1. Shaed Elementary Site
Community Meeting
September 16, 2013
Partnering with:

2. Why are we here?
DCPS shuts
down
Shaed
DC Gov’t
chooses not to
utilize building
and begins
surplus process
Law provides
Charter Schools
with opportunity
to bid on
schools
ITS and Lee
partner with
Building Hope to
apply for,
finance, and
renovate Shaed
Partners
continue
conversation to
partner with
community
2010
2010-13
July 2013
August 2013
Goal for Today: To introduce Inspired
Teaching School (ITS) and Lee Montessori
to the community around Shaed and to
present plans for our partnership with the
community to accomplish our shared
goals.
Goal for Tomorrow: To ensure that the
ITS/Lee Team is well positioned to
support the accomplishment of the
community’s goals and to meet the
educational needs of DC School Children.
Today

3. Mission: At ITS a professional learning community of master
teachers and teacher residents ensures that a diverse group of
students achieve their potential as accomplished learners,
thoughtful citizens, and imaginative and inquisitive problem solvers
through a demanding, inquiry-based curriculum.
● We serve two complementary purposes: Teaching students and
preparing teachers. Our school houses a teacher residency program,
training teachers who go on to teach in public and public charter schools
across DC.
● We opened in 2011 and now enroll over 270 students in preschool
through 5th grade. Over ⅓ of our students live in Ward 5.
● We will add a grade each year to become a preschool through 8th grade
school in 2016
“Among the many charter schools with impressive gains, Inspired Teaching PCS had the highest growth of any
public school in the city, improving by 26.2 percentage points,” Pearson said. “I’m particularly proud of Inspired
Teaching because it’s the demonstration school of a program that has for years worked with traditional school
districts in DC and Baltimore. It’s an example of charter schools helping to improve all schools.”
-Scott Pearson, Executive Director, DC Public Charter School Board

4. “My son is confident, intelligent and has a real connection with community. He can quote
Shakespeare and he can develop a Haiku poem in a matter of minutes. He takes the initiative
to read every night and his new best friend? Is MATH! All of this is due to ITS.”
-Selma Patillo-Simms, ITS Parent
Working with the Community
We are proud to partner with the following:
● Washington Parks and People
● Anthony Bowen YMCA
● Phillips Collection
● National Symphony Orchestra
and the Kennedy Center
● Rotary Club of Washington
● Martha’s Table
● Meridian Hill Pictures
● Howard University

5. Mission: The mission of Lee Montessori Public Charter School is to
foster a lifetime love of learning and cultivate independence among
DC school children, using the student-centered Montessori Method,
an evidence-based approach to closing the opportunity gap.
● Founded by community members, former DC teachers, and
experienced charter school managers
● Approved this year by the Public Charter School to open in
Fall 2014
● Start with 70 students, aged 3-6
● High-quality, student-centered Montessori classes
● Classrooms staffed by Masters-educated Montessori Teachers
● Recruit Teacher Aides with Associates Degrees to apprentice
and develop Montessori skills
“I believe that Lee Montessori will be an awesome addition to the Edgewood Community. The children there
would benefit a great deal from the ‘Montessori Way’”
-Tyesha Turner, Edgewood Resident

6. Proposal: ITS and Lee Team at Shaed in 2014
● High Quality Teaching and Learning Opportunities including over
100 additional seats for early childhood students
● Work to establish partnerships with Parks & Rec, community
groups, and other organizations to maximize use of space
● Focus on recruiting students from ANC 5E
● Building will be transformed into a leading Preschool - 8th Grade
school with efficient energy principles and environmental systems

7. Find out more
Websites
www.InspiredTeachingSchool.org
www.LeeMontessori.org
www.buildinghope.org
Email:
Inspired Teaching – info@InspiredTeachingSchool.org
Lee Montessori: info@LeeMontessori.org
Building Hope: tporter@bhope.org
Please sign up on the sign up sheets after the
meeting for more information!