Elementary Teachers' Photos

Crystal Sadrzadeh will begin her seventh year of teaching this school year. She has been both a lead and partner teacher, working with Kindergarten and 1st grade when she first started at Van Ness in 2017 and went on to work with 2nd grade. She is returning to kindergarten this year! Crystal also taught Pre-K and Kindergarten at a dual-language Charter in DC. For over a decade now, Crystal has been serving as a volunteer teacher and mentor as part of community-building activities that empower young people to become active agents of change in their communities. She continues this work with children and youth ages 3-19 within the District. Crystal holds a B.A. in Sociology and Elementary Education from The College of William and Mary. Crystal is a lover of interior design and decorating, plants, travel, and trying out new recipes!

Michelle Johnson has taught Kindergarten through 5th grade over the course of her teaching career. Prior to coming to Van Ness ES, she taught 2nd grade at Seaton Elementary School, where she was awarded the prestigious Milken Educator Award. Before coming to DC Public Schools, Michelle worked as an elementary educator in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and Prince George’s County, MD. Michelle participated in the DCPS Common Core Reading Corps, developing a literacy curriculum that is used district-wide. She served as a Capital Commitment Fellow for DCPS and trains fellow teachers on the Whole Brain Teaching strategies she successfully uses in her own classroom. Michelle’s highly effective teaching has been featured in three DCPS Essential Practices teaching videos for fellow educators. Her innovative maker approach has also been featured in Transcend and Edutopia videos and articles. Michelle graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science from the University of Tennessee and has a MPS degree in Political Management from George Washington University.

My name is Ms. H, and I am an enthusiastic and energetic teacher with over two years of experience. I am excited to continue growing here at Van Ness Elementary School. My motto is, “Children are like sponges, and I am here to ensure they soak up the right information.” There is nothing more rewarding to me than helping children learn and grow.

In addition to my teaching experience, my education supports my ability to be an effective teacher. I earned my bachelor's degree in social work from Wilberforce University, the nation's first private HBCU.

Mili Cattan graduated from George Washington University with a Masters in Elementary Education. Her undergraduate degree is in Interior Architecture. Mili has worked with kids in various settings including Sunday school and summer camp. This is Mili’s second year as a classroom teacher!

Kristi Kay joined Van Ness in 2024 after teaching at Tubman Elementary for seven years. She holds a BS in Early Childhood Education from LSU and recently earned a Masters in Reading Science from Mount St Joseph University. Kristi is a certified reading specialist and is passionate about teaching literacy. Outside of school, Kristi enjoys trying new restaurants around DC, organizing, reading, and watching football.

Bio coming soon!

Maggie Lombardo has been a proud DCPS teacher for seven years. Originally from North Carolina—where she earned her degree in Education at UNC Chapel Hill—Maggie relocated to DC in 2016 to work as a 5th grade teacher at John Eaton ES. She taught there as a 4th and 5th grade educator in an all-content as well as a departmentalized model. There, she found her passion for social-emotional learning and teaching the whole child. She trained through Breathe for Change and Responsive Classroom to better her practice and became the SEL Co-Lead at her previous school. After school, you can find Maggie studying—she’s completing her Masters in High Incidence Disabilities at the University of Kansas—or recharging in nature.

Anna Melchionni is a second-year teacher and a recent graduate of Catholic University, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology. She has been at Van Ness as a 4th grade teacher and as a substitute teacher. Her other experiences include interning at Stuart-Hobson Middle School and Elsie-Whitlow Stokes Public Charter School, along with working as a phonics tutor. Outside of the classroom, Anna has played basketball for most of her life and now enjoys running.

Ms. Quarshie joins Van Ness with many years of experience teaching 1st and 2nd grade in both Washington, DC and New York City. She earned her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech in 2012. She is deeply passionate about understanding each of her students as individuals and supporting them as they grow into confident learners and caring people. Building strong relationships and creating a nurturing classroom community are at the heart of her teaching. When she’s not at school, Ms. Quarshie enjoys spending time with her two daughters, who keep her inspired and joyful

Ms. Young is originally from South Carolina and currently in her 6th year of teaching. After relocating to Virginia, she graduated from Hampton University with a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: Elementary Education. She has spent the past 5 years teaching 2nd and 3rd grade. Throughout her career, she has taught in both military installation schools and Title 1 schools, gaining valuable experience in diverse educational settings.

In addition to her teaching experience, Ms. Young has held leadership roles such as PBIS Lead, where she supported school-wide practices to promote a safe and positive learning environment for all students, addressing their social, behavioral, instructional, and emotional needs. She also served as Youth Development Lead, focusing on designing and implementing programs aimed at developing students' social, emotional, and leadership skills.

