Teacher biographies


Leckie Elementary School	Hendri Jaques Williams – teaches fourth-grade students at Leckie Elementary School. In 1995, he received the Exemplary Teacher Award from Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools. Williams has been a teacher for five years. He teaches in the summer as part of the city’s Summer Stars Program. He is a member of the Local School Restructuring Team for the D.C. Public School System, the Spelling Bee Committee, and the Young Astronaut program. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Hampton University in Hampton, Va., and a Masters of Art in Teaching from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.
	Thelma Blue Younger – is a certified library media specialist at Leckie Elementary School, where she has worked for five years. During Younger’s 22-year teaching career she has worked at Parkview and Rudolph elementary schools, teaching kindergarten through second grade. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fayetteville State University in Fayvetteville, N.C., and her Master’s from the University of the District of Columbia. Her graduate major was administration and supervision of schools. She has also attended training at Trinity College and University of Maryland.
	Phillip Roosevelt Oliver – teaches science at Leckie Elementary School, where he has worked since 1986. In 1995, he completed the Carnegie Academy for Science Education program, and is currently a candidate for certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in Early Adolescent Science. He received an Associates Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Columbia College in New York. He earned a Master’s degree in education in 1981 from American University. He has traveled to the Nile River, Luxor and the pyramids in Egypt.

Patterson Elementary School	Anthony R. Stanley – teaches at Patterson Elementary School. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and attended Dorchester County public schools in Maryland. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in elementary education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1977. He has taken graduate courses at Trinity College in Washington, D.C.
	Theresa G. Bell – teaches first grade at Patterson Elementary School. Although she began her career with the district’s schools in 1967, she also has had an impressive career in child development. She left the school system in 1970 to help her church create a child development center. In 1972, she became director of the Southeast Child Development Center. She returned to the D.C. Schools in 1976. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Bell is a graduate of D.C. Teachers College and in 1983, earned a Master’s degree in education from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. She had done further graduate study at Howard University, George Mason University and at Trinity College.
	Sheila Garner-Allen – teaches at Patterson Elementary. Before that, she was director of St. Francis Xavier Child Development Center. She has worked at St. Luke’s Child Development Center and as a volunteer for Benning Elementary School. Received her Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education from the University of the District of Columbia in 1980.
	Donna Davis – is the technology coordinator for Patterson Elementary School. She has served as project coordinator for the D.C. public school’s Office of Policy and Planning. Davis also volunteers with Tech Corp D.C. in various schools around the city on technology projects and works as an educational technology consultant with Philadelphia in implementing its technology plan. Received her Bachelor’s degree in education from Virginia State University and her master's degrees in Guidance Counseling and Early Childhood Education. Upon graduation she became a kindergarten teacher at Patterson Elementary School.

Malcolm X Elementary School	Emma Horton – teaches at Malcolm X Elementary. She joined the District of Columbia public schools in 1987. She credits babysitting neighbors’ children as a 12-year-old with inspiring her to a career in teaching. Horton earned her Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 1985 from Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga.. She received her Master’s degree in education in school guidance and counseling from Bowie State University in 1989.
	Kerensa Bethany Elzy – teaches second grade at at Malcolm X Elementary School. She is a graduate of Morgan State University where she was editor of the campus’ literary journal. She also started an independent magazine, BAM, which featured the work of Baltimore youth poets. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English, she worked at Alexander Publishing in Baltimore, a job she held until 1997. She then became a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia where she worked in community health.