Horton’s Kids’ Board of Directors announced this week that it unanimously approved the Transition Committee’s selection of Brenda K. Chamberlain as the new Executive Director of Horton’s Kids, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive services to the children of Washington, DC’s Ward 8. Chamberlain’s selection comes after an extensive, national search guided by the well-respected Lee Wood of Strategies for Growth.

Horton’s Kids is a DC-based 501 (c) (3) serving children and families through a variety of education, enrichment, advocacy, and support programs. Programs include Monday and Tuesday evening one-on-one tutoring sessions in the Rayburn House Office Building, Wednesday afternoon tutoring sessions at the US Department of Education, Wednesday evening specialized older youth programming, and weekly Sunday field trips around the DC metro area.

“After a far-reaching, proactive search which included dozens of highly qualified candidates, the Board is pleased to announce Brenda K. Chamberlain’s appointment as the new Executive Director of Horton’s Kids,” said Missy Edwards, chair of the organization’s Board of Directors. “We are thoroughly convinced she is the right person to lead Horton’s Kids. She has integrity, passion, and impeccable credentials. The children are lucky to have her in their corner.”

Crystal Scott, devoted mother of two children in the Horton’s Kids program, said, “I am excited to have Ms. Brenda as Executive Director of Horton's Kids.  She's very enthusiastic, energetic, nurturing, optimistic, and fun. Ms. Brenda is very helpful and a great person, not because of her new title but because she really cares about the children and their education.  She takes time to teach and help them grow to develop skills that they will need to be productive little people.” 

Brenda served as the Deputy Director and ran Horton’s Kids as Acting Executive Director during the executive search process. She also oversaw the most popular and comprehensive summer camp in Horton’s Kids’ history. From 2008 to 2009, Brenda served as the Director of Operations responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the myriad logistics of the tutoring and mentoring program that served dozens of children with the help of 700 volunteers. Brenda was hired as Volunteer Director in 2004 and, in that position, she became known throughout Washington for recruiting, training, and retaining one of the area’s largest volunteer corps. Like many of Horton’s Kids’ best staff people, Brenda first met the children when she started as a volunteer tutor in 2003.

“I am excited to work with Horton’s Kids’ staff and volunteers to help the children of Wellington Park and Stanton Oaks,” Chamberlain said. “Horton’s Kids provides the children with tremendous opportunities for growth and it is an honor to have been chosen to lead the organization.”

“I am thrilled that the board has chosen Brenda to direct Horton’s Kids,” Karin Walser, the organization’s founder, said. “She is beloved by the families and trusted by the staff. I look forward to watching Brenda excel, and to being a regular volunteer myself!”

Walser started the organization in 1989. Today, Horton’s Kids serves 137 children from the Wellington Park and Stanton Oaks neighborhoods in Anacostia. During the 2008-09 school year, 70% of children improved their reading scores and 67% of the children improved their math scores.