FCPS honors outstanding educators

The end of the school year is award time. Fairfax County Public Schools honored outstanding employees including the following teachers and other staff in the Annandale/Mason District area.

Andrew Sharrock, the band director at Glasgow Middle School, was named the 2025 FCPS Outstanding Secondary School Teacher.

In his seven years at Glasgow, Andrew has expanded the band program to over 300 students and added a jazz band and six concert ensembles, FCPS states. “He believes all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, can achieve at the highest level.”

His ensembles consistently earn superior ratings at district assessments. In 2024, Glasgow became the first Title I school in FCPS history to perform a featured concert at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference.

Jennifer L. Rose, a kindergarten teacher at Canterbury Woods Elementary School, was named a finalist for the Outstanding Elementary School Teacher Award.

“Jennifer is a passionate, reflective kindergarten teacher whose love of learning is contagious,” FCPS states. “She fosters a vibrant and inclusive learning environment where all students feel seen, heard, and valued.” 

The following teachers are the recipients of the school-level Outstanding Elementary Teacher awards:

• Annandale Terrace Elementary School – Eva Pacilio Lee, kindergarten
• Bailey’s ES – Catherine Giacomo, first grade
• Bailey’s Upper ES – Kristen Mendick, physical education
• Beech Tree ES – Katie Keier, kindergarten
• Belvedere ES – Emma Andrewlevich, second grade
• Braddock ES – Margarita Rodriguez, fifth grade
• Bren Mar Park ES – Kimberly Robinson, first grade
• Camelot ES – Samantha Hartwell, third grade
• Canterbury Woods ES – Anna Richey, art
• Columbia ES – Emma Kremer, special education
• Parklawn ES – Sheila Thompson, fifth grade
• Ravensworth ES – Madison Stello, third grade
• Sleepy Hollow ES – Barbara Oswalt, librarian
• Wakefield Forest ES – Danielle Bunch, fourth grade
• Westlawn ES – Taylor Thomas, first grade
• Weyanoke ES – Curlene Brown, third grade
• Woodburn ES – Brooke Allport, second grade

The following teachers are the recipients of the school-level Outstanding Secondary Teacher Awards:

• Annandale High School – Tricia Kapuscinski, multilingual learners
• Falls Church HS – Karrin Cordova, history and social studies
• Woodson HS – Lauren Kinne, science
• Justice HS – Jocelyn Ayala, special education
• Poe Middle School – Sara Kinsey, art
• Frost MS – Amanda Morgan, art
• Luther Jackson MS –Max Bair, mathematics
• Holmes MS – Mary Keane, multilingual learners

New teachers

Emmeline Andrea Mejia, who teaches multilingual learners at Justice High School, was named the 2025 Outstanding Secondary School New Teacher. 

As a proud first-generation college graduate who entered education through the FCPS Teacher Residency program, Emmeline empowers newcomer students in her Strategies for Success course as they navigate a new language, school, and culture. She also coaches JV girls soccer and leads the EnFuego Football Club.

FCPS honored the following new teachers at the school level:

• Annandale HS – Miles Meijer, Spanish
• Woodson HS – Emily Bankson, special education
• Falls Church HS – Sibel Singleton, English
• Poe MS – Kristi Ahlstrom, history and social studies
• Glasgow MS – Evan Dundon, English
• Frost MS – Meredith Marquis, health and physical education
• Luther Jackson MS – Sanobar Tafazoli, mathematics
• Holmes MS – Wael Francis, mathematics
• Annandale Terrace ES – Joseph Abourakty, fifth grade
• Bailey’s Upper ES – Laine Anderson, third grade
• Beech Tree ES – Sydney Parse, third grade
• Belvedere ES – Olivia Schultheiss, special education
• Braddock ES – Madison Fritz, third grade
• Bren Mar Park ES – Ben Clock, third grade
• Camelot ES – Mia Douglas, second grade
• Columbia ES – Mhret Wondmagegne, second grade
• Parklawn ES – Robert Penn, fourth grade
• Sleepy Hollow ES – Emma Sroufe, fourth grade
• Wakefield Forest ES – Kendra Callahan, general music
• Westlawn ES – Samira Schneider, fourth grade
• Weyanoke ES – Natalia Torrico Ledesma, multiple disabilities
• Woodburn ES – Jocelyne Giron, third grade

Principals

Bren Mar Park Elementary School Principal C. Elizabeth Williams was named a finalist for the Outstanding Principal Award.

FCPS calls Williams a seasoned who “embodies a blend of calm, trust-building leadership, and unwavering dedication to student well-being.” She fosters a safe and supportive environment, “while her deep appreciation for diversity ensures inclusivity is a lived reality.”

FCPS named Holly Dowling, principal of Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, a finalist for the Outstanding New Principal Award.

“Holly leads with unwavering dedication, implementing innovative strategies and fostering a culture of academic and emotional growth,” FCPS states. “She ensures students feel safe, connected, and understood.”

