School Leader Lab is pleased to announce a new cohort of the Teacher Leader Cohort (TLC). These individuals join the growing School Leader Lab community of over 500 leaders, which is designed to support teacher leaders in creating inclusive, high-performing learning environments that foster growth and excellence for all students.
TLC is a seven-month, cross-school program that develops teachers who lead teams at their schools (i.e., grade level leads, department chairs, etc.). Through practice-based sessions and collaboration with their peers across the DMV, participants will grow as leaders who disrupt patterns of racism and inspire their team to reach ambitious goals. The cohort offers these leaders the opportunity to step back from their demanding daily work and reflect with peers on their collective and individual impact as leaders. During their time in the cohort, leaders will:
- Embrace their core values and strengthen self- and social-awareness.
- Facilitate impactful team meetings to lead their team to ambitious goals.
- Engage in crucial conversations.
TLC 2025 includes 22 leaders from 7 LEAs across DC, representing Wards 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8, as well as Alexandria and Arlington Public Schools:
- Brian Biscoe, 11th Grade Level Lead, DC International School
- Jessica Lee, 4th Grade Teacher, Hyde-Addison Elementary
- Samantha Walters, 5th Grade ELA Teacher & Team Lead, James K Polk Elementary
- Nicole Mammah, Sped TLI, Simon Elementary
- Kynara Calicutt, Middle School Science Teacher & 5th Grade Teacher Leader, Ingenuity Prep PCS
- AnaMaria Leyva Garzon, 1st Grade Dual Homeroom Teacher, Mount Vernon Community School
- Janelle Cox, 5th Grade Lead English Humanities Teacher, Mundo Verde PCS
- Brynn Rosser, 6th Grade World Geography & iPBL Coach, Sousa Middle School
- Maximo Alfaro, 8th Grade Individuals and Societies Department Chair & Teacher, DC International School
- Taylor Diggs, 4th Grade ELA & Social Studies Teacher, Simon Elementary
- Alexis Allen, 3rd Grade Level Chair, KIPP DC: Heights Academy
- Aviana Worrell, 2nd Grade General Education Teacher & Teacher Coach, Ingenuity Prep PCS
- Marina Lizarralde, Kindergarten Spanish Lead Teacher, DC Bilingual
- Anne Roth, Dual Language Kindergarten Lead Teacher, Mount Vernon Community School
- Jamia Barber, 5th-8th Grade Resource Room Lead Teacher & Family Engagement Lead, Ingenuity Prep PCS
- Alex Vaughn, 3rd Grade Teacher, Cora Kelly Elementary
- Alyssa Ferguson, Montessori Elementary I (Grades 1-3), Montessori School of Northern Virginia (MSNV)
- William Portilla, 1st Grade Teacher, DC Prep PCS
- Michael Gaskins, Middle School Science Teacher & Peer Coach, DC International School
- Ebony Simms, ECE Instructional Coach & TLI, King Elementary
- Ashley Porter, Video Production Teacher & IB Career Program Academy of Information Technology Department Chair, DC International School
- Lyndsy Cadet, 3rd Grade Lead English Teacher, DC Bilingual
