Patricia A. Brantley, the CEO of Friendship Public Charter School, is an education reformer, charter school advocate and supporter of the right of all children to receive a high-quality education. Ms. Brantley served with the founding planners of the charter school nearly two decades ago, when she joined with others under the leadership of Donald L. Hense to create better opportunities for the children of the District of Columbia. Ms. Brantley became Friendship’s chief operating officer in 2003, helping to grow the organization and deepen its impact. During her tenure as COO she engineered the acquisition and development of six public charter school campuses in Washington, D.C., four partner schools in Baltimore, Md., and a new charter school in Baton Rouge, La. She oversees all operations at Friendship, has secured more $95 million in public and private funding, instituted management policies that ensure cohesion among the 12 campuses, and established the Friendship Teaching Institute as a model of professional development. She is noted for spearheading the takeover of the first multicampus charter management group in the District of Columbia, which stopped the displacement of hundreds of children and ensured they could remain in their school of choice. Prior to joining Friendship, Ms. Brantley served in corporate and nonprofit leadership positions, including as founder of the Partnership for Academic Achievement; chief development officer and adviser to Dr. Dorothy Irene Height at the National Council of Negro Women; executive director of the Dance Institute of Washington; and national marketing manager for the Black Family Reunion Celebration. Ms. Brantley is a graduate of Princeton University and a board member of the D.C. Association of Chartered Public Schools. Return to Our Leadership Team page >>
