Nicole Smith always knew she wanted to be an educator and began her career as an educator teaching her stuffed animals. Ms. Smith joined E.L Haynes in 2017 from the College Success Foundation DC where she had oversight for 9 years over the Achievers Scholarship Program in Wards 7 and 8. She is no stranger to Haynes as she joined the community in 2005 as a parent when it first opened on top of the CVS building. Prior to her work at Haynes, she served as principal of the Philadelphia YouthBuild Public Charter School, acting principal and Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the bilingual LAYC YouthBuild Public Charter School, and the Director of Education at Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR). Ms. Smith is originally from Philadelphia, PA and is a first generation college student. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, her Master’s degree in Urban Education from Temple University.
Staff Category: Campus Leadership
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Claire M. Tucker became the High School Assistant Principal in summer 2025, and prior to this served as the Culture Coach at E.L. Haynes Elementary School. She is an educator committed to improving the wellness, mindfulness, and collaborative learning experiences that engage students, staff, families and the community. She anchors students in brain science when instructing them on calming strategies they can use to tap into their inner peace and access their growth mindset.
Ms. Tucker is a proud native of Washington, DC and its public school system. She received a dual bachelors degree in both Economics and Africana studies from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to becoming the Culture Coach, she taught special education at E.L. Haynes for five years, providing inclusive and small-group instruction to students with significant skill gaps. In addition to academic support, she developed students’ social, play, and problem-solving skills through her carefully designed pro-social curriculum and facilitated recess program. She values being a devoted mother, partner, and friend.
Brittany Grow is a long time educator and mother who is passionate about finding the right systems and data supports to help students with IEPs, dually identified students, and multilingual learners. Brittany started her education career in 2007 in DC and has served as a general education teacher, MLL teacher, dually identified teacher and MLL coach before transitioning into the Assistant Director role. Brittany holds a master’s degree from George Washington University in Special Education and Human Development for culturally and linguistically diverse learners.
Brittany is passionate about multi-tiered systems of support and specially designed instruction to support learners. She is always learning and loves to collaborate with others to find the best support for our learners! She loves reading at all hours of the day and seeing how she can transfer her love of learning to students and her own children.
Entering his 7th year at E.L. Haynes, Alex Baron has worked as a School Leader-in-Residence, Director of Academic Strategy, Director of Professional Learning, and now Middle School Principal. Before his time at E.L. Haynes, Alex taught secondary math in Denver Public Schools, early childhood at KIPP DC, statistics at Oxford University, and 4th grade English in Taiwan. In addition to work in schools, Alex was the Executive Director of the Urban Leaders policy fellowship in the DC Mayor’s Office, worked on Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s education team, and served in the Taiwanese Education Ministry as a Henry Luce Scholar. Alex is the author of the math book Counting On Yourself and drummer in the E.L. Haynes ADAMARE band. He holds a PhD in education from Oxford University and a bachelors in Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis.
Ciarra Elias, Dean of Culture, was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and attended D.C. Public Schools. She started her career in education as an AmeriCorps member and continued in the nonprofit sector, until transitioning to DC Public Charter Schools. She was a Discipline Specialist at DC International School for three years, and was the Behavior Intervention Coordinator at E.L. Haynes for two years before transitioning to the role of Dean of Culture. She has a Degree from Virginia State University in Mass Communications. She is committed to creating a restorative and inclusive culture for students and families.
Brittany Wagner-Friel, Elementary School Principal, began her career in education working with children with physical disabilities throughout high school and college, before moving abroad to teach English as a second language in Mexico. She joined E.L. Haynes in February 2007 as a teaching fellow before becoming an elementary school special education teacher. Wagner-Friel was promoted to Assistant Principal in 2012 while a member of New Leaders and became Principal in 2014. She graduated from The University of Vermont with a Bachelor’s degree in political science and earned her Master’s degree from The Catholic University of America in special education. She was a 2015 Fellow with the Relay Graduate School of Education’s National Principals Academy, and earned her Executive Masters in Leadership from Georgetown University in December 2017.
