Get to Know Our Team
Capital Village Schools is the product of the collaboration of a talented, experienced and passionate group of educators and professionals.
Our Team
The Capital Village PCS team is a dynamic group of talented, experienced and passionate educators and professionals. Our staffing model pairs newer educators with veteran educators with many years of experience in high-quality instructional practices. If you are interested in joining our team, please visit our career page.
Senior Leadership
Monica Green
Executive Director
Monica Green knew from an early age that she was an educator. Growing up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, she began working with young people in middle and high school. After graduating from Towson University, Monica began her career as an educator teaching middle school English in Suitland, Maryland. For 15 years, she taught English and theater in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, developing a passion for integrating field experiences, community experts, and teaching artists into the everyday curriculum.
Monica has served as a team leader, department head, and coordinator for the AVID program, a college preparatory program aimed at making college accessible to all students. As an AVID coordinator, Monica led two new AVID sites to certification in four years by leading teams of teachers and tutors in improving the school’s instructional program and implementing additional supports for students not performing to their potential. Monica founded Capital Village PCS as a way of reaching students who get lost in the system of schools not built for them. She believes that with learning environments that are flexible, adaptable, and customizable to student needs, all students can thrive.
Tameika Freeman
Principal
Tameika Ashford Freeman joined the Capital Village team in 2020 as our Founding Director of Curriculum & Instruction. She knew from a very young age that she was destined to be an educator. After graduating high school, she earned a degree in Secondary English Education from Dillard University and a Masters of Education with a focus on Curriculum & Instruction from Sam Houston State University. For 19 years, Tameika has never wavered from her commitment to creating diverse and rigorous pathways for all learners. Throughout her career, she has found success by maintaining a laser-focus on three categories: personalized learning, student-centered culture, and stakeholder development. Under Tameika’s leadership, educators exhibit authentic growth which transforms into positive student outcomes. Her job as an instructional coach called upon her to develop cross-curricular professionals, create individualized professional development programs, and facilitate critical conversations in a professional and respectful manner. As a building principal, she spearheaded the transformation of entire academic programs. Tameika Ashford Freeman lives by one simple truth: No task is ever too great or too small when it comes to educating and motivating students and inspiring and challenging colleagues. It is this truth that she proudly brings to the Capital Village Team.
Keina Hodge
Chief Operating Officer
Keina Hodge joined the Capital Village team as our Founding Director of Operations in 2019. Hailing from a family of educators, she’s always had a passion for education and a desire to work in underserved communities to help close the achievement gap. While the first eight years of her career were spent working in marketing and media , the last 10 years have been spent in education opening several new charter schools between Delaware, California, and D.C. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations from Temple University, an M.A. in Mass Communications and Media Studies from Howard University and an MBA from the Earl G. Graves School of Business at Morgan State University. She is a Baltimore native and a dedicated dog mom and auntie.
Faculty and Staff
Monica Green
Executive Director
Monica Green knew from an early age that she was an educator. Growing up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, she began working with young people in middle and high school. After graduating from Towson University, Monica began her career as an educator teaching middle school English in Suitland, Maryland. For 15 years, she taught English and theater in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, developing a passion for integrating field experiences, community experts, and teaching artists into the everyday curriculum.
Monica has served as a team leader, department head, and coordinator for the AVID program, a college preparatory program aimed at making college accessible to all students. As an AVID coordinator, Monica led two new AVID sites to certification in four years by leading teams of teachers and tutors in improving the school’s instructional program and implementing additional supports for students not performing to their potential. Monica founded Capital Village PCS as a way of reaching students who get lost in the system of schools not built for them. She believes that with learning environments that are flexible, adaptable, and customizable to student needs, all students can thrive.
