Denise Edwards, Founding Principal
Denise holds an AMI Montessori administrator’s certificate from the Whole School Leadership Institute, and has fifteen years of experience as a teacher and leader in both D.C. public charter schools and D.C. Public Schools. Prior to co-designing and founding Truth, she was a founding teacher at Cesar Chavez PCS in 2004 and worked in D.C. Prep PCS, Paul PCS, and as an assistant principal at Columbia Heights Education Campus in DCPS. Over administrative tenure, she has overseen initiatives in personalized, competency-based learning that have resulted in wide and holistic gains, including significant PARCC growth in both ELA and math.
Denise is a creative contributor, critical thinker, and problem-solver with an excellent track record of student achievement with competency-based and project-based education.
Email Principal Edwards at dedwards@truthpcs.org.
Gabriella Abbondanza, Director of Curriculum & Coaching
Gabby holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, a Bachelor of English and Middle School Education, and is in the process of earning her AMS Adolescent Montessori Diploma from the Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program. She is a founding designer, instructional coach, and teacher at Truth, and prior to that pioneered a blended-learning pilot of the Summit Learning program in her classroom at Columbia Heights Education Campus in DCPS. She has extensive experience with incorporating self-directed technology-based learning in the classroom, and as a Summit Learning Fellow has facilitated training for schools across the United States.
Email Mrs. Abbondanza at gabbondanza@truthpcs.org.
Ryan Abel, Founding Chief Operating Officer
Ryan is the parent of two public Montessori students (the oldest at Truth!), and came to Truth with prior experience from his time as the Founding Director of Operations at Libertas Public Montessori School in Memphis, TN. Libertas was Tennessee’s first public, neighborhood Montessori school, and Ryan developed systems and provided operational leadership to manage all day-to-day non-academic support services. Community and family empowerment have been the focus of his 20 year career in education, where he has works from the neighborhood level to the international level to help bring people together.
Email Ryan at rabel@truthpcs.org.
Deja Baskerville, Data and Project Manager
By way of Charlotte, NC, Deja has worked in DC middle schools since 2015, kick starting her career on the campus of her alma mater, Howard University. As an Africana Studies major, her dedication to closing educational gaps for African-American children in the states has anchored her to the city. As a data manager, she feels it is important to intentionally use our data to inform classroom instruction if we aim to establish equitable education for all. Outside of data, Deja is extremely passionate about in-school student engagement. Students deserve access to safe spaces to express themselves and explore their talents. She believes these extra-curricular activities not only deeply contribute to a positive and inclusive school culture but they can even serve as incentive for students to attend school more regularly. This school year, she will be co-advising the Student Government Association, Yearbook Committee, as well as the Gay-Straight Alliance. She is currently in pursuit of her Masters in Educational Leadership at George Washington University and looks forward to completing her program in December 2022.
Email Ms. Baskerville at dbaskerville@truthpcs.org.
Clifford Bussie, SPED STEM Teacher
Clifford Bussie has been an educator in the Washington, DC community for the last 8 years. Throughout Cliff’s career, he has been a pre-school instructor, school leader, and middle school science instructor. Additionally, Cliff is a music composer, meditation specialist and a yoga instructor that believes that every human is brilliant if pointed in the right direction.
Email Mr.Bussie at cbussie@truthpcs.org.
Tone Carter, Middle School Counselor
Tone Carter is a Queens, NY native that has been a DC educator for the past 10 years. In his time he has built countless relationships with students, families and school communities. As a Social worker Tone’s primary focus is skill building for our youth to build self-advocacy, self esteem and the ability to problem solve. After Spending the last 2 years working in Child Welfare, Tone has returned to the School environment to support the students and families of the Sojourner Truth Community.
Email Mr.Carter at tcarter@truthpcs.org.
Debbie Childs, Office Manager
Debbie Childs is a proud born and raised Washingtonian native. A career in Public Health for both District and Federal Government. She retired from the National Institutes of Health as the Senior Clinical Research Coordinator. She has years of experience as a liaison and in leadership. She was the Operations Coordinator for Lee Montessori PCS for period of three years before joining Sojourner Truth PCS. Helping people has always been her passion.
