Lafayette Alum Wins Ainslie Alumni Achievement Award
A proud Posse Scholar and graduate of Lafayette College, Jennifer Schroeder has been selected as the 2025 Ainslie Alumni Achievement Award Winner. The Ainslie, which is awarded by a panel of Posse Alumni, recognizes one incredible alum who is fulfilling the mission of the organization by leading in the workforce.
An educator, coach, and youth advocate with DC Public Schools, Jennifer has built her career on a deeply held belief that “every young person deserves to feel seen and supported and is capable of greatness.” After graduating from Lafayette, she went on to earn her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and completed her principal residency through the New Leaders Aspiring Principals Program, preparing her to lead with both instructional expertise and an unwavering commitment to equity.
Success isn’t about standing in the light — it’s about helping others see their light and potential, just as Posse did for me.
Today, with more than eleven years of experience with DCPS, Jennifer now serves as a Distinguished Science Teacher, Multilingual Learners instructor, mentor, coach, and teacher leader. She describes her approach as a blend of “creativity, academic rigor, and joy” — an approach grounded in the belief that strong relationships are the foundation of student success.
Jennifer’s passion for expanding opportunity has led her to create a wide range of innovative school-based programs. She has helped establish the Nail Academy, the Culinary Arts Program, the Ladies of Distinction Program, the Business Academy and the Justice Chef Program—each designed to help students explore identity, leadership, and real-world skills. She also fuonded Parent University, providing families with game nights, workshops, and online resources that strengthen the bridge between home and school.
Her leadership extends beyond the classroom to the soccer field and into the community. As a DC SCORES Coach of the Year and DCPS Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, Jennifer is known for cultivating the whole child, merging athletics, arts, and academics to ensure that students grow not just as learners but as people.
In her recent Power of 10 speech, Jennifer reflected on the resilience, community, and love that shaped her journey—from overcoming a serious illness in college to graduating with her Posse against all odds. She credits her Posse mentor, Andrea Smith, and her cohort for modeling the kind of unwavering support she now strives to replicate for her students every day.
“Success isn’t about standing in the light — it’s about helping others see their light and potential, just as Posse did for me,” says Jennifer.
For Jennifer, education is more than a profession. It is a legacy—one rooted in service, transformation, and the belief that when young people are surrounded by a village that lifts them up, they can change the world.
