Brian Pick

Chief of Teaching and Learning, DC Public Schools

Year: 
2007
Every student deserves challenging, engaging, and memorable educational experiences, supported and encouraged by teachers, parents, and the community.

Education leaders have called DC Public Schools (DCPS) the fastest improving school district in the country, and Brian Pick agrees. In his work as the district's Chief of Teaching and Learning, Brian focuses on DCPS’ three levers for change: great educators, rigorous content, and engaged students and families.

To bring high-quality, shared learning experiences to all of DCPS’ 49,500 students, Brian launched the DCPS Cornerstone initiative in the 2015-2016 school year. Cornerstones are powerful lessons in reading, math, science, social studies, art, music, physical education, health, and world languages, developed by DCPS' top teachers and taught as part of the DCPS curriculum. Every DCPS student in every grade experiences Cornerstones.

In addition to providing memorable learning experiences for students, Cornerstones also support teachers. DCPS teachers receive professional development that focuses on the actual lessons -- developed by and for teachers --  that teachers will teach in their classrooms. Teachers are supported to learn and grow through their exposure to real-world content, engaging instructional models, and high-quality student work products.

Brian’s work and results at DCPS include:

  • Leading implementation of the DCPS Academic Plan, including the district-wide transition to the Common Core State Standards, contributing to significant achievement gains since 2008 on both the DC CAS state assessment and the National Assessment of Educational Progress, becoming the “fastest improving urban district” between 2011 and 2015.

  • Supervising an office of 250+ educators who lead the district’s work in content areas, special education, language acquisition, early childhood, educational technology, and assessment.

  • Overseeing all curriculum development and the annual purchasing of over $30 million of curricular materials, assessments, and associated professional learning supports.

  • Increasing AP exams taken from 3,017 to 5,084 and passing rate from 27.5 percent to 34.6 percent between 2010 and 2016.

  • Increasing early literacy proficiency from 55 percent to 67 percent, between 2010 and 2015.

  • Increasing student satisfaction to 83 percent of students liking school (from 78 percent) between 2013 and 2015, by investing in extracurriculars, electives, and study abroad opportunities.

  • Increasing graduation rates from 53 percent to 67 percent, between 2011 and 2015.

  • Launching the DCPS Cornerstones initiatives to provide 250 shared, memorable learning experiences across content areas, driving cross-school content-specific professional development.