At the PTO meeting on Wednesday, we shared that several teachers have reached out to the PTO Board with concerns about the overall school climate, as well as the support, visibility, and communication by the school administration.

The PTO is taking this seriously, as teacher retention is essential to the stability and academic success of our Shepherd students. We also want to ensure there is adequate support for school administration. It is our responsibility to keep families informed about what we are hearing and the steps underway. 

Recent actions we’ve taken:

• Shared concerns with school administration.
• Spoken with DCPS leadership to ensure they are aware of staff feedback.
• Inquired about the status of the annual Insight Survey (a tool for measuring and identifying strengths and areas for improvement in school culture & instruction)
• Engaged with the School Chapter Advisory Committee, the formal channel for teacher concerns through the Washington Teachers’ Union.

Additionally, DCPS Central Office Leadership, including Chancellor Ferebee, encouraged the PTO Board to gather perspectives from families regarding their experiences with Shepherd’s school leadership. We recognize that joining a PTO Meeting on a weeknight is not feasible for everyone, and are providing a channel for parents to share their thoughts. These can include both positive or negative experiences that families have had during their time at Shepherd in the past few years. 

How you can share your feedback: Share with DCPS Central Office by emailing:stephanie.arias@k12.dc.gov

For those of you who wish to share your feedback with the PTO Board please contact pto@shepherd-elementary.org. We will synthesize, honor wishes for anonymity and share with DCPS Leadership. Kindly send your feedback by Friday, January 30, 2026. If you need additional time, please do not hesitate to let us know.

We are committed to supporting our Shepherd team in service of our students and ensure Shepherd remains the amazing school and community we love. We will continue to share updates as available; if you have any questions please contact the board at pto@shepherd-elementary.org.

PTO Board Members

Lauren Okonkwo            

Guy Riddick            

Amy Zettle             

Candace Mainor            

Artemis Benedetti        

Catherine Godwin            

Marquisha Thomas