DC PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND - Key Persons


Amalie Reichblum

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Benjamin Soto

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • President, Premium Title and Escrow, LLC

Debbi Jarvis

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, AtlaGas

DeBria Payne

Job Titles:
  • Program Associate

Emily Nixon

Job Titles:
  • Interim Executive Director
  • Leader
Emily is a passionate thought leader with over a decade of experience building efficiencies and creating sustainability in large organizations at the intersection of education and business. In her current role, she oversees strategy and ensures fiscal integrity for the Ed Fund's initiatives. Prior to the Ed Fund, Emily managed global settlements for derivative products at Morgan Stanley, managed teacher training programs for TNTP in DC and Nashville, and coordinated school design and recruitment efforts for DCPS. Emily got her start as a high school English teacher in rural Illinois. She holds a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University with a concentration in finance. Her top reads over the past year have been: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett, Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie, and The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory.

Jaelynn Jarman

Job Titles:
  • Leader
  • Program Associate
Jaelynn is a passionate leader devoted to a career in education innovation and reform. As a Program Associate, she manages and budgets a portfolio of innovative and transformative programs in support of DCPS. Prior to joining the Ed Fund, Jaelynn spent her undergraduate years serving as a Teaching Fellow for Breakthrough Collaborative, tutoring at Garrison Elementary School, and studying abroad, where she traveled to 6 different countries. Jaelynn holds a BS in Psychology with a minor in Human Development from Howard University.

James P. Joseph

Job Titles:
  • Founding General Counsel Partner, Arnold & Porter Kaye Schole

Kevin Downey

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Partner, Williams & Connolly LLP

Mark Ein

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Board Chairman, Founder and CEO, Venturehouse Group, LLC

Michela English

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors

Michela Rynczak

Job Titles:
  • Program Associate
Michela is a dedicated professional, passionate about promoting equitable educational opportunities for all. As a Program Associate, Michela supports a portfolio of innovative grant-funded programs that support DCPS' mission and vision. Prior to joining Ed Fund, she worked at an association management company managing communications, events, and memberships for non-profit organizations in a variety of fields, including education, health, and law. Michela holds a BA in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government and an MA in Political Science, both from American University. More about Michela: When she's not working, Michela enjoys crafting, spending quality time with friends, and exploring DC. Fun Facts about Michela: Michela was once a ballperson at the U.S. Open, can make balloon animals, and juggle!

Thomas Penny

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • President, Donohoe Hospitality Services

Tom Davidson

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Co - Founder and CEO, EverFi

Traci Higgins

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board of Directors
  • Chief Human Resource Officer, Office of Human Resources, Legal Services Corporation