The Children’s Guild District of Columbia Public Charter School named Imani Joye Sanders Samuels chair of the school’s board of directors. She has served on the board for the last two years.

Samuels is the loyalty marketing director for AARP responsible for engaging users to prepare for life’s transitions through AARP Rewards. Previously, she was director of member benefits communications at AARP and has held numerous account manager and account executive roles at global advertising companies including McCann/Campbell Mithun, Arnold Worldwide and Porter Novelli. Samuels holds a Master of Arts in public communications from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism (advertising) from Howard University.

In addition, The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School elected the following new board members:

• Jason Henderson is a certified clinical instructor and active member of the American Physical Therapy Association in the orthopedic sector. He is also a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist. He holds a doctorate in physical therapy from Alabama State University.

• Charles W. McNeill Jr. is senior pastor of Unity Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. He has worked as an investigator for the United States Department of Labor and has been a police officer in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department.

• Joan C. Payne is professor emerita in the department of communication sciences and disorders at Howard University. She was the interim chair of the department until 2017. Payne is nationally and internationally recognized as an expert in cultural diversity in communication disorders and brain-based language and cognitive disorders. The author of many books and articles, she has awards from Howard University, the National Black Association for Speech-Language-Hearing, the District of Columbia Speech and Hearing Association and the American Association for Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA). She is an ASHA Fellow and was awarded ASHA Honors for a distinguished career in speech-language pathology. She holds a doctorate in communication sciences.

The Children’s Guild DC Public Charter School is an affiliate member of The Children’s Guild Alliance, a nonprofit organization serving children, families and child-serving organizations dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health and national training and consultation services. Affiliates of The Children’s Guild Alliance include The Children’s Guild, Monarch Academy public charter and contract schools, Monarch Preschool College Park, Tranzed Academy for Working Students (TAWS), TranZed Apprenticeships, Transformation Education Institute and The National Children’s Guild Fund. Additionally, The Children’s Guild Alliance presents the Kids First National Conference. (TCGDC.org)