Leadership Transition

Leadership Transition

Brian A. Bernasek, Board Chair


Dear WJA Community,

In 2002, Washington Jesuit Academy was founded as a Catholic institution to provide high-quality education to boys from underserved communities in the D.C. metro area. Today, WJA is a thriving academic community empowering 4th-8th grade boys through access to rigorous, comprehensive education and support through high school, college, and beyond, filling a previously unmet need in Washington, D.C.

More than two decades after the very first students walked through our doors, we now find ourselves at a pivotal moment in WJA’s history as we embark on a leadership transition.

Today, I am delighted to announce that Marcus Washington has been appointed WJA’s second President. Marcus, who currently serves as our Head of School, has a longstanding commitment to WJA and has played a key leadership role at the Academy for the past 12 years. He will assume the role of WJA President on July 1, 2022.

Marcus brings a unique passion and experience that makes him an exceptional leader for WJA at this moment in time. He has spent nearly his entire life in the Washington, D.C. area—either as a student or a teacher. After graduating from The College of William & Mary, he received his M.Ed. from Marymount University and his M.A. from The George Washington University. His experience as both a student and then as a teacher at Gonzaga College High School instilled in him a commitment to providing a first-rate academic experience for middle school boys in this city who both need and deserve the opportunity. He has spent the past 12 years at WJA in a variety of leadership positions, including as Principal and currently as Head of School.

Marcus describes WJA as a “land of opportunity for those who need it most.” He is enthusiastic about introducing WJA to a new generation of students, parents, teachers, and supporters and positioning the school for the future, as both a fixture of D.C. and a model for urban education.

Marcus will be supported in his new role by our tremendous leadership team, including Principal Brian Farmer, Assistant Principal Kevin Winston, Chief Advancement Officer Lisa Paro, and J.B Gerald, overseeing the Office of Student and Alumni Success. 

Of course, this transition marks the end of a chapter of leadership at WJA, as our Founding President Bill Whitaker moves into an advisory role. Bill established WJA more than two decades ago and has overseen the Academy since its inception. As founder, he remains deeply committed to the mission of WJA and will be available to the board and President to provide counsel on strategic matters moving forward.

On behalf of the WJA Board of Directors, I want to express our deepest appreciation to Bill for his remarkable leadership and tenure with WJA. More than 20 years ago, Bill envisioned a tuition-free middle school that would give bright young men the opportunities and tools they needed to unlock their full potential. He was appointed by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) to found and lead a new school operating according to Jesuit educational principles. WJA welcomed its first sixth grade class in rented space at the Washington Children’s Museum before moving to our current Varnum Street campus, which has welcomed more than 450 students.

Bill’s unrelenting drive and commitment to that vision means that today WJA is a rigorous academic institution—where students learn for 11 hours a day, 11 months a year—that competes with top private schools in the area. Moreover, WJA prepares young men with the well-rounded foundation to succeed in the future, as exemplified by the fact that 99% of WJA alumni graduate from high school and 90% enroll in college/trade school or have entered the workforce.

Community is at the heart of our mission, and the WJA brotherhood among our students extends well beyond the classroom to include all of you—our alumni, our parents, our faculty and staff, and our supporters.

Today’s leadership transition builds on WJA’s remarkable momentum of the past and positions us for the future. Thank you for being part of the transformative work we do here at WJA and for your continued partnership as we enter this exciting next chapter.

With Gratitude,

Brian A. Bernasek
Chair, WJA Board of Directors 


Bill Whitaker, Founder


Dear WJA Community,

The past 23 years have been the opportunity of a lifetime. What a privilege it’s been to lead, coach and collaborate with such an incredible team, and to witness the impact of our school on multiple generations of young men as they take advantage of the opportunities in front of them. 

To me, WJA represents a place of opportunity and hope, of dedication and passion, of generosity and belief. We are a community that works tirelessly to offer comprehensive education to students, beginning in fourth grade and continuing on through the rest of their lives. Together, we have instilled purpose in the lives of so many and have consistently showed an unfailing commitment to putting students and families first. 