Having recently moved to Maryland to be closer to family, Ms. Young enjoys spending time with her dog, Diamond, exploring new food spots, and cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles!

Ms. Miller is a second-year teacher at Van Ness. She graduated from Hampton University in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a concentration in Elementary Education. She also holds a Virginia Collegiate Teaching License. During her time at Hampton, Ms. Miller completed student teaching placements in both first and fifth grade, where she developed a strong passion for fostering growth, curiosity, and confidence in young learners. A proud native of Prince George’s County, Maryland, Ms. Miller began her own educational journey at a DC Public Charter School before continuing her middle and high school years in PG County. Her diverse educational background helps her connect with students and families from all walks of life.

Raquel Sarvis has been a lead and partner teacher at Van Ness for the past six years, working with PK4, first grade, and second grade. She completed her year of practicum teaching in second grade at a DCPS school prior to joining Van Ness. Ms. Sarvis was an early childhood teacher at a child development center in NW Washington, DC. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Education from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and a M.Ed from Trinity Washington University. For 2 years, Ms. Sarvis supported students after school by providing additional intervention and this past year was a member of the Local School Advisory Team (LSAT).

Elizabeth Ward joined Van Ness in the 2017-18 school year as a first grade teacher, and is excited to take on her fourth year at Van Ness in second grade for the 2020-2021 school year. Prior to Van Ness, she worked as a Pre-Kindergarten school readiness teacher in her hometown of Stamford, Connecticut. Elizabeth is passionate about making learning engaging for all students and educating the whole child. At Van Ness, Elizabeth has participated in and led afterschool programs including: DC Scores (soccer coach) and BOKS. During her undergraduate studies Elizabeth worked in a variety of educational settings including Concord Hill School, Sacred Heart Bilingual Catholic School, and Murch Elementary School. Over the course of her studies, Elizabeth was exposed to several teaching and volunteer opportunities working with a diverse group of students including Washington Yu-Ying’s REEF program, Girls on the Run, and DC Reads. Elizabeth also served as a global education volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Elizabeth holds a B.A in Early Childhood Education from Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) and will be finished with her Masters in Literacy/Reading Intervention through Concordia University’s graduate program in the fall.

S.Y. 2024-25 will be my 28th year In the educational field. This will be my 9th year teaching with DCPS. I am a D.C. native and proud graduate of Calvin Coolidge Sr. High School. I have spent my educational career serving the DMV area in many different capacities. I have acted as. Team Lead, Reading Specialist, Testing Coordinator, Title I Coordinator and Assistant Principal to name a few of my roles over the years in DCPS, PGCPS, and ACPS. I have spent my last 6 years at Thompson Elementary as a 4th grade classroom teacher. I am also a proud father of two beautiful daughters, who are, and will be successful graduates of DCPS (with my oldest as an alum of Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts). In my spare time, you can find me in a couple of different settings. 1- on a golf course trying to perfect my game; 2- cycling across the DMV; 3- Officiating basketball around the area; 4- taking in a good play or concert; 5- traveling the country looking for my next experience. I look forward to building a great relationship with the Otter community, to share and receive experiences that will contribute to my growth, as well as enhance the lives of the students, parents/families, and co-workers.

Lyz Alexandre will be teaching 4th grade math and science this year. Some may already recognize her from her role as a partner teacher last year. She is excited to reconnect with familiar faces while getting to know many new ones. Outside of school, Lyz enjoys dancing, reading, and exploring beautiful nature trails throughout the DMV. She looks forward to helping 4th graders learn, grow, and succeed.

Claire is a first-year teacher and is excited to be teaching 4th grade at Van Ness. She graduated from Furman University with a B.A. in Sociology and gained classroom experience in college as a physics lab TA. Claire has also tutored Latin and math students in 7th through 10th grades. In her free time, she enjoys cooking Japanese food the way her grandma taught her and exploring DC.

Davon Barnett joined Van Ness in 2024 from Leckie ES where he recently completed his 20th year in education. He holds BA from Duquesne University and MA degree from Carnegie Mellon University in public policy.

Fidji-Ruth Endene will begin her eighth year of teaching this school year. She has been both a lead and partner teacher in 2nd, 4th and 5th grade. Fidji holds a B.S in Biology from Bowie State University and an M.S in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University.

Shehariah Johnson is a proud Washington, DC native and DC Public Schools graduate who is dedicated to helping young learners reach their full potential. As she begins her first year at Van Ness Elementary School, she brings five years of experience as a lead teacher and a diverse background as a youth development specialist, tutor, mentor, and educator, serving students from early childhood through upper elementary grades. She is passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that inspire students to become confident, compassionate, and successful members of their communities.