Jessica Giles
Executive Director
Education Reform Now Advocacy D.C.
DC Council’s Committee of the Whole Public Hearing on:
PR26-0165 – State Superintendent of Education Dr. Antoinette Mitchell Confirmation Resolution of 2025
Good morning Chairman Mendelson, Committee of the Whole members, and staff. My name is Jessica Giles. I am a proud resident of Ward 7 and the Executive Director of the D.C. Chapter of Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA), an organization advocating for a just and equitable public education system for all students in the District of Columbia. I am delighted to testify in support of PR26-0165 – State Superintendent of Education Dr. Antoinette Mitchell Confirmation Resolution of 2025.
Dr. Antoinette Mitchell is the kind of leader we hope for in this role. She is a native Washingtonian who graduated from our public school system and returned to serve our students. She began her career as an educator at DCPS, went on to serve as a researcher and problem-solver at a national education organization, and later supported future educators at a university in D.C. For years now, she has been a trusted and respected leader at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Her track record shows a deep commitment to D.C. students, educators, and our community, and it’s clear from her time as Interim Superintendent that she is ready to lead.
The OSSE plays a critical role in safeguarding and overseeing education for District residents of all ages. Over the past five years, OSSE has become even more central to our education system. During the pandemic, the agency administered over $600 million in federal relief funding to stabilize and support our schools and drive academic recovery. OSSE continues to be the tip of the spear in our city’s effort to accelerate student achievement.
This year, OSSE must also navigate unprecedented political challenges—leading our local education agencies through a federal landscape that is hostile to public education, diversity and inclusion efforts, and D.C.’s autonomy. That’s a tall order for any leader, and it underscores the importance of having a seasoned, strategic, and values-driven leader at the helm.
D.C. is leading the nation in academic recovery, ranking first in math and reading gains from 2022 to 2024. But we can’t stop there. We need bold leadership to ensure that, despite headwinds, D.C. becomes the nation’s leader in innovation, opportunity, and academic excellence.
That means driving policies that rapidly improve underperforming schools, protecting equitable funding across sectors, making robust investments in evidence-based literacy and math instruction, and implementing a comprehensive strategy to ensure every student has a clear, supported pathway to and through college and career. OSSE must also resolve, once and for all, the long-standing issues it has with delivering special education transportation and establish a gold standard for serving students with disabilities.
Dr. Mitchell is a compassionate and committed leader. She brings the experience, relationships, and vision required to guide the critical work ahead. I urge you to swiftly confirm her appointment. Thank you for the opportunity to share my testimony.