrews Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 73. Yolanda Corbett Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 74. Sherry McDaniel-Thomas Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 75. Davinia Seay Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 76. Tiffany Randall Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 77. Renee Davis Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 78. Micaela Deming Policy Director, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence 79. Anoosha Imran DC Policy Center 80. Heather Jenkins President and CEO, The Literacy Lab 81. Alessandra Pinna Impact Director, The Literacy Lab 82. Laura Maestas CEO, DC Prep 83. Michael Rodrigues Chief Executive Officer, St. Coletta of Greater Washington 84. Pamela McKinney Public Witness 85. Rachel Feinstein Director of DC Government and Community Relations, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington 86. Jessica Champagne Public Witness 87. Jennifer Zwilling CEO, Edlavitch DCJCC 88. Beth Bacon Public Witness 89. Aaron Alexander Co-Senior Rabbi, Adas Israel Congregation 90. Noah Hichenberg School Director, Gan HaYeled Preschool at Adas Israel Congregation 91. Ben Wacks Public Witness 92. Alicia Galvan-Flores Public Witness 93. Lynette Gonzales Public Witness 94. Nina Mack Public Witness 95. Simeon Lehmann Public Witness 96. Lauren Eskovitz Director of Early Childhood Youth and Family, Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center Preschool 97. Aaliyah Wright Public Witness 98. Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt Public Witness 99. Ebony Jeje Public Witness 100. Joy Okolagbodi Public Witness 101. Philip Johnson Public Witness 102. Heather Bernier Public Witness 103. Jill Barefoot Lead Pre-K and Curriculum Coordinator, The Hill Preschool 104. Hope Joyner Childcare Organizer, SPACEs In Action 105. Justin Lessek Executive Director, Sojourner Truth Public Charter School 106. LaMonika Jones Director,D.C. Hunger Solutions 107. Lee Levitt Executive Director, Temple Sinai DC 108. Lisa Hunter Public Witness 109. Jessica Giles Executive Director, DC Center for Strong Public Schools Action Fund 110. Emmanuel Caudillo Public Witness 111. Alexandra Simbana Public Witness 112. Julianne Schrack Public Witness 113. Jordan Rochelle Site Director, Bright Beginnings 114. Beth Perry Public Witness 115. Andre Wolfe, Jr. High School Student, Paul Public Charter School 116. Tracy White CEO, Paul Public Charter School 117. Andrea Howe Teacher, The Hill Preschool 118. Tasha Brown Assistant Director, The Hill Preschool 119. Kirsten Seckler Board Chair, Special Olympics District of Columbia 120. Melissa Hall Public Witness 121. Brittany Johnson Teacher, The Hill Preschool 122. Rosalina Burgos-Gil Executive Director, Jubilee JumpStart 123. Erica Greenberg Public Witness 124. Jakera Watson Student, Digital Pioneers Academy PCS 125. Brian Gale Jr. Student, Digital Pioneers Academy PCS 126. Mashea Ashton Executive Director, Digital Pioneers Academy PCS 127. Talia Livneh Senior Director of Programs, Rooted School Foundation 128. Jonathan Johnson Founder & CEO, Rooted School Foundation 129. Angeline Pino-Silva Site Coordinator, Communities In Schools of the Nation's Capital 130. Aylin Reyes Site Coordinator, Communities In Schools of the Nation's Capital 131. Dr. Rustin Lewis Executive Director, Communities In Schools of the Nation's Capital 132. Monique Baker Director of Programs, Communities In Schools of the Nation's Capital 133. Sundai Riggins Executive Director, Inspired Teaching Demonstration School 134. DaVaughn Montgomery Fellow/DC Educator, EmpowerEd 135. Sophia Barrata DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 136. Ange Pirko DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 137. Zende James DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 138. Armand Cuevas DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 139. Michael Lake DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 140. Cindy Zelaya DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 141. Ashley Bryant DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 142. Zack Wilson DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 143. Alexa Prepetit DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 144. Alfons Prince DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 145. Celia Daughtridge DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 146. Marlena Mitchell DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 147. Rosalyn Lake DC Educator, EmpowerEd 148. Jackeline Pena EmpowerEd 149. Elizabeth Weiss DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 150. Anthony Vernon DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 151. Mitch Kasselman Public Witness 152. Lecester Johnson CEO, Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School 153. Lesley Chavkin Public Witness 154. Nora Weiss Public Witness 155. Diane Schildert