DC Charter School Alliance Mourns Passing of Dr. Ramona Edelin

By Ariel Johnson, Executive Director, DC Charter School Alliance

Dr. Ramona H. Edelin was an icon of the civil rights movement who dedicated the past two decades of her life to steadfastly advocating for high-quality educational opportunities in DC. My colleagues and I are deeply saddened by her passing, but we are grateful that we had the privilege of working alongside her. She lived a life of service to her community, and we continue to be inspired by her courage and conviction.  

It’s hard to sum up the legacy Ramona leaves behind. She dedicated her life to uplifting and advancing the African American community and expanding access to high-quality public school education to children in need. She was, quite simply, a force in the civil rights movement. Ramona believed that understanding our roots and culture as African-descended people was a guiding principle essential to building the movement for justice. In fact, Ramona is the reason why “African American” is in the lexicon. She coined the term, and it was popularized by Rev. Jesse Jackson and other leaders of the civil rights movement. She was a proud member and national officer of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the Presidential Board of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, among many other outstanding achievements. 

Without her leadership, it’s safe to say that the charter school movement in the United States, and certainly the Nation's Capital, would not be where it is today. Ramona understood the value of education and the gift it had personally given her, and she carried that value forward in her work. She believed today’s civil rights challenge comes not from “how the law discriminates but from how we as a society fail to prepare all of our children for the challenges they will face as adults.” She believed in the promise of school choice as a means to ensure our children have the tools, agency, and freedom they deserve to live a life of dignity. 

She brought her immense expertise, wisdom, and values to her work at the District of Columbia Association of Chartered Public Schools, where she served as executive director from 2006 until the 2020 merger of education advocacy organizations that became the DC Charter School Alliance. Her work at the Association focused on ensuring leaders of color and community members always had a seat at the table and that charter schools have access to the facilities and resources they need. She continued this work as a much-trusted and beloved senior advisor at the DC Alliance. 

As a new leader in DC, she embraced me, generously shared her wisdom, and was a steady voice of encouragement when I needed it most. She never hesitated to make a connection, remind me of my power, and provide a sounding board for tough decisions. She was truly a Senior Advisor, as her title denoted. I know that I am not alone; Ramona believed that each of us–through our collective power–could make our education system, our city, and our country better. 

Ramona will be greatly missed. I want to offer our condolences to her family, friends, and the entire DC charter school community during this difficult time.