Candice Banks
Classroom Assistant & Art Teacher
Candice Banks, aka Ms. Candice, was born in Washington, DC. She grew up in Temple Hills,
MD. She attended PG county schools where she graduated from Frederick Douglass High
School with a 3.0 GPA. Candice also graduated from Sandford Brown College where she
studied and attained a degree in Medical Billing and Coding. Ms. Banks is s mother of three
children.
Aja Bogan
Coordinator of School Operations
Ms. Aja, as she would like to be called, is the founding Office Manager at Capital Village PCS
starting in 2020. Ms. Aja has been working in the charter school field since 2005. While being a
founding member of Imagine School in Washington, DC, she has found a love for operations
and helping families with the enrollment process, even though her ideal job would rather be the
celebrity personal assistant to Sean "Brother Love" Combs :-). She is the “auntie” for all staff
and students–whether it’s giving you a courageous conversation or just giving you a loving hug
or something that she cooked to eat. Ms. Aja has a passion for cooking and shopping.
Robert Byrd
Dean of Student Culture
Robert Byrd is a native Washingtonian who grew up in Maryland and graduated from Suitland High School. Mr. Byrd joins Capital Village as our Founding Dean of Student Culture and Wellness. Before becoming a part of our team and family at Capital Village, Mr. Byrd served as the Training and Compliance Coordinator for Johns Hopkins Medicine at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Mr. Byrd is an Air Force Veteran who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with a concentration in Christian Counseling. Mr. Byrd’s passion and dedication for empowering and equipping youth to be a part of building brighter futures for themselves began as a counselor in a therapeutic group home setting with Hearts and Homes for Youth in Montgomery County. Mr. Byrd has over two decades of experience working in general and special education settings in the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, MD., where his enthusiasm for supporting student learning through programs and services while promoting growth, development, and communicating values and standards is contagious. An avid collector of all things Batman, when not at Capital Village you can find Mr. Byrd collecting comics, playing video games in his Man Bat-Cave, working at his part-time job at Planet Fitness, and advocating for self-care in his spare time.
Osaze Crittendon
Classroom Assistant
Osaze Crittendon, A.K.A Mr. O, is a Washington, D.C native, born at Washington Hospital
Center, right down the street from Capital Village. In his early years, he started his learning
journey at two years old at an African-centered school named Nationhouse, located in uptown Washington, D.C. He attended Nationhouse for 12 years (pre-k through 9th grade), then he
attended Phelps Architecture Construction and Engineering High School in Northeast
Washington, D.C. He studied at Virginia State University, Montgomery College and Prince
George’s Community College. He received certifications from the University of the District of
Columbia Workforce program. He has worked with the Department of Recreation for seven
consecutive summers mentoring and working with kids. He is an active mentor and orchestrator
in a rites of passage manhood training for youth. In 2021, he taught at Nationhouse to begin his
teaching career. Now, he is at Capital Village Public Charter School as he continues his
learning/teaching journey and strengthens his abilities to help educate the youth.
Rhonda Crittendon
Mentor Teacher / Success Coach
Rhonda Crittendon is a graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in 1995. She received a master’s degree from American University in Elementary Education in 2006. Rhonda is a dedicated educator and mentor with more than 20 years of teaching experience — from first grade through high school, to coordinating cross-district special education services. She
is an insightful and empathetic communicator. She is insightful and an empathetic communicator, she is known for fostering positive rapport with all she encounters. She believes the key components to effective teaching are being engaging, thinking “out of the box,” and having high expectations for all students regardless of academic level. Ms. Crittendon enjoys creating an instructional environment within the classroom that is inclusive of all students with diverse backgrounds and learning needs. She is an avid team player who believes in continued education, being accountable, and being humble. Ms. Crittendon joined the awesome Capital Village family/community in February 2022 and is committed to building a school-culture of academic and social excellence.
