E.L. Haynes Public Charter School CEO and leadership

Hilary Darilek, Chief Executive Officer, came to E.L. Haynes in November 2015 from DC Public Schools (DCPS), where she served as a Deputy Chief and led the Principal Effectiveness division. In this role, she oversaw the systems design and operationalization of the recruitment, selection, development, evaluation, and retention of school leaders for all 113 DC Public Schools. Her pioneering work in this role garnered national recognition. Prior to DCPS, Darilek served as Managing Director of the DC Program of New Leaders, a leading, national urban principal training program working with both the district and charter schools of the city. She began her career as a high-performing middle school math and science teacher in Baltimore, Maryland and as an education researcher at the RAND Corporation. Darilek holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from the College of William and Mary, a master’s degree in teaching from the Johns Hopkins University, a second master’s degree from the London School of Economics in applied mathematics, and an executive master’s degree in leadership from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. In 2017, Hilary was selected for the Pahara-Aspen Education Fellowship and joined the Aspen Global Leadership Network. She is a Washington, DC native and committed to her work in service of the city’s students.

Dr. Rikki Hunt Taylor, Chief Academic Officer, joined E.L. Haynes in April 2020 after serving as an assistant superintendent of schools in Philadelphia, a position she has held since 2018. Prior to her time in Philadelphia, Rikki worked at DC Public Schools, first as a teacher, and then an early childhood education manager, assistant principal, principal, and central office leader, serving on the DCPS leadership development team as a director for the District’s aspiring principal program. A native Washingtonian, she received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Trinity College in Washington, DC, a master’s degree in Education Administration from Trinity University, and an executive master’s degree from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She holds a doctoral degree in Educational Organization and Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.