Turning Insight into Action

Our Mission

The mission of the Partnership for DC School Excellence is to partners with schools to improve student outcomes by driving transformation through strategic support and tailored resources.

Our Vision

We envision a city where every student thrives, every leader is supported, and every school delivers lasting success.

Our Theory of Action

We Believe:

Lasting change must be led from within, and that strategic partnerships support great leadership
Data and patterns provide valuable insights to inform
action
Strategic data analysis often comes from intentional reflection in collaboration with others
Strategic actions impact and improve data
Maximizing and coordinating all available resources—people, data, funding, time and partnerships—is necessary to drive meaningful and lasting success

Meet the Team

Vanessa Carlo-Miranda

Founding Executive Director

Vanessa Carlo-Miranda brings nearly 20 years of experience across school, district, state, and national education systems. As PDCSE’s Founding Executive Director, she leads the Partnership’s strategy and works alongside school leaders to strengthen organizational capacity, advance school excellence, and build more effective systems for students and educators. Her experience includes senior leadership at StriveTogether and E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, as well as work with the U.S. Department of Education and OSSE.

Dahlia Aguilar

Director of Program Strategy and Implementation

Dahlia Aguilar is a veteran educator, executive coach and school leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing bilingual, inclusive, and equity-centered education. As PDCSE’s Director of Program Strategy and Implementation, she brings deep expertise in school leadership, program design, educator development, and organizational strategy. She is the co-founder and former founding principal and Chief Schools Officer of Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School and has held leadership roles at UnidosUS and other education organizations.

Megan Jirón

Program Manager

Megan Jiron brings more than seven years of experience in program coordination, project management, education, and nonprofit work across the U.S. and internationally. As PDCSE’s Program Manager, she supports organizational operations, project coordination, communications, and the development of systems and resources that strengthen the Partnership’s work. A bilingual Returned Peace Corps Volunteer and intercultural communication specialist, Megan brings a cross-cultural and community-centered perspective to her work.

Melissa Kim

Senior Consultant

Dr. Melissa Kim brings more than 30 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and education strategist. As a Senior Consultant with PDCSE, she draws on extensive experience leading school systems, developing talent, advancing strategic initiatives, and building stronger learning environments for students and educators. Her previous roles include Deputy Chancellor of DC Public Schools, Deputy Director for U.S. Programs at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Chief Academic Officer at KIPP DC, and partner at NewSchools Venture Fund.

Advisory Board

Dr. Antoinette Mitchell
DC State Superintendent of Education

Dr. Michelle J. Walker-Davis
Executive Director of the DC Public Charter School Board

Ariel Johnson
Executive Director of the DC Charter School Alliance

Rashida Young
Partner leading the Schools, Talent, & Racial Equity Team at Ed Forward DC

Patricia Brantley
CEO of Friendship Public Charter School

Amy Helms
Head of School at DC Scholars Public Charter School

Raymond Weeden
Executive Director of Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School