Justin Rydstrom believes that all DC students should experience excellent public education regardless of zip code. As CEO of IDEA Public Charter School in Deanwood, Mr. Rydstrom led a transformative turnaround of the school from the brink of closure to top ten citywide amongst non-selective high schools. IDEA also earned the 2019 EmpowerK12 Bold Performance award for schools that serve a high at-risk student population and have combined math and English language arts proficiency rates dramatically higher than similar schools. Prior to his ten years at IDEA, Mr. Rydstrom served as a dean of students and teacher for ten years at various public schools in the District, North Carolina and New Hampshire. Mr. Rydstrom earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and his M.A. from Georgetown University. Mr. Rydstrom has lived in Ward 7 since 2007 and has a wife and three children. He also currently serves as the finance chair for the DC Charter School Alliance of which he was a founding board member.