Members of the Race & Equity Core Committee (RECC) commit to being leaders for race and equity at Capital City. They work with colleagues and teachers to build a culture of inquiry and improvement where staff can have courageous conversations about race, and we can make the necessary changes to interrupt inequities and fully realize our school’s mission and vision. This role is a 2-year commitment to ensure the integrity of the work.
RECC Responsibilities Include:
- Helping realize the school’s Race and Equity vision
- Being a resource for staff grappling with equity issues and planning courageous conversations
- Planning and facilitating race and equity professional development for staff
- Coordinating with school leaders to ensure Race and Equity work becomes a part of our regular work as a school rather than something separate
- Supporting the planning and development of student-led equity work that is developmentally appropriate for each campus
- Reviewing school policies through an equity lens
- Working with our Director of Family Engagement & Admissions and other staff to deepen family engagement work in support of equity goals
- Working to plan and facilitate additional events and opportunities for the Capital City community to support the determined goals and further race and equity work at Capital City
Meet our RECC
Mark joined Capital City in August 2022. He holds a Bachelor in English from Clafin University and a Master in Secondary English Education from New York University.
Mark brings more than 10 years of educational experience to Capital City. Prior to Capital City, he worked for various public charter schools in Newark, NJ. He has received training in Classroom Culture in the Digital Space, Coloring with Equity: Using an Equity Lens in Planning and Evaluation, Independent Reading: Then and Now, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Humanities Classroom, Close Reading Best Practice and Memoir Writing.
In his spare time, Mark is a queer R & B artist and writer. He has performed at many Pride events and featured in multiple publications. His EP also charted #31 on the iTunes R & B charts! He is currently working on a new album, a book of poetry, and preparing for his reality tv debut!
His favorite quote: “There is no better teacher than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.” -Malcolm X
Cassandra rejoined Capital City in August 2022 as a Long-Term Substitute Drama Teacher. She previously worked at Capital City from 2009-2015 as a High School Spanish Teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art/Anthropology from Pitzer College.
Most recently Cassandra was the owner and primary caregiver for a birth-5 years childcare provider. She is fluent in Spanish. Her interests include traveling, gardening, hiking, sustainability, healthy foods, green design, reading and family time.
Jose joined Capital City in 2008 as a founding Upper School teacher. He holds a Doctoral degree in Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a specialty in Sculpture both from the Universidad de Bellas Artes de Granada in Spain. He also holds specialty certificates in Casting, Modeling and Mold Making, and Graphic Design, from various schools in Cordoba, Spain. He attained his Certificate in Pedagogic Aptitude from the Universidad de Granada in Spain.
Before coming to Capital City, Jose taught at the Waldorf School in Bethesda, Maryland, the Children’s Studio Public Charter School in Washington, DC, and the Fine Arts School in Tetouan, Morocco, for a total of 9 years.
Jose has received awards for his work, including the Power of Art 2010 Award, sponsored by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation at the Lab School of Washington, DC, as well as first prize for New Individual Fine Artist of Cordoba, 2000, in Cordoba, Spain.
In Spain, three of Jose's sculptures are on public display and pieces of his artwork are exhibited in the Casa del Cuidadano (City Hall) of Cordoba and in the Museo del Marmol de Macael, in Almeria.
At Capital City, Jose has offered many after school activities, including digital art, yoga and collage, techniques of painting, techniques of sculpture, and graffiti art.
Brittney began her teaching career at Capital City in 2013 as a Kindergarten Teaching Fellow through the Inspired Teaching Residency Program. She holds a Master in Education Policy and Leadership with a concentration in Literacy Instruction and Instructional Coaching from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and African Studies, and a certificate in Children’s Literature, from The University of Pittsburgh. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in K-12 Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education.
Prior to Capital City, Brittney taught and served as a mentor for first year teachers in DCPS and Public Charter Schools. She piloted a mindfulness/conflict resolution curriculum called Peace of Mind and is trained in Restorative Justice and Trauma-Informed Responses and Cultural Competency for LGBTQ Youth.
Outside of Capital City, Brittney is a local racial and social justice activist in DC and spends her weekends serving the DC community through teach-ins, mutual aid, and protest. She is also a fitness instructor and Director of Inclusion, Equity, and Justice at spark, an education wellness and social justice platform.
She also enjoys traveling, reading, watching reality TV and spending time with her wife and two dogs.
Jasmine joined Capital City in August 2015 as an 8th grade Humanities teacher. She graduated with a Master's of Education from the University of Massachusetts in Boston and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Communication Studies from Trinity University.
Prior to joining Capital City, Jasmine worked for Public Schools in Boston and Montgomery County. She also has taught at other District of Columbia Public Charter Schools.
Her hobbies include reading, DIY projects, pinning on Pinterest, and spending time with her family.
Mr. Martin joined Capital City in 2009. He holds a Master of Music in Composition with an emphasis on Stage Music from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC and a Bachelor of Science in Music Technology from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in Musicology (music history) with a minor in Philosophy.
Mr. Martin began his teaching career as Director of Percussion at Mohonasen Senior High School in Schenectady, New York in 1993. He was a Band Director at Hammond Middle School in Alexandria, VA and has been on the Faculty as a Guest Lecturer at The Catholic University of America.
Aside from teaching, Mr. Martin is also a writer, composer, musicologist, and playwright. He has written non-fiction essays on aesthetics, modern music, electronic music, music pedagogy, music theory, music education, sociology, and philosophy. Mr. Martin's play, Poe, received a two-month run at the historic Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis Maryland in 2015. He has presented numerous lectures on a variety of musical topics. Mr. Martin presented at the poster session of American Musicological Society’s fall meeting in Richmond in 2015 on “The Record and the Creation of Hip-Hop Culture: How Technology Helped Create an African-American Musical Style.” In 2014, Mr. Martin was a part of the Guest Artist Lecture Series, at The University of Texas at Tyler, giving the lectures: “Crafting a Life as a Creative Artist,” “From Formula to Fanfare: How Music Education Moved from a Science to a Performance-Based Curriculum,” “Minimalism-Introduction and Analysis,” and Composition Master Classes. Before shifting his focus to the writing of prose Mr. Martin was a composer. As a composer he scored over forty dramatic plays, has written for choir, voice, small and large ensemble, electronica, and had an opera performed at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage—which Mr. Martin not only composed the musical score but also wrote the libretto. His music has been performed on both coasts and a selection of his works are published by Westphalia Press. Mr. Martin’s fiction writing includes short stories, plays, and he is currently writing his second novel.
Veronica joined Capital City in July 2014. She holds a Bachelor in Social Work and Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Prior to Capital City, she worked as a receptionist at a chiropractic office.
Veronica is a native Spanish speaker and conversational in Portuguese. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and learning new cultures, volunteering for a youth group in her church community, reading, and hiking.
Monica joined Capital City in August 2016. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Science and a Master of Science in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Memphis.
She previously taught Math at Georgetown University, Maya Angelou Public Charter School, and Hillcrest High School.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running and walking, and going to the beach.