Comings & Goings Kline named president of D.C. Public Education Fund

By PETER ROSENSTEIN

The Comings & Goings column is about sharing the professional successes of our community. We want to recognize those landing new jobs, new clients for their business, joining boards of organizations and other achievements. Please share your successes with us at: comingsandgoings@washblade.com.

Congratulations to Jim Kline on his new position as President and Executive Director of the D.C. Public Education Fund. The Education Fund is the philanthropic arm of D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) and has raised more than $180 million in investments since its inception 15 years ago. Kline said, “I couldn’t be more excited to take on this new opportunity of leading the DC Ed Fund - especially at this moment in our city’s history. We have made incredible progress over the years within DCPS, and yet coming out of the pandemic, we still have so much to do to ensure our system is excellent and equitable for all students. … I’m humbled by this opportunity and the challenges ahead of us — and incredibly grateful for the legacy of innovation and progress I’m inheriting at the D.C. Public

Education Fund.”

Prior to this he was Senior Director, Program Strategy with CityBridge Education, and worked as Manager, schools portfolio with the Philadelphia School Partnership. He was network-wide Director of College Readiness, Collegiate Academies Charter Schools in New Orleans. Kline began his career as a social studies teacher and academic dean. He received a New Orleans Excellence in Teaching Award, New Schools for New Orleans; and a New Orleans Saints Outstanding Teacher Award, National Football League.

Congratulations also to Saurav Jung Thapa on being named Senior Federal Affairs Manager with the Trevor Project. Thapa said, “I am delighted at this opportunity to engage with federal government agencies, LGBTQ organizations, and mental health organizations to advance The Trevor Project’s crucial mission of preventing suicide and providing crisis intervention to LGBTQ young people. This community is at significantly higher risk of suicide, not due to their sexual orientation or gender iden-

New Hampshire Avenue, and 17th Street, N.W.

In a separate action, the Council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment voted unanimously on March 28 to approve a bill introduced earlier this year by Council member Robert White (D-At-Large) calling for creating “LGBTQ Pride” license plates for motor vehicles licensed in D.C.

The legislation, called the Pride Plates Amendment Act of 2023, states that, “The Mayor shall design and make available for issue one or more LGBTQ Pride motor vehicle tags demonstrating support for the LGBTQ community.”

It calls for charging a small annual fee for the LGBTQ plates that will help fund the city’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, which the bill says supports programs “that promote the welfare of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning community.”

The bill, which has the support of at least eight other Council members who joined Robert White as co-introducers, was expected to come up for a first-reading vote at the next Council session.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

tity, but rather because of the prevalence of anti-LGBTQ stigma, mistreatment, and violence that they often face in their homes, schools, and communities.”

Thapa’s previous role with Trevor Project was as Senior Manager of International Expansion. Prior to that he was founder of Technical Writing and Editing Service LLC; a technical writer and editor with MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights. He has served as a Senior Program Manager, Dignity for All, Freedom House in D.C.; and technical officer, LGBTI and Human Rights, United Nations Development Program, Bangkok, Thailand.