Email Ms.Childs at dchilds@truthpcs.org.
Chellie Colbert, Special Education Coordinator
From Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. C is a Special Education teacher and Compliance Manager dedicated to continuous learning and problem-solving. Along with being a Sojourner Truth PCS veteran, he also has experience teaching middle and high school, holds a degree in Mass Communication from Virginia State University, and is a military veteran. In addition to coaching Truth's Flag Football team, Mr. C enjoys building positive relationships with his students and interacting with them to see them achieve greatnesses and success in the classroom.
Email Mr. C at ccolbert@truthpcs.org.
Shaka J. Greene, Director of Culture & Climate
Shaka is an experienced educator with more than twenty years in the field of education.
Originally from Memphis, TN, Shaka is a deliberate educator who has received numerous awards and recognitions for his creative and innovative teaching methodology. He has lived and worked in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area for the past ten years, and currently serves as the Founder & Executive Director of Bravo Zulu Chess Academy, a nationally recognized and highly decorated chess hub for children and young adults.
Shaka is licensed and certified to teach all K-8 content areas, he holds a Reading Specialist endorsement, as well as a K-12 Administrator’s license. He is currently in the process of completing his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership.
Email Mr. Greene at sgreene@truthpcs.org.
Miguel Gandarela, Operations Manager
Mike was born in Mexico City, has a bachelor's degree in business, and is a psychotherapist in human development. He has dedicated himself in the last 30 years to corporate education providing training and advice to different multinational companies in various industries worldwide and developing different learning methodologies for executives. Alternately, he coordinates and participates in addiction prevention programs and orientation for families and young people with the association "Live without drugs" of TV Azteca in Mexico. Professor of Business Administration at the Humanitas University of Cancun and father committed to growing and educating individuals in general.
Email Mr.Mike at mgandarela@truthpcs.org.
Missy LeDoux, Special Education Assistant Coordinator
Missy was one of Truth’s co-designers as well as a founding Special Education teacher and Squad Mentor, and she has significant experience working with both middle school and high school students in a variety of settings and classrooms, both inclusive and self-contained. Her favorite experiences include teaching reading and math through activities such as cooking and building furniture.
Although born in Florida, Missy spent her formative years living and attending school in Ireland. She received her B.A. at Catholic University of America in D.C. She currently lives near Baltimore with her husband and daughter. Together they enjoy kayaking and traveling as much as possible.
Email Ms. Missy at mledoux@truthpcs.org.
Justin Lessek, Founding Executive Director
Justin Lessek wants to radically empower students to be the owners and drivers of their learning. Prior to his work as Truth’s founding Executive Director and co-designer, Justin served as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator in D.C., Santiago, Chile, and Chicago. Throughout his career he has led successful initiatives in competency based learning, personalization, blended learning, and biliteracy, and he brings a dedication for innovation to his work at Truth. Justin is passionate about creating inclusive, fluid learning environments that reimagine the relationships between students, teachers, and school itself.
Email Justin at jlessek@truthpcs.org.
Ms.Tun, Director of Enrollment & Meal Compliance
Ms.Tun is driven by the belief that free access to education in a safe communal setting is critical to strengthening the individual as well as the community they live in. She has worked with families in private and public schools in the Washington D.C. area since 2005. She has a background in painting and graphic design and applies art and design principles in her work with students and their families. Besides painting she also has a passion for hiking especially through America’s Tribal National Parks.
Email Ms.Tun at stun@truthpcs.org.
Yanerca Marte, Humanities and Math SPED Teacher
Yanerca, or “Ms. Yaya”, is a versatile Truth PCS veteran with experience as a Special Education teacher, a Humanities teacher, a STEM teacher, and a Spanish teacher. She was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and came to the U.S. when she was twelve. She loves dancing (and has sponsored dance clubs at Truth), event planning, and traveling. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Trinity University.
Email Ms. Yaya at ymarte@truthpcs.org.
