Our People

CARE Anacostia’s Board includes community members with diverse backgrounds, dedicated to elevating the performance of the youth and their schools in Anacostia. Our board members understand the following:

Education is a civil rights issue.

Systemic racism has real impacts on public education.

D.C.’s history affects the current educational landscape.

Anacostia’s structure and social landscape is vital to organizing.

The experiences of marginalized communities we mobilize are unique.

Board Members

  • Crystal Stewart

    Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC

    Community Member

  • Maisha Riddlesprigger

    Head of Academics, Overtime and former Ketcham Elementary School Principal

  • You!

    If you would like to nominate someone to serve on CARE Anacostia’s Board, please contact us. We would love to chat!

  • Hope Brown

    Owner, Tax-Minded Bookkeeper

    Ward 8 Resident

  • Community Member

    Fairlawn resident and Washingtonian

  • During her tenure as principal of two different DC public schools in Wards 7 and 8, Maisha Riddlesprigger consistently focused on improving student achievement, mental health support, and student outcomes. In her three years as principal at Davis Elementary School in Ward 7, Maisha doubled student proficiency rates in ELA and math. Similarly, she doubled ELA and nearly tripled math proficiency rates at Ketcham Elementary School in Ward 8. Maisha now serves as Head of Academics at Overtime Elite, and brings her previous experience and achievement in DCPS to the CARE Anacostia team.

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Board members support CARE Anacostia with their:

Time | Talent | Treasure | Testimony | Ties

Our Founding Board

Pat Philippe

  • Pat Philippe earned his Bachelor’s in Accounting and Finance from Philadelphia University, and he currently serves as the Vice President of Community Impact at Goodwill of Greater Washington. Pat leads a team of cross-functional workforce development professionals with the planning and evaluation of existing and new high-impact workforce development programs. He brings years of experience in workforce development and performance management from government, private, and non-profit sectors to the CARE Anacostia team. He lives in Historic Anacostia, DC with his beautiful wife and two amazing daughters.

  • TaNeesha Johnson has been a resident of Washington, DC, for most of her adult life. After attending Trinity Washington University as an undergraduate and American University for graduate school, focusing on American History and Political Science, she sought to serve in ways that allowed her to witness and gain insight into issues that proved challenging for communities to thrive and maintain resiliency. Working with CARE aligns with this goal, and TaNeesha anticipates making a difference while addressing education disparities in the city.

  • Jhonna Turner knew her career would revolve around student advocacy at an early age. In a minor student exchange program, she saw the sharp contrast between what her school received and what students in affluent communities were offered. Her thirst for advocacy continued as she attended a Historically Black College and University, and the power of investment to create opportunities for all to flourish clicked. Twenty years later, serving in various roles in Washington, DC, she is joining both beliefs together: advocacy and investment. To change systems, she believes you must address the root cause of the inequities in public education and also provide the resources now to ensure all have the opportunities to live up to their highest potential. She is one of the proud founders of the CARE Washington, DC, Movement.

    www.jhonnaamelia.com

  • Though currently serving as a teacher at Ketcham Elementary School in Anacostia, Joyce Pendleton’s career path didn’t start that way. After receiving a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, a Master’s in Telecommunications Management, and a Master’s in Teaching, Joyce spent 30 years in corporate America. Only then did she step out on faith and follow her dream of becoming a teacher. She began as a substitute teacher with DCPS in 2013, and her time at Ketcham started in 2015. Joyce was soon invited back to serve as a paraprofessional and later was offered a teaching position. CARE Anacostia is meaningful to Joyce because she wants her students to have every opportunity to become successful.

  • Christina Hanson’s educational journey began with an early love of learning instilled by her parents. She became a proud UNC Tar Heel and NCCU Eagle during her college years and is currently in her 18th year as a public school educator. Christina has served as an Instructional Aide, Special Education Teacher, Teacher Leader, Resident Principal, and Assistant Principal. A parent herself, Christina believes the work of CARE helps her live out her belief that every child deserves family, educators, and community members who will work together with passion and purpose to remove barriers and create lifelong learners who achieve excellence. Christina currently resides in Ward 7 and volunteers with Girls on the Run-DC and National Community Church in her free time.