School-level outstanding principal award winners in the Annandale/Mason District area:

• Justice HS – Sean Rolon
• Falls Church High School – Benjamin Nowak
• Woodson HS – Kevin Greata
• Luther Jackson MS – Raven Jones
• Holmes MS – Serena Giron
• Braddock Elementary School – Keesha Jackson-Muir

School-based leaders

Katherine Martin, assistant principal at Woodson High School, was named a finalist for the Outstanding School-Based Leader Award. According to FCPS: Kathy embodies “exceptional leadership through a seamless blend of accountability, empathy, and trust. She cultivates a warm and supportive atmosphere where both students and staff feel deeply valued.”

Outstanding school-based leader award recipients at the school level include the following:

• Justice HS – Brian Garvey, director of student activities
• Falls Church HS – Mary Bermingham, assistant principal
• Frost MS – Ellen Reed, assistant principal
• Glasgow MS – Lauren Herr, assistant principal
• Holmes MS – Cassandra Williams, dean of students
• Poe MS –Tyler Miller, assistant principal
• Annandale Terrace ES – Nicole Scher, assistant principal
• Bailey’s Upper ES – Christie K. Fuller, assistant principal
• Belvedere ES –Tara Boone, assistant principal
• Braddock ES – Maureen Lopez, assistant principal
• Bren Mar Park ES – LaTonya Floyd, assistant principal
• Columbia ES – Sarah Boudart, assistant principal
• Ravensworth ES – Amy Heiman, assistant principal
• Westlawn ES – Stephanie Carpenter, assistant principal
• Weyanoke ES – Michelle Doyle, assistant principal
• Woodburn ES – Kelley Dauberman, assistant principal

Professional employees

Cara Pelini, chair of the special education department at Camelot Elementary School, was named a finalist for the Outstanding School-Based Professional Employee award.

“Cara demonstrates enthusiasm, passion, and an unwavering commitment to students with special needs,” FCPS states. “She uses exceptional communication skills to cultivate positive and meaningful relationships with students, teachers, and parents.”

Outstanding school-based professional employees include the following:

• Annandale HS – Karen Olarinde, research teacher, and Meg Anderson, assessment coach
• Falls Church HS – Terri Markwart, college and career specialist
• Justice High School – Jarrod Wallace, school social worker
• Glasgow MS – Katherine Jutcovich, special education department chair
• Frost MS – Daniel Joo, school counselor
• Holmes MS – Matthew Kruk, afterschool specialist
• Poe MS – Phil Harsh, afterschool specialist
• Annandale Terrace ES – Jeanette Puranen, special education department chair
• Bailey’s Upper ES – Mary Medeiros, special education department chair
• Beech Tree ES – Michael Meyer, school-based technology specialist
• Belvedere ES – Paige Simpson, school counselor
• Braddock ES – Nicole Bellucci, special education department chair
• Bren Mar Park ES – Nora Joy, school social worker
• Canterbury Woods ES – Fran Migdal, school-based technology specialist
• Ravensworth ES – William Austin, school counselor
• Sleepy Hollow ES – Maria Farrell, reading specialist
• Wakefield Forest ES – Alex Dilldine, school-based technology specialist
• Westlawn ES – Katie Baer Tibbals, reading specialist
• Weyanoke ES – Erin Hughey, school-based technology specialist
• Woodburn ES – Jessica Nelson, math coach
• Woodson HS – Rick Mey, safety and security specialist

Operational employees

Liliana Alfaro, building supervisor at Falls Church High School, was named the 2025 Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee.

Cindy Juhong Rogers, a school finance assistant at Annandale Terrace Elementary School, is a finalist for that award.

Award recipients for operational employees at the school level include the following:

• Annandale HS – Jen Buchanan, administrative assistant
• Justice HS – Madeline Orozco, finance technician
• Woodson HS – Darlene Sheppard, administrative assistant
• Poe MS – Leslie Carl, administrative assistant
• Glasgow MS – John Monaco, safety and security assistant
• Frost MS – Nathaniel Stamp, instructional assistant
• Luther Jackson MS –Ahmed Hussien, safety and security assistant and Ellie Poole, instructional assistant
• Holmes MS – Gilma Argueta, building supervisor II
• Bailey’s ES – Sofia Arias, student information assistant
• Bailey’s Upper ES – Ingrid Hernandez, school finance assistant
• Beech Tree ES – Mariangeles Quinto, family liaison
• Belvedere ES – Ivanova Plazas, family liaison
• Braddock ES – Karina Torres, instructional assistant
• Bren Mar Park ES – Mona Chweikani, instructional assistant
• Camelot ES – Jessica Vergara, family liaison
• Canterbury Woods ES – Martha Berlowitz, deaf and hard of hearing instructional assistant
• Parklawn ES – Afifa Bolte, family liaison
• Ravensworth ES – Preeti Jain, kindergarten instructional assistant
• Sleepy Hollow ES – Clemencia Lizbeth Coto, office assistant
• Wakefield Forest ES – Sue Holmes, student information assistant
• Westlawn ES – Luis Guerra, custodian
• Weyanoke ES – Dorothy Walsh, office assistant
• Woodburn ES – Cindy Monzon, pre-K instructional assistant