Bipeds of Brookland: Amanda Alexander

Bipeds of Brookland: Amanda Alexander

Amanda Alexander, a first generation American whose family is from Panama, was born in NJ and came to DC because she "always wanted to go to a historically black college in a major city." Thus, she finished her Bachelors and Masters at Howard University in 1998, and began teaching for DCPS, saving money to buy a house in Brookland in 2001.

“I guess it was the combination of the suburban feel of Brookland and the strong Catholic presence that really solidified my decision to live here. I love the fact that I can attend daily mass in the neighborhood at St. Anthony's, the Monastery, or the Shrine at any hour of the day.”

Frustrated with some of the opportunities not being provided for students she joined New Leaders for New Schools, a nonprofit that prepares teachers for leadership positions and did a residency as an assistant principal in lower Manhattan.  In the fall of 2005 she returned to DC, where she still had her home, and became the principal at Bunker Hill Elementary School.  A few years later, she served as the principal at Ross Elementary School in Dupont Circle, and completed her PhD at American University.  

Her success at improving student achievement outcomes led to her becoming an instructional superintendent. Amanda has now served three years as DC’s Deputy Chief for Elementary Schools.  "I lead a team of six elementary school superintendents who supervise the elementary school principals across all 8 wards of the city. I love that it allows me to still stay connected to schools.  I think that principals have tremendous capacity to change the trajectory for students. My job, which allows me to be in schools and to engage in critical conversations with principals and their supervisors, is game changing.”  Amanda is proud of her work to develop teacher content knowledge expertise, increase student attendance rates, and lead the effort to address the needs of struggling students through the use of targeted interventions.


Bipeds of Brookland: A weekly series introducing the people who make Brookland their home, one step at a time.
Article and photo by: Tom Sabella