Ward 5 Member
DC State Board
of Education

Pursuing more just and equitable education policies at the local level.

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Housing Policy
Analysis

Familiarity with a wide variety of federal, state, and local housing policies and strategies to increase safe, stable, healthy, and affordable housing.

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Historical Research

Archival research on the politics of housing finance and fair housing, freedpeoples' education in Reconstruction North Carolina, and international higher education at Dag Hammarskjold College

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What I Believe


Every student can learn.

All students can learn and achieve at high levels, regardless of classification — at-risk, special education, multilingual learner — if they receive the supports that they need. Equity demands that we provide these supports.

Students learn best when their basic needs are met.

Students learn best when they have housing, food, and financial security at home and feel safe and cared for both physically and emotionally at school.

Parents are experts on their kids; teachers are experts on learning.

Parents and teachers need more avenues to have a direct voice in policy making to leverage their expertise and collaborate for improved student outcomes.

We can improve our schools.

Our path to improving schools lies in comprehensively addressing poverty, starting early with high-quality pre-K education, ensuring stable leadership and teacher retention, rooting practices in the science of learning, equitably allocating resources to support the schools and students who need them the most, and using data to identify and improve what is not serving students well.

We need to prepare for future disruptions.

Teachers and school leaders made heroic efforts to continue robust learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was a difficult time for many. Even as we continue to recover from that disruption, we need to prepare for the next one by thinking broadly about ways to do school such as outdoor learning and improving indoor air quality.

Education is a right.

Every student in DC should have by-right access to a pre-K to 12 feeder pattern of high-quality schools. This is an essential foundation for an equitable and successful system of school choice.





I advocate alongside Ward 5 school communities to keep students safe and welcomed.

Robert looking to his right at rally protesting federal interference in local education.

In spring 2025, I joined local leaders and DC residents to lobby Congress for restoration of DC's local funds and budget autonomy.

Robert speaks with Hill staff about restoring DC's local revenue.

On January 2, 2023, I became the sworn representative of Ward 5 on the DC State Board of Education.

Robert looking to his left at inaguration with face on screen over his shoulder

I work closely with Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker on Ward 5 school issues.

Robert standing with Councilmember Zachary Parker

I have built relationships with Ward 5 education stakeholders like Browne EC Principal Dix.

Robert with Principal Dix

I make periodic visits to DCPS schools to monitor facilities needs to inform my advocacy.

The best part of the job is interacting with students.

Robert sits with a DC Prep student for a mock interview.

Sometimes I get to party!

Robert stands with a Browne EC student at their end of the year celebration.