Transforming Special Education Across DC

Alexandra drives the performance outcomes of TenSquare’s school improvement practice.In this role she has led schools to have drastic achievement outcomes for students in K-adult ed across Washington, DC, Nevada, and North Carolina. She was the Executive Director of Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter School from 2011-2015 and the Academic Director of the school for the five years prior. Under her leadership, the school became the highest performing open-enrollment high school in Washington, DC and attained unparalleled outcomes on state (DC CAS, PARCC) and national (SAT, AP) standardize tests. The school earned a 2014 National Excellence in Education Award from the National Center for Urban School Transformation and a School Award from the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (2013). The school was ranked as the highest performing high school by US World and News Report in Washington DC earning a Bronze Award (2012, 2013, 2014). 

Her use of data has been recognized nationally by the Department of Education in its Doing What Works series, and she is featured in the books, Driven by Data (Paul Bambrick-Santoyo) and the upcoming From Good to Great: School Leadership (Jim Collins). Alexandra received a Distinguished Educational Leadership award in 2013 from The Washington Post. She was a mayoral appointee to the DC Community Schools Advisory Committee and a contributing writer of the DC Social Studies Standards. She is an expert on school turn-arounds and her expertise ranges from academics to school operations. 

An experienced classroom teacher, she has taught at the high school and collegiate level courses in social studies, technology and ESL. A Teach for America alumna, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from American University, a Master of Science in Administration from Trinity University and a Doctorate of Education from the George Washington University.

Daniela Anello, Head of School at DC Bilingual Charter School, leads the strategic vision, implementation, and growth of DC Bilingual both academically and operationally. The DC Public Charter School Board ranks DC Bilingual among the top elementary charter schools in the city and The New Teacher Project ranks DC Bilingual in the top quartile of all DC charter schools for its strong instructional culture.

Head of School since 2015, Daniela has been a critical leader to the DC Bilingual community as the school has become an independently operated charter school; secured its own facility; and grown to serve more than 440 students. Daniela started with DC Bilingual in 2009 as a Literacy Coach and advanced into the roles of Resident Principal and Interim Principal before the school’s board of trustees named Daniela Head of School. Daniela launched her teaching career in the elementary school classrooms of New York, Boston, and Washington, DC.

Daniela is a graduate of New Leaders Emerging Leaders and Aspiring Principals Program and completed the Literacy Specialist Master’s of Arts program at Teachers College Columbia University. Daniela holds a Bachelor’s of Arts, elementary education and teaching from the State University of New York, Geneseo. A native of Chile, Daniela lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two children, both DC Bilingual students.

Jonathan Beall, Senior Vice President & C&I Relationship Manager with EagleBank, is a recognized subject matter expert and leader in the not-for-profit, bond, charter & education financing market vertical; primarily serving as a senior financing partner providing taxable and tax-Exempt bond financing supporting various school program initiatives including for operations, growth, expansion, renovation and construction of existing and new campuses across the region.  Jonathan proudly maintains a client portfolio consisting of ten active District of Columbia LEA / Public Charter School programs as well as over sixteen charter and private school clients in the District, Maryland and Virginia.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jonathan brings a personal commitment to the DC Special Education Cooperative, being a devoted Father to a neurodiverse daughter with Autism Spectrum Disorder (“ASD”).  His passion for comprehensive, inclusive, and equitable education is evident and manifest within his client portfolio as well as with his other commitments including serving on the Board of Directors of Great & Small, a Maryland based non-profit offering therapeutic horseback riding services including equine based occupational and hippotherapy.

Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science & Finance from Washington College.  A native of Olney, MD – Jonathan lives in Montgomery County with his wife, two children, and chocolate lab.

Shelley Jacobson Hughes is the National Finance Team Director at EdOps providing business and financial management services to ~60 school clients. Shelley joined EdOps in October 2015 from DC Prep where she worked as Senior Manager of Operations and Extended Learning. Prior to working directly with charter schools, she was a Private Equity Associate at Huntsman Gay Global Capital in Palo Alto, California and an Investment Banking Analyst at Barclays Capital in New York.  Shelley has a BS in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA and Masters in Education from Stanford University.