Ja’Vaan Veal is currently the Director of Compliance of Student Support at KIPP DC. She has worked in special education for 18 years serving in both instructional and administrative roles in the Chicagoland area before beginning at KIPP DC in 2016. Ja’Vaan earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Western IL University and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Roosevelt University. Although she feels that her schooling prepped her for her career, she is primarily grateful for her opportunities to work and learn from those who she considers the greats of special education, namely her two mentors, Dr. Joan Gross and Cheryl Clark. Ja’Vaan feels lucky to continue down a path that allows her to serve children and the community while meeting some great people along the way.

Melody serves as the Chief of Staff for DC International Public Charter School. Her work focuses on operationalizing processes developed over the school’s seven year history with a focus on achieving strategic plan goals. Prior to this role, Melody served as the founding Director of Student Support Services, managing formal support services (i.e., special education, 504s, and EL services) across all grade levels. She earned her BA in Sociology and Leadership Studies from the University of Denver, her Masters of Social Work from the University of Denver, and her Masters of Education from George Mason University. In her free time, Melody loves watching documentaries, going to fairs and festivals, and eating out!