Dr. Catrice R. Vandross is a prolific educator, a visionary leader, and humanitarian, with more than thirty years in the education field. She began her career in Prince George’s County, Maryland as a special education teacher. She has written curriculum and served as a consultant on numerous education projects throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. She is currently a Special Education teacher in Arlington Public Schools, Arlington Virginia. She has dedicated her life to helping students discover their potential. She finds joy, ensuring that children’s educational, social, cultural, and recreational needs are met. Professionally her priority is helping children develop a plan to achieve their dreams and life goals. Her latest focus is providing children of color and their families opportunities to travel aboard for educational, cultural, and historic enlightenment.
Dr. Vandross’ experience and her education is supplemented by extensive volunteer service, leadership positions at the national, regional, and local level in the areas of policy development, strategic planning, education, and community outreach.
Dr. Vandross is a member of Alfred Street Baptist church. She served as an outreach minister throughout the District of Columbia prison system for seven years in the early nineties with her late husband Minister Wade Montgomery. She has over 30 years of Christian ministry to women and children. Dr. Vandross is the Executive Director of Build A Village, Inc. A non-profit organizing working in communities throughout the globe to strategically decrease poverty and create a more sustainable future for all. Dr. Vandross she organizes opportunities to feed the homeless, walks for various causes, gives toiletries and warm clothing items to disadvantaged youth and sanitary items to
homeless women.
She is a dedicated member of several female Masonic organizations. In 2012 and 2014, she served as Worthy Matron of Prince Hall Chapter No 5, Order of Eastern Star – Prince Hall Affiliated in Washington D. C. She is a dedicated member of Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter, OES – PHA Jurisdiction of Washington, D.C. She is a celebrated scholar, lecturer, and author on topics related to Order of the Eastern Star among Women of Color. Dr. Vandross has served as Grand Historian of GTGC since 2016, and was an organizer, charter member, and the first Worthy Matron of the Venecia C. Bessellieu Research and Education Chapter, OES-PHA. She is the Immediate Past President and the second President of Leila Amos Pendleton Auxiliary of the Phyllis Chapter, an International Society of Eastern Stars (PHA), “in “Pursuit of the Study Therein.” She is the national recording secretary of the Phyllis Chapter and a Life Member. Her research interests are Members of the Order of the Eastern Star, District of Columbia History, and Africans throughout the Diaspora. As an intermediate genealogist she assists families in researching their ancestry. She is also a professor of Order of the Eastern Star History for Women of Color for the Roland D. Williams Masonic College Learning Academy.
She is humbled to God for the opportunities and blessings offered to her as she strives to create quality programs that will empower and positively transform the lives of children throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. She has served as Grand Youth Directress of the Phyllis S. Byrd Youth Fraternity sponsored by Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter since 2015. During her tenure, she has transformed the Youth Fraternity into a premier organization for youth of the District of Columbia. In
this capacity she has organized a weekly tutorial program, golf and chess lessons, monthly Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math, (STEAM) experiences, etiquette, and financial literacy workshops. She is proudest of organizing a Cotillion for 24 underserved D.C. youth, attended by over 300 guests. Under her leadership the youth fraternity has given away over 675 duffle bags filled with books, underclothes, and pajamas to children transitioning through the foster care system and has awarded over 20,000 in scholarships to deserving youth. She has also organized HIV prevention
workshops for youth throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area.
She was the founder of Future Educators of America at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and a founding member of the Maryland State Future Teachers of America. She has been a Girl Scout Leader and a Teen Advisor for Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Northern Virginia Chapter. She is a Life member of the National Council of Negro Women and Secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Region Bethune Height Recognition Program. In 2020, she was elected 1st Vice President of the Metro Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women, where she also holds Life Membership. She is a graduate of University Maryland Eastern Shore where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education with minors in Psychology and Sociology. She received her Master’s in Education Administration and Leadership from George Washington University, and she has also studied at John Hopkins University, Towson State University, Trinity University, George Mason University and Fielding Graduate University. In 2022, Dr. Vandross was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from North Central Theological Seminary in Christian Ministry. She is currently a
scholar-practitioner pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Counseling at North Central Theological Seminary.
Dr. Vandross has had a stellar teaching career in Arlington, Virginia Public Schools. She served for twelve years as the Special Education Department Chair at Nicholas Orem Middle School in Prince George’s Maryland and has sponsored many clubs and organizations throughout her educational career.
Over the course of her expansive work in community service and education, Dr. Vandross has received numerous awards and accolades including four proclamations from Prince George’s County, Maryland for Community Service, a Prince George’s County Beautification Project and leading the Church Road Long-Range Planning Project.
She was awarded the Edna F. Browne Award in Journalism as a catalyst for research education and writing about the Order of the Eastern Star in the District of Columbia. She was the first recipient of the Bessellieu/Pope Eastern Star of the Year for meritorious service to Georgiana Thomas Grand Chapter, OES – PHA. In 2015, she was awarded Woman of the Year by the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of District of Columbia for meritorious service. In 2004, Superintendent Andre B.
Hornsby of Prince George’s County Public Schools recognized her as an Outstanding Educator. Principal Sinie M. Evans also awarded her the Golden Apple Master Teacher Award for her Leadership and dedicated service to the staff, families, students, and community of Nicholas Orem Middle School. In 2021, she was awarded Outstanding Educator by the National Council of Negro Women Mid-Atlantic Region Bethune Height Recognition Program. In 2022, the National Congress of Black Women – Metro Chapter honored her with the Shirley Chisholm Trailblazer Award for Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Vandross is inspired by the words of Marian Wright Edelman, sharing the belief that; “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” She is humbled to God for the opportunities and blessings offered to her as she strives to create quality programs that will positively transform the lives of children throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. Drawing on her expertise as an educator and her experience as a visionary and effective leader, Dr. Catrice R. Vandross will be an asset to Oatlands Board.