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the committed individuals who took a chance on this vision 23 years ago. From day one, we had incredible teachers and staff on board who shared a deep dedication to this work and community, many of whom have stayed with us over the years. A consistent theme throughout my tenure with WJA has been generosity, and I have worked with a wonderful network of people over the years, from students to parents to teachers to board members to alumni to community members. It has been humbling to receive support in so many different ways, from our committed board members and board chairs who I have learned from and grown with over the years, to our alumni who consistently ask me what they can do to give back. So many people simply “got in the boat” and rowed in the same direction as we pushed for bold change. 

As I reflect back on the past two decades, I am so proud of what we built together. I think about the startup phase, and the opportunity we had to partner with the D.C.-area Jesuit Communities to start a tuition-free school for the Jesuits. We envisioned the best school for kids from underserved communities and a vast network of support. We imagined a unique mix of academic, mentoring, coaching, and social support, not only for current students but a continued lifetime of support for our graduates.

In 2001, that vision became a reality as welcomed our first sixth grade class in rented space at the Washington Children’s Museum. Those early years were marked by hard but important work to lay a foundation for future growth and sustainability for what was, at the time, the newest school under the Jesuits. I remember waking up every morning thinking, “we need to do more and we should do more.” 

Fast forward to today, and our success in opening doors for underserved students has been recognized throughout D.C. and beyond as a model for urban education. WJA now employs a staff of over 35, 80% of whom hold a master’s degree. Our graduating class of 2021 saw a 100% high school acceptance and enrollment rate, and our class of 2016 earned a 100% college acceptance and enrollment rate at four-year colleges. 

This brings me to my successor Marcus Washington, who I have been privileged to work closely with over the past 12 years. It has always been my goal to “hire up,” and Marcus is the embodiment of that—a leader who will take WJA into its next chapter and beyond, drawing on his experience both as a longtime leader here at WJA and as a student of Jesuit education in D.C.

At the end of the day, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for all we’ve accomplished and the vast community of supporters who have made this possible. It has been a true honor to work with and share WJA with so many. 

Bill Whitaker
Founding President, WJA 


Marcus Washington, Incoming President


Dear WJA Community,

I am both humbled and grateful for the incredible opportunity to become the next President of Washington Jesuit Academy. As I reflect on the past 12 years, what I value most are the relationships we have established—among students, parents, teachers, benefactors, supporters, and alumni. These relationships are the bedrock upon which WJA was established. I know these relationships make a difference to our young men because our graduates consistently come back to us, year after year, to share their successes, their challenges, and give back to the institution that fostered their growth.

I see WJA as a national model for urban education, leading with innovative best practices that address today’s most pressing issues. We must continue to prioritize our students and their wellbeing by focusing on their social and emotional health, and by providing continued support to our graduates throughout high school, college, and beyond, connecting them to internships, job opportunities, and mentors. We will always adhere to the Jesuit principle of “cura personalis,” or “care of the whole person.” We will also continue to ensure our school operations are sustainable for the future, by growing our endowment to ensure financial stability and continuing to hire top-tier talent.

My goal is to establish our school as a permanent fixture in this area for young men from underserved and overlooked communities. As a native Washingtonian, I recognize the vital role that WJA plays in addressing the inequalities of our society—and this city needs us now more than ever. I am excited to introduce WJA to a new generation of students, parents, teachers, and supporters. Our alumni are key in shaping the future of WJA, and my hope is that 20 years from now, the core leadership of this school comes from our graduates.

As we look to the future, it is also important to recognize the contributions of William Whitaker. It has been a privilege to work alongside Bill for the past 12 years. I recognize the incredible opportunity ahead to build on the foundation Bill has laid and am intent on honoring his legacy by carrying on his legacy.

I am deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of the WJA community over the past two decades and am tremendously excited for what is to come. I am confident that we will continue to build a more just future, as we always have, one young man at a time.

Gratefully,
Marcus Washington
Incoming President, WJA

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