School Leaders
Nikeysha Jackson
Principal
Nikeysha Jackson is honored to serve as the Principal of John Lewis Elementary School! Ms. Jackson holds a Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree from George Mason University. After working for many years in the HR field, she made the decision to become an educator because of her passion for positively impacting the lives of children. She joined Teach for America and moved to Washington, DC to serve the students and families in the DC metropolitan area.
Prior to serving in the District, Ms. Jackson served in various capacities in Prince George’s County Public Schools including as a 2nd Grade teacher, Kindergarten teacher, and a Math Coach. During her time in the District, Ms. Jackson has served as Assistant Principal at Watkins Elementary School and Interim Principal at LaSalle-Backus Education Campus. Ms. Jackson completed her Principal Residency with New Leaders, a nationally recognized program that develops talented educators into transformational school leaders. As a school leader, Ms. Jackson has been instrumental in significantly increasing student achievement, building and sustaining partnerships with families, and developing staff capacity. Her educational philosophy is grounded in the following principles: all students have a right to high-quality education; all students can achieve; students’ needs differ; students need to be active participants in learning; families matter; and every student needs a champion.
In addition to serving children, Ms. Jackson loves spending time with her daughter, swimming, volunteering, and traveling the world.
Milton Bryant
Assistant Principal
Milton Bryant is thrilled to serve as an Assistant Principal at John Lewis Elementary School! Shortly after graduating from The University of Maryland, Milton discovered his passion for education while on the recruiting trail as a college football coach. He joined the Office of Special Education at DCPS’s Central Office in 2009 and later transitioned to teaching through the Inspired Teaching Certification Program in 2011. Over the next nine years, Milton assumed several roles at Ketcham Elementary School. He taught grades 3-5 for six years and received multiple awards and recognition due to his students’ success. Milton successfully transitioned into an Instructional Coaching role for one year, before joining the Mary Jane Patterson Fellowship and serving as an Assistant Principal at Ketcham for the past two years.
Milton has a LOVE for education and believes in Nelson Mandela’s famous quote that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” He works in DCPS because he wants to empower young people in DC to utilize this weapon to improve their communities and this city. In his down time, Milton enjoys spending time with his family, coaching football, bartending, and hanging with friends.
Kyrissa Denson
Assistant Principal
Dr. Kyrissa Denson is proud to serve as an Assistant Principal at John Lewis Elementary School!
A proud Prince George’s County native, Dr. Denson attended North Carolina A&T State University, where she began her educational journey as an elementary school teacher in Greensboro, North Carolina. She taught both fifth and third grade before returning to Maryland in 2014.
Upon her return, Dr. Denson joined District of Columbia Public Schools, where she has served in a variety of instructional and leadership roles, including third, fourth, and fifth grade teacher, Teacher Leadership Innovation (TLI) teacher, RTI Coordinator, District Course Chair, ELA Instructional Coach, and Assistant Principal. These experiences have strengthened her commitment to academic excellence, instructional leadership, and student success.
Dr. Denson recently earned her Doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership from American University. She also earned a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University while participating in the prestigious Mary Jane Patterson Fellowship with DCPS. In addition, she completed the Leadership and Innovation Certificate Program through Georgetown University, further strengthening her expertise in organizational leadership and strategic innovation.
A passionate advocate for literacy and whole-child development, Dr. Denson believes in fostering a lifelong love of reading and learning while supporting the social and emotional growth of every student. She is dedicated to helping to create inclusive, student-centered environments where all learners feel valued, challenged, and empowered to thrive.
Outside of school, Dr. Denson enjoys traveling, cheering on her alma mater (Aggie Pride!), and watching football.
