DC Media Arts Academy

As a child, native Washingtonian Judy A. Moore, dreamed of visiting the far away places she saw on TV. She made up colorful stories and poems, inserting herself as the main character. As a student in DC’s public schools, she gathered the information to attend the Lemual A. Penn Career Center to pursue her creative interests, and was granted special permission to attend McKinley Technical High School, just a few feet away, for her traditional academics. 

Throughout high school, photography, journalism and television news were all she cared about, until a report card revealed all A’s in those classes and all F’s in the others. It was clear that she could do the work; but her passion was to create. This passion led to a Bachelor of Art in Mass Media, from the University of the District of Columbia, then a Master of Arts degree and a certificate in Film Production, from New School University in New York City. 

Ms Moore’s professional career spans decades in various areas of photography and film production, before shifting to education. She established a media program at her alma mater, now McKinley Technology High School, that was adopted city wide. Throughout her 12+ year tenure at McKinley, Ms Moore exposed students to the world, through conferences and competitions, from New York, Kansas City and California, to Japan, South Africa, the Caribbean and the slave forts of Senegal. During each experience students captured and strengthened their creative voice through video production. 

Providing a medium for young people to explore their passion, dreams and voice, remains her commitment, which led to her unwavering vision to reshape education through the production of media art. In 2019, she assembled the founding team of the DC Media Arts Academy. 

Monica Freeman is an administrative professional with twenty years of experience providing business operations support at the senior management level within the government, nonprofit, and private sectors. Currently, she serves as a Management Program Analyst at the U.S. Department of Education, supporting the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE).  Ms. Freeman worked for several years with the University of North Carolina-Charlotte as the Graduate School’s Administrative Coordinator overseeing the Center for Graduate Life’s Budget and Procurement Office.  She received several progressive promotions over a ten-year period while working at the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).  As Program Analyst within the OSSE Postsecondary and Career Education Division, she served in the role of liaison between the Division’s Assistant Superintendent and OSSE staff.  

Prior to her stint with the District of Columbia government, Ms. Freeman had the unique experience of serving under the leadership of renowned Civil Rights icon, Mrs. Marian Wright Edelman at the Children’s Defense Fund. As the Freedom School’s Senior Program Associate, she organized and facilitated advocacy workshops to train HBCU student leaders in the areas of education, children’s health and welfare, and youth justice policy. 

Ms. Freeman is a proud native Washingtonian who received her BA in Mass Media from the University of the District of Columbia in 1994, and her MFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University in 2011.

Renee Jamison is an African American of Caribbean descent from Silver Spring, Maryland. She is a graduate of Montgomery College: AA in General Studies, Morgan State University: BS in English Education and Concordia University: MS in Curriculum and Instruction.

Ms Jamison started her teaching career at a DC Charter school, where she taught English I, English II, Developmental Reading and Journalism. She then continued her teaching career at one of DCPS’s top high schools, McKinley Technology High School. At McKinley, Ms Jamison taught, English I, Advanced English I, English II, African American Literature, and African American Experience in Literature.

In her 13 years in education, she has created long lasting partnerships with Arena Stage DC Ticket Partnership, which exposes DC students to the nuances of theater through performances and creating productions, and the Shakespeare Theatre Program, which creates a platform for students to understand Shakespeare’s work through student-led performances. Currently, Ms Jamison is working to revolutionize her craft by partnering with the Modern Classroom Program, which teaches educators how to effectively create a blended learning platform for students to master content through self-paced teacher lessons.

Ms Jamison’s educational philosophy is that ALL students are able to learn to be strong students who are independently responsible for their own academic success. She also believes in providing her students with the skills to be responsible, productive, and happy members of society.

Kadesha Powell is a veteran high school teacher with boundless creativity. Aside from regular classes, she coaches students in how to shoot and edit video. They have won numerous awards for their work, and a trip to the White House, where the group met former President Barack Obama in 2014. 

Ms. Powell has won awards and is regularly recognized as an outstanding educator within the D.C. Public School system.

Ms. Powell has one son, two bonus-sons and lives in Maryland with her husband, and their Yorkie, “Tookie”. She loves to travel and has visited more than fifteen countries. She has also published a memoir, Growing Up Joplin, which highlights her experiences as one of a few African Americans raised in a predominantly white town.

Rhonda Robinson has decades of educational experience; employed in educational counseling, college and financial aid planning, community services and mental health resource development.  She has worked for DC Public Schools, DC Charter Schools, The College Board and recently with mental health agencies providing resource and community support for District residents in Wards 7 and 8. She has a zeal for students and education and enjoys working with a diverse community striving for the mutual advancement of students. She recognizes that a different approach to education and service delivery is necessary to holistically meet the needs of 21st century students. Educators need to provide resources and supportive services to develop critical thinking skills, positive decision making, conflict resolution and rites of passage opportunities.  Ms. Robinson is a second generation Washingtonian and was educated in DC Public Schools.   She earned her Undergraduate Degree from Doane University, Nebraska and Masters Degree from the University of the District of Columbia.