What does it take to turn a school around? For Daniela Anello, CEO of DC Bilingual, the answer is a blend of personal passion, relentless dedication, and a commitment to building systems that work. As a first-generation immigrant from Chile, Anello’s journey fuels her mission to create schools where every child feels safe, seen, and excited to learn. When she joined DC Bilingual, she channeled that passion into action, helping transform a struggling school into a thriving, sought-after bilingual community. Now, she’s paying it forward.
From 3% to Thriving
When Anello arrived at DC Bilingual 16 years ago, the school had a beautiful culture but faced a harsh academic reality: just 3% proficiency in math and 30% in reading. She was hired as part of a school turnaround team facing a monumental task. They didn’t just tweak a few things; they dove deep, building robust systems and structures from the ground up. The result? Immediate and sustained academic gains, with students consistently achieving double-digit improvements year after year. It was a testament to their belief that with the proper support and academic rigor, every student can succeed.
It’s a Community Affair
DC Bilingual’s success isn’t just about test scores. It’s about fostering a community where every student can bring their whole self to school. A key part of their model is embracing their families’ cultures and traditions. They even have a scratch-prep kitchen that features recipes from students’ homes. This holistic approach extends to language learning. Their advice to families is powerful yet simple: don’t worry about teaching a new language at home. Instead, focus on strengthening the native language through rich conversation and reading. A strong foundation in one language, they’ve found, is the best springboard for learning another.
Sharing the Blueprint: The Escuelita Project
How do you scale success without losing the magic? Anello and her team are answering that question with their new initiative, the Escuelita Project. Remembering how visiting other high-performing schools was crucial to their own turnaround, they’ve designed an immersive, three-day experience for school leadership teams. It’s not about providing a ‘copy-paste’ model. Instead, Escuelita empowers teams to observe best practices in action—from co-teaching models to community engagement—and then design an action plan tailored to their unique school community. It’s a collaborative approach to school improvement, built on the idea that we’re all better when we learn together.
Anello’s story is a powerful reminder that transformation is possible. It begins with a deep understanding of your ‘why’—the core belief that drives your work. For DC Bilingual, that ‘why’ led to the creation of a holistic, rigorous, and joyful learning environment. Through the Escuelita Project, they are proving that the most impactful leaders don’t just build great schools; they help other leaders do the same. Their journey shows us that with a clear vision and a willingness to learn and collaborate, we can all build stronger school communities.
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