Daejah Merrill, STEM and Special Education Teacher
Daejah Merrill is a Philadelphia native and is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Education and dual-certification in special education and secondary mathematics. She received her BS in Criminal Justice from The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. There she served as an undergraduate teaching assistant and mentor to incoming students. She also participated in Temple University’s Computer/STEM Summer workshop in 2021.
In addition to teaching, she is an author and teaches dance to youth in her community. She is dedicated to empowering students and guiding them to live their truth, fulfill their purpose, activate and pursue their gifts and talents, and reach their fullest potential with a holistic approach and growth mindset.
Email Ms. Daejah at dmerrill@truthpcs.org.
Rodger Perkins, Assistant Principal
Dr. Rodger E. Perkins, Jr. is a founding designer and teacher at Truth. Dr. Perkins is in the process of earning his AMS Adolescent Montessori Diploma from the Cincinnati Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program. He attended Temple University, where he received a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Criminal Justice. He also holds advanced degrees in Law/Public Policy and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from California University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Perkins is a veteran of both the United States Army and the United States Air Force. After completing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Perkins commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 2006 and served as a law enforcement Special Agent and later as a Counterintelligence Agent. He has conducted and supervised multiple operations in Germany, Qatar, Ethiopia, Italy, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Turkey, and France. He also has multiple deployments in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Before his military separation in 2018, Dr. Perkins served as a Senior Military Advisor to senior leaders of the Department of the Air Force.
Dr. Perkins is certified to teach Secondary English and Biology. He enjoys teaching and playing chess, and is an accomplished jazz saxophonist. He is currently authoring a book discussing the School to Prison Pipeline phenomenon as it pertains to minorities in the American education system.
Email Dr. Perkins at rperkins@truthpcs.org.
Tyecia Powell, Wellness Coordinator
Tyecia Powell is a co-designer and the founding Wellness Coordinator at Truth. She is a native Baltimorean who believes that change starts at the root. Tyecia has worked in public schools for over ten years as a teacher, academic coach, and most recently as an Assistant Director of Urban Teachers, an alternative teaching certification program. Through these various roles, she has always strived to foster growth and development in everyone she encountered.
Tyecia is a trained Pilates, CPR, and Mental Health & Wellness Instructor, as well as a trained basketball, softball, and track coach. She is a lifelong learner, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Education (UMBC), a Masters Degree in Teacher Leadership (Valdosta State), a Specialist Degree in Leadership (Walden University), and is currently working on her Educational Doctorate in Leadership & Management (St. Thomas University). Throughout all of her roles, she has aimed to work with kids and adults in the community to change bodies, minds, and lives through mental health and wellness.
Email Coach Ty at tpowell@truthpcs.org.
Joseph Waller, Physical Education Teacher
Joseph Waller is a founding designer and teacher at Truth, and was born and raised in the District of Columbia. Mr. Waller holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from HBCU Livingstone College, and an AMI Montessori Core Principles Training Certificate from the Washington Montessori Institute. Outside of school, he coaches youth basketball and football for a non-profit organization in the DMV area. In addition, Mr. Waller is a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first African American Intercollegiate Fraternity founded in 1906. He is dedicated to uplifting and inspiring future generations to be optimistic and to aspire to any goals they have for themselves in order to make a positive impact in the world.
Email Mr. Waller at jwaller@truthpcs.org.
Ana Yanez, English as a Second Language Teacher
Ana Yanez is a founding designer and teacher at Truth, and brings over 10 years of experience working in inclusive education environments for Pre-K through 9th grade students. Ana has received an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from the University District of Columbia, and she is in the process of earning her AMI Adolescent Montessori Diploma from Train Montessori Secondary Teacher Education Program. She also possesses a Spanish teaching certification from OSSE in the District Of Columbia.
Ana was born in El Salvador, and her experiences growing up in San Miguel enriched her Spanish culture and her passion for the Spanish language. In her time outside of the classroom, she enjoys traveling, reading, advocating for children and social justice, working in ministry, and spending time with her family. Ana strongly believes that having a strong relationship and open communication with parents is essential for children to become successful.
Email Ms. Yanez at ayanez@truthpcs.org.