Candice grew up East of the River in Washington, DC. Her parents--career teachers in DC Public Schools--taught her the importance of education. Safety concerns for her neighborhood high school meant Candice commuted 2-hours daily to attend a magnet school in northwest DC--those memories drive her passion to ensure children have access to an excellent public school in their own neighborhood.

When choosing to follow her parents’ footsteps in education, she gravitated toward schools providing not only high-quality education, but also a strong sense of community. Her first teaching role was at Friendship Public Charter Schools. She then joined Thurgood Marshall Academy first as lead teacher, then Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and finally Director of Student Affairs for her deep relationships with kids and families. Recently, Candice led the turnaround of Meridian PCS, bringing the school from the brink of closure and leading it to the cusp of Tier I status.

Candice’s experience embodies a commitment to building schools to serve as a catalyst for transformative change in communities. She is deeply aware of the generations-long inequities within public schools, and what it takes to remove barriers to opportunity. Her roots within communities served by Rocketship allow her to lead with empathy and understanding.

Candice has a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Clark Atlanta University and a Master of Arts in educational leadership from Columbia University Teachers College.