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Maya Angelou Schools and the See Forever Foundation Announces Dr. Clarisse Mendoza Davis as new Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maya Angelou Schools and the See Forever Foundation Announces Dr. Clarisse Mendoza Davis as new Chief Executive Officer

The Maya Angelou Schools and See Forever Foundation announced that Dr. Clarisse Mendoza Davis will serve as the new Chief Executive Officer, concluding a three-month-long search. The CEO will lead the organization’s network of schools with a primary focus on academic performance, long-term planning, and sustainability. 

Since 2016, Mendoza Davis has served as Chief of Schools for the Maya Angelou Schools network, leading the organization through many achievements, including the re-accreditation of the Maya Angelou Academy located at New Beginnings Youth Detention facility. Mendoza Davis has a wealth of experience in urban education, both as an educator and administrator. Before joining the team at Maya Angelou Schools, Mendoza Davis served in multiple roles within the District of Columbia Public Schools, as Principal of Tindley Renaissance Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana, and as Deputy Chief of Schools at the UNO Charter School Network (now the Acero Network of Schools) in Chicago, Illinois. In 2019, The Leadership Center for Excellence recognized Mendoza Davis in their “40 Under 40” 2019 Class for her demonstrating exceptional and impactful leadership.

Outside of her career, Mendoza Davis enjoys spending time with her husband, William, andtheir daughter Sophia. Some of her hobbies include baking, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, and reading.  Her cupcakes are often highly requested for staff-wide gatherings.  Read Mendoza Davis biography, here. 

Mendoza Davis provided insight into her role as the new CEO:

What theme defines the new CEO’s leadership style? 

Mendoza Davis defines her leadership style through this quote written by Dr. Maya Angelou, “Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” 

According to Mendoza Davis, students, families and staff will come first. She states that the Maya Angelou School network is at a place of reflection. “We moved out of that survival space and can ask ourselves at this juncture– what else can we do that’s in line with our mission?” 

Internally, she’d like to review how the work will support scholars beyond the diploma? How does one implement the expertise that the organization has in serving opportunity youth? 

Externally, how can the story be told to truly represent the mission? How can the Maya Angelou Schools’ network lend resources to support the needs of vulnerable DC communities? 

“It is my job to find resources, fiscal or otherwise, that align with what school leaders, teachers, counselors, and staff are trying to do on a daily basis to support students,” Mendoza Davis said. 

What can the public look forward to from the new CEO? 

She shares, “This role is a shift from the Chief of Schools. I get to be much more of an external advocate for our students, families, and staff. Our mission to serve opportunity youth is really unique in this city, and it is my job to make sure that everyone understands what that experience is like and what we [Maya Angelou Schools] need to continue doing this exciting work.”  

Mendoza Davis officially began her role as CEO on Monday, April 13, 2020. Find out more information about our schools and practices at www.seeforever.org. Stay connected with us on Facebook @SeeForeverFoundation and @MayaSchools on Twitter and Instagram. 

Community Eats Wednesdays

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Community eats wednesdays

Community Eats Wednesdays, hosted by the Maya Angelou Schools, is a weekly meal and grocery distribution effort that addresses Ward 7 community needs as a response to COVID-19.  The effort was started by L’Tanya Holley, Director of Community and Family Engagement, and stemmed from the Maya Angelou Schools Monthly Community Pantry— a place where students and families gathered to get essential needs.

Recently Thomson Reuter visited and covered Community Eats Wednesday, which can be viewed here. To support ongoing Community Eats Wednesdays and other Maya Angelou community support programs, visit seeforever.networkforgood.com.

Maya Angelou launches Virtual Learning Plan and Campaign in Response to COVID-19

Maya Angelou Schools launch Virtual Plan and Campaign Amid COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Muriel Bowser declared both a state of emergency and a public health emergency. During this unprecedented public health emergency, Maya Angelou Schools remains committed to ensuring the well-being of our students and school communities. Therefore, starting Monday, March 16 through Monday, April 27, MAPCS will modify operations to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our region.