Jacqueline Johnson
Specialized Service Coordinator
Jacqueline Johnson joined the Captial Village Public Charter School community in 2020 as a founding Humanities Special Education Teacher. She was born and raised in Washington, DC and graduated with honors from Friendship Collegiate Academy Senior High School. Jacqueline completed her post-secondary education at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, #GoMountaineers, earning a degree in Political Science with an emphasis on American Politics and Policy. She moved to Boston after graduating and began volunteering under the Americorps Program at Match Charter Public School in Jamaica Plain, MA. Through that program, she fell in love with teaching and explored the world of special education. After 6 years of working closely with students with disabilities in the classroom, Jacqueline now serves as the Specialized Services Coordinator at Capital Village. She believes that in order for us to truly know and understand where we’re headed, we need to know where we have been and be the change we want to see in the world. Jacqueline is excited to be part of the Capital Village community, ensuring ALL students receive a fair and appropriate education!
Carleton Levert
Speech Pathologist
Carleton Levert joined Capital Village PCS in 2020 as a founding member of the Specialized Education Team as a Speech-Language Pathologist. He holds a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of the District of Columbia and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ohio
Wesleyan University.. His experience is with special needs populations, primary to post-secondary school aged students, and those challenged by literacy skills. Carleton is an entreperneur, a linguist, and member of the Phi Beta Sigma International Fraternity, Inc. Carleton is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Ohio.
Yao Teng
Math Teacher
Yao Teng grew up in Connecticut and came to Washington, D.C. two years ago. Before Yao moved, he attended the University of Connecticut and graduated with a degree in Mathematics/Actuarial Science in 2019. After graduation, he joined AmeriCorps and served a year with another school in Connecticut where his passion for teaching and education truly came to his realization. From this, Yao decided to move to Washington D.C. to join the Urban Teacher Program as well as start his Master’s degree with Johns Hopkins University in 2021. Since joining the program, Yao started his career in Capital Village first as a resident teacher and is now the math teacher for 7th and 8th grade. In his beliefs, math is best done in a small group model as this is the best way to provide the most individualized learning where the teacher is able to get to everyone. He was very excited that this is the model that is being used and believed in by Capital Village as well. In terms of Yao’s free time, he enjoys traveling, skiing, and video games as well as building computers from time to time.
Ebony Wheeler
Yoga Teacher
Ebony Wheeler is a Washington DC native and a certified yoga instructor specializing in Vinyasa yoga, YIN yoga, restorative yoga, sound healing and kids yoga. Ebony also specializes in various forms of body work, including Thai Yoga massage, Fascia blasting and is currently studying Ayurvedic massage. In 2015, Ebony was introduced to a meditation center as a resource to manage her mental health and self care, soon after she walked into a yoga studio and never looked back. Realizing the positive effects the practice had on her life she wanted to share it with her community and the students she worked with in DCPS. In 2016 Ebony was accepted into a teachers training program and received her 200 hour Vinyasa/Hatha certification from Capitol Hill Yoga. Since then Ebony has received a 75 hour certification in trauma informed and inclusivity yoga as well as apprenticing under various seasoned teachers. In 2019 she created a youth program Project ME Youth. Her program is designed to teach the fundamentals of a physical yoga practice, mindfulness
techniques as well as how to incorporate the principles of yoga into her students’ everyday lives.
Her class style is challenging yet doable and fun, focusing on safety and accessibility. Students
will experience a safe, well-planned class filled with supportive and effective cues. You’ll be
encouraged to find your flow outside of her voice and to modify if needed. Most importantly students will experience connecting with themselves through the practice of yoga.
Eileen A. Williams
Operations Associate
Eileen A. Williams is a retired administrative officer from Howard University, Washington, DC. She has more than 45 years’ experience as an administrative assistant, executive-level secretary, and administrative officer working with executive-level professionals. The majority of her experience (more than 20 years) has been in college-level education (Howard University) working in the administrative, personnel, budgetary, and supervisory capacities. Mrs. Williams has also been involved in the community for many years, initiating and overseeing projects and community-wide events and teaching classes involving youth and teens.
Trevor Wilson
Math Teacher