Public Witness 156. Lindsay Lieberman Public Witness 157. Elizabeth Mitchell Public Witness 158. Yesenia Stephens Public Witness 159. India Highsmith Public Witness 160. Kate Mitchell Board Member, Bright Horizons Triangle Tots Childcare Center 161. Jacob Edelman Pediatrician, DC Chapter, American  Academy of Pediatrics 162. Hugh Beshers ESL Teacher, Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School 163. Irene Jacobs Policy Manager, Black Swan Academy 164. Josh Boots Executive Director, EmpowerK12 165. Stephanie Maltz Public Witness 166. Todd Gluckman Partner,Terris, Pravlik & Millian, LLP 167. Nikki Shedrick Public Witness 168. Zain Shariff Public Witness 169. Maya Mechenbier Public Witness 170. Derrick Ford Community School Coordinator, Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative 171. Dr. Antoinette C. Grace Mbarga Community School Coordinator, Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative 172. Kary Romero Shapiro Public Witness 173. Blanca Huezo Program Director, Multicultural Spanish Speaking Providers Association (MSSPA) 174. Jodi Ovca Executive Director, Access Youth 175. Berna Artis Executive Director, DCAEYC 176. Don Gatewood Sr. Vice President, Chief Workforce Development Officer, SOME, Inc. 177. Anita Guzeh Public Witness 178. Kamani Quander Public Witness 179. Robert Allen Public Witness 180. Chantal Thompson Public Witness 181. Tenisha Holder DC Teacher, EmpowerEd 182. Ava Millstone Ally, EmpowerEd 183. Richard Marea Public Witness 184. Kelly Custer Public Witness 185. Justin Palmer Vice President, Public Policy & External Affairs, DC Hospital Association 186. Michelle Yan Chief Strategy & Operating Officer, CitySchools Collaborative 187. Caroline Hutchins Public Witness 188. Zachary Diamond Public Witness 189. Kelly Crawford Public Witness 190. Ariel Bethune Public Witness 191. Kayla Primus LAYC Career Academy PCS 192. Jordan Hopper LAYC Career Academy PCS 193. Russ Williams CEO, Center City PCS 194. Ashli Wilson Public Witness 195. Ebraheem Bannister Public Witness 196. Wilberta Smith-Bynum Public Witness 197. Brooke Baker Public Witness 198. Ann Schlegelmilch Public Witness 199. Elba Maria Lopez Public Witness 200. Michelle Harburg Public Witness 201. Jenn Kauffman Chair, ANC 4D 202. Dario Pertusi Public Witness 203. Jen Mendelsohn Co-Founder & CEO, Braintrust Tutors 204. Kathryn Procope Executive Director, Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science 205. Ronnell Fields Public Witness 206. Myesha D. Tolson Public Witness 207. Dr. Joshua Jackson Public Witness 208. Jeffrey Young Public Witness 209. Tearsa Coates Public Witness 210. Atrayu Lee Public Witness 211. Elizabeth Antunez Public Witness 212. Jordan Daugherty DC Educator, EmpowerEd 213. Charis Seiver Public Witness 214. Brandon White Chief Executive Officer, Spark the Journey 215. Molly McSherry Public Witness 216. Jackie Coombe Public Witness 217. Tiffany L. Brown Public Witness 218. Monique Riley Public Witness 219. Lori Butler Public Witness 220. Angela Das Public Witness 221. Nicole Summers Public Witness 222. Keyuanna Ballentine Public Witness 223. Laura Taylor Associate Director of Education, Study Smart Tutors 224. Erika Harrell Executive Director, electED DC 225. Anastasia Fitz Public Witness 226. Rejinae Mewborn Public Witness 227. Sharfaa Hussian Public Witness 228. Cierra Berry Public Witness 229. Erin Fisher Chief Executive Officer, Bright Beginnings 230. Latifa Boukari Gatari/Director, SPACEs In Action 231. Rafia Mohammed Gatari/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 232. Earlene Fletcher Gatari/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 233. Yassine Boukari Gatari/Asst. Director, SPACEs In Action 234. Yassimine Boukari Gatari/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 235. Edem ABA Gatari/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 236. Annie Pankey Loving Care/Owner, SPACEs In Action 237. Georgia Walker Loving Care/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 238. Sharon Lemons Loving Care/Asst. Director, SPACEs In Action 239. Victoria Franklin Loving Care/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 240. Marcia Hughes Loving Care/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 241. Wanda Edwards Bethel/Director, SPACEs In Action 242. Julie Williams Bethel/Asst. Director, SPACEs In Action 243. Symone Cross Bethel/Teacher & Parent, SPACEs In Action 244. Kiera Fernandez Blandi’s/Director, SPACEs In Action 245. Eunice Fletcher Blandi’s/Asst. Director, SPACEs In Action 246. Oleila Ochoa Blandi’s/Teacher, SPACEs In Action 247. Veva Milton Public Witness 248. Quiana Lamons Parent Leader, PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education) 249. Khaleed Balogun Public Witness 250. Jannatul Raisa Public Witness 251. Kevin Williams Public Witness GOVERNMENT WITNESS LIST 252. Dr. Antoinette Mitchell State Superintendent, Office of the State Superintendent of Education