Read more about our response plan and access helpful resources at www.seeforever.org/coronavirus-notice 

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Maya Angelou Schools launches Virtual Learning Plan and Campaign in Response to COVID-19

 

On March 11, 2020, in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mayor Muriel Bowser declared both a state of emergency and a public health emergency. During this unprecedented public health emergency, Maya Angelou Schools remains committed to ensuring the well-being of our students and school communities.

Find out more information about our virtual plans and additional resources on our site at www.seeforever.org/coronavirus-notice

NBC4 Features Hoop House on News

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On Thursday, July 18, 2019, Urban Farm at Maya was featured on NBC Washington’s morning and afternoon noon segments on yesterday. We recently marked the one year anniversary of the Urban Farm and this was a perfect way to celebrate and share the important work that we do at Maya Angelou Schools and the See Forever Foundation with thousands of viewers.  See News Story here.

News anchor Aaron Gilchrist visited the campus last week to talk with school leaders about the program, day to day operations, and plans for the future.

Toward the end of the interview, Gilchrist shared our anticipated plan for the Urban Farm program over the next two years—- we will continue to educate young-enthusiastic scholars, set up a way to provide fresh produce to members of the Wards 7 and 8 communities and strives to become a primary local resource for the food industry in the District of Columbia. We hope to have you by our sides during this journey.

If you’d like to support the Hoop House and ongoing program initiatives at Maya Angelou Schools, please email your interests to communications@seeforever.org.

If you are sharing this exciting news on social media, tag us and use hashtags #MayaSchools and #MayaRising.

Thank you for your support so far and enjoy the exclusive release of our Urban Farm short film, here.

 

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Founder, David Domenici, and Maya Angelou Academy Featured In Ozy

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It’s a cold March morning in the nation’s capital. My fingers are stiff, and in the end, useless as I fumble to open the door to David Domenici’s battered 1992 Honda Civic. But with a sturdy shove and then a yank, the wiry 50-year-old reassures me that it’s not me. We’re headed less than a mile away, so Domenici can show me where he used to work.

“It was vile,” he says, nodding to the remnants of a juvenile detention center. Inside, he takes me to a stale, moldering complex where he used to teach the lockup’s student body, kids as young as 13 and as old as 21. In 2009, after allegations of abuse and decrepit conditions, a judge closed the facility. But in a new detention hall just down the road, named New Beginnings, Domenici has managed to build a model school for young inmates. On the day I visit, the classrooms are decorated with colorful murals, encouraging slogans and pictures of grinning recent grads. Teachers and security officers greet the tattooed scholars with warm handshakes and hugs. The ambience is downright optimistic. “You never would have seen anything close to this before,” Domenici says.

The question that remains, will we see others like it? Read full article

–By Meghan Walsh, Ozy.com

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New Mural of Dr. Maya Angelou Graces School Campus

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“If you’re always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you are.” This is an infamous quote written by Dr. Maya Angelou and will soon be covering the left side of the High School entrance of Maya Angelou Schools campus. The Department of Public Works recently awarded the school with the MuralDC grant that afforded the costs of aerosol artist, Eric B. Rick.

The muse behind the mural is a dedication to namesake, Dr. Maya Angelou. WJLA reported, “The main motif is a bird feeding a younger bird because she’s nurturing the young mind and this is where you are feeding the mind,” said by the artist Ricks. “I’m using colors, in a way, to provoke a sense of calm and joy.”

The mural painting began earlier in August and has staff members and community members excited. During the interview with WJLA, L’Tanya Holley , Director of Family Engagement started, “I can’t wait for the kids to see. I can’t for the staff to see. It just makes me happy. In a world where you have a whole lot of negative stuff going on why not have some joy with color.”

Check out the news story, here.

Check out the progression of the mural from staff pictures.

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