This week, Two Rivers was recognized as the DC charter school with the Most Outstanding Parent and Best Program Innovation! At the annual Celebrating Best Practices in DC’s Public Charter Schools event on December 5th, the Public Charter School Board (PCSB) gave awards to Two Rivers parent Tamara Brown and to the Share Your DC program. The PCSB also commemorated the 4th Street campus’ Tier 1 status. We are so proud to have been recognized for these special achievements!
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Tamara Brown, a Two Rivers parent for more than a decade, has gone above and beyond in her support for the Two Rivers community. Whether it is decorating the community room to help 8th grade graduates feel special, co-chairing the Framing the Future Gala, providing a delicious lunch for staff during staff appreciation week, hosting community service events, organizing the book fair, or co-leading the PSA, Tamara brings selflessness and a desire to create community. In her many parent volunteer roles, Tamara has worked to connect and collaborate with everyone in the community to make the school better for everyone. When we opened the Young campus, Tamara was first in line to make sure that our new families felt welcome. In her acceptance speech at the event, Tamara reflected, “The most joy I receive in this world is being a mother. But it has been truly easy and rewarding for me to be part of [my children’s] school life because Two Rivers has allowed parents to step up and truly partner and collaborate and be a true voice in my children’s education.” Tamara, you exemplify the ethic of crew—that our success depends on the success of others as we engage in “consequential acts of service to others.” Congratulations, and thank you! We are so proud of you and so grateful for you!
PCSB also recognized Share Your DC (SYDC), a unique parent and staff expedition, as a catalyst to help strengthen diverse school communities. Through six cohorts, over a hundred adults have participated in (and co-facilitated) sessions to inspire connection across lines of difference, such as race, religion, economic class, and others. Parent-produced posters (now on display at each campus) serve as a Showcase of Learning. SYDC alumni have presented their insights at Busboys and Poets, the DC Charter School Conference, EL Education National Conference in Atlanta, and in March will present at the annual SXSW EDU conference in Austin, TX.
Next spring, Breakthrough Montessori will adopt SYDC for their school community.
Share Your DC started as a way for the Two Rivers community to address systemic racism, create community, and help parents understand EL Education. Thanks to the passion of many participants and parent leaders, it has become an example of deep and meaningful adult learning.
Congratulations to SYDC creators: Jessica Wodatch, Khizer Husain, and Janine Gomez. Also, thank you to our wonderful staff and parent facilitators: Bridgette Behling, Alison Waddy, Princess Whitaker-Taylor, Jenny Bradbury, Al Williams, Ben Williams, Ama Teasdel, Shannon Kelly, Laura Sparks, Manon Matchett, and Rebecca Wenstrom, Thanks as well to the Two Rivers community that has nurtured and supported SYDC!
Two Rivers at 4th Street has continued its streak of achieving Tier 1 status on the School Quality Report every single year since the framework was created in 2012. The School Quality Report measures student academic performance and growth, student attendance, and reenrollment. We are excited to continue being one of the best performing schools in the District while staying committed to our mission to nurture a diverse group of students to become lifelong, active participants in their own education, develop a sense of self and community, and become responsible and compassionate members of society. We are appreciative of the hard work and commitment to excellence from students, parents, and staff as we together achieve Tier 1 status for the 8th year in a row!
