WASHINGTON — Jermaine Wyatt came to Excel Academy Public School because he knew he wanted to make a difference. Wyatt is the social worker at the all-girl school in Southeast, D.C..
When the school opened in 2018, Wyatt brought the dance team he started at Kramer Middle School over to Excel. Now, students from both schools participate in the program. Along with the dance team, Wyatt also coaches the all-girl drum line.
"I really wanted to come to this school because of single gender and also being a male and having the opportunity to be a positive male figure for young girls," said Wyatt.
After only a few months of practice, the teams applied to perform at the annual Cherry Blossom Festival Parade and were accepted.
The program is funded by the Reign Grant, an initiative put into place by Mayor Muriel Bowser. It provides funding to schools to empower young women of color.
The all-girl drum line has students as young as the fourth grade, like Ma'Lana Savoy. For her and the other girls it's an empowering feeling to know that they can do anything they put their mind to.
"Most boys think girls can't do anything. But we can show them that they're wrong. Girls can do anything, we're powerful," said Savoy.
The group will perform for the first time in the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade Saturday. That parade kicks off at 10 a.m.