School Leadership

Mr. Weeden has over a decade of experience in the Washington, D.C., education, leadership, and policy sectors. For seven years, he taught math for Columbus Public School and The SEED Public Charter School.  At SEED PCS, he became a New Leader’s Resident Principal. Mr. Weeden first served as Principal of Chavez Parkside Middle School. Under his four years of leadership, the school’s proficiency rates rose in reading from 26% to 46% and in math from 28% to 65%. Then, he served as the Principal of DC Prep’s Benning Elementary Campus, a top-performing, multi-site charter school in Washington, DC. In Raymond’s most recent role as Senior Director of Policy and Community Engagement, he successfully organized the school’s stakeholders while advocating for quality public education and student safety. He serves on the boards of the DC Special Education Coop. Statesman College Preparatory Academy for Boys PCS and ServeDC. Mr. Weeden earned both his BA in Sociology and Master of Teaching from the University of Virginia. He also holds an MS in Education Administration from Trinity University.

Ms. Malika Mays is a native Californian who has been working in the field of education for over 20 years. Malika spent the first seven years of her career as a middle school English Language Arts teacher in Atlanta, working for The Galloway School and KIPP Public Charter Schools. Malika moved to Washington, DC, in 2009, where she became a founding teacher at Friendship Technology Preparatory Academy Middle School and then served as the founding Academy Director for Friendship Tech Prep High School. Throughout her time in education, Malika has served in various capacities, including guidance counselor, Dean of Students, Academy Director, and Associate Head of School and Head of School. Malika believes that education is the key to freedom and that high-quality education is a civil right. To this end, she continues to work with students, faculty, staff, and families to improve and increase the educational opportunities for young people in the communities where she serves. Ms. Mays is excited to work alongside the Thurgood Marshall Academy faculty and staff to serve the students and families within the Southeast DC community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Clark Atlanta University and a National Principal Academy Fellowship certificate from the Relay Graduate School of Education.

Elena Roberts brings over 15 years of experience working in the education field in both rural and urban settings through a variety of roles.  She served as Charter School Senior Leader in Washington, DC, where she oversaw the school’s engagement, advocacy, and network operations efforts with community members and policymakers. She also served as a Content Specialist consultant to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, responsible for data collection, analysis, and reporting, as well as providing navigational assistance to school administrators on the statewide special education data system and on policies and procedures.

Ms. Roberts worked for the State of Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia as a general education and special education teacher, curriculum support supervisor, and special education department lead. Through these experiences, she gained expertise in the areas of curriculum development, complex project management, implementation of a special education program at LEA and SEA level, measuring teacher and student achievement through data collection and analysis, and effective communication. She is strongly committed to bridging the gap between the need to collect data efficiently and the fluidity of the learning process for students at risk and with disabilities.

Ms. Roberts holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education Leadership from Saint Francis University, with an active certification in elementary and special education.

Mr. Saba has over a decade of experience in higher and secondary education. He is passionate about interrupting inequity in schools and transforming the predictability of student outcomes along race and class lines. Mr. Saba serves on the Potomac and Chesapeake  Association for College Admissions Counseling (PCACAC) board and the Board of Advanced Transitional Living Program (ATL) located in Baltimore, Maryland.

Mr. Saba earned both his Bachelor’s Degree from Bowie State University. He is the Founder of TMA My Brothers Keeper.

Mr. Schlossman oversees facilities, finance, and human resources at Thurgood Marshall Academy. He has worked in the nonprofit sector for twenty years, focusing on education and the arts. He has taught students of all ages, including as a lecturer at the University of Maryland, College Park. His nonprofit experience includes administration for the Chicago Artists Coalition and Natya Dance Theatre. He earned a B.A. in English and Theatre at Pomona College and a Ph.D. in Theatre from Northwestern University. He was awarded a Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities.

Ms. Brown has been an educator for over 25 years.  She holds a BA in Sociology from Binghamton University, an MA in Sociology, an MS in Education, and an SAS in Leadership from The City College of New York. Ms. Brown is a native New Yorker. She has served in the capacity as a Social Worker, Social Work Supervisor, Teacher, Teacher Mentor, Lead Teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Interim Acting Principal, and Director of Student Life throughout her tenure. She has been working in the urban school setting for all these years. She came to Washington, DC, in 2014 with the mindset to continue to work with students and families to fulfill their educational journeys of going to College and beyond.  Ms. Brown is not only a faculty member of TMA, but she is also a parent of an Alumni student who graduated in 2017.

Ms. Wilson is the school’s Director of Programs. She manages all aspects of TMA’s out-of-school time programming, including the Mentor Program, Clubs and Athletics, Homework Help, and offsite law-related programming. Ms. Wilson first joined TMA as an AVODAH fellow in 2013 before becoming the Programs Manager; she was later promoted to Director. A native of Philadelphia, she earned her BA in Urban Studies and Communication/Rhetoric Theory from the University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Wilson believes that learning continues outside the classroom walls and that all students can benefit from experiential learning opportunities. She is committed to providing students with meaningful extracurricular experiences that will enhance their academic performance. In addition to overseeing Programs, she leads a Yoga Club for students and practices in her spare time as an instructor. She lives in Washington, D.C.