As Chief Operating Officer, Emily leads Flamboyan Foundation’s operational strategy and organizational effectiveness across both Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, helping ensure the foundation has the people, systems, and culture needed to achieve its mission. In addition to her organization-wide responsibilities, Emily continues to serve as Executive Director of Flamboyan’s DC Office, where she oversees the foundation’s work to expand REAL Family Engagement with partners locally and nationally. A product of public education herself, Emily is deeply committed to ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education and the opportunities they deserve, regardless of their background.
Before joining Flamboyan, Emily spent more than a decade at DC Public Schools, serving in both district and school-based leadership roles. At the district level, she led the redesign of the teacher selection model and recruitment process, helping strengthen how the school system identified and hired outstanding educators. She also served as a school administrator, giving her firsthand experience supporting students, families, and educators. Emily began her career with TNTP (formerly The New Teacher Project), where she supported alternative route teacher preparation programs in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and the state of Delaware.
Emily holds a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from the University of Maryland and a Executive Masters in Leadership from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. Emily serves on the board of the Parent Teacher Home Visits Project and is passionate about building strong organizations that help children, families, and communities thrive.
Who was your favorite teacher in school? Mrs. Trebilcock – my 10th grade US History teacher. She created an environment where you felt safe to take risks – both academically and socially. She not only knew your name, but your story and that made each student feel seen.