About Us

Founder.

A seasoned public charter school leader, Justin brings deep experience in school turnaround, instructional leadership, and nonprofit management in Washington, DC. He led IDEA Public Charter School in Ward 7 from the brink of closure to the highest-performing high school in the ward and a top-ten non-selective high school citywide. Over ten years as Executive Director, Justin focused on academic excellence, operational sustainability, and equitable outcomes for students. He began Cercis in 2025 to share his expertise and build capacity across the Washington, DC charter sector. In his free time, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids and dreaming of one day opening a tree nursery.

Financial Management.

A finance professional with deep experience supporting public charter schools, Jabari' brings strong expertise in financial operations, budgeting, compliance, and data analysis. Jabari's background includes serving as Business Office Manager at IDEA Public Charter School, where he supported fiscal oversight, risk management, and operational compliance. He currently provides day-to-day financial leadership for multiple DC charter schools, overseeing payroll, grants management, account closure, and financial reporting. In his free time, Jabari' enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.

Strategy and Planning.

A student-centered education leader with more than a decade of experience, Taylor brings deep expertise in learning support, curriculum implementation, and instructional leadership. Most recently, she served as Director of Learning Support at Grace Episcopal Day School in Kensington, Maryland, where she led a schoolwide transition in reading curriculum, oversaw assessments, and provided targeted student interventions while supporting classroom teachers. She also brings experience from the DC-area charter sector in grants management, operations, strategy, and event support. In her free time, she is renovating an 1840s farmhouse and starting a farm with her husband in upstate NY.

Operations Management.

An experienced school operations professional, Kester is committed to creating safe, well-managed environments where staff and students can thrive. He oversees facilities, health and safety, compliance, and support services, leading operations teams with a calm, collaborative approach. By developing clear systems, strengthening emergency planning, and maintaining high operational standards, Kester enables school leaders and educators to focus on teaching and learning. In his free time, Kester enjoys spending time with his two kids and traveling.

Strategy and Planning.

With over 15 years of experience in education, Shomari is a seasoned instructional leader with deep expertise in secondary mathematics, school leadership, and educator development. Most recently, he served as Assistant Principal at IDEA Public Charter School, where he supported academic leadership, instructional quality, and staff development. His career spans roles as a district-level leader, leadership coach, department chair, and classroom teacher, giving him a comprehensive understanding of effective teaching, coaching, and school improvement. In his free time, Shomari enjoys reading and spending time with his family. 

Strategy and Planning.

A seasoned nonprofit leader, Alison brings deep experience in the Washington, DC charter sector, along with broad expertise in nonprofit operations, strategy, fundraising, and events. She supports charter schools and education organizations by providing additional capacity in project and event management, operations and compliance, human resources, and strategic support. Previously, Alison spent over a decade in senior leadership roles at the DC Charter School Alliance. Alison is also fluent in Spanish. In her free time, Alison loves musical theater and going to shows of all kinds with her family.