This week marked an exciting milestone for Falls Church City Public Schools as we welcomed a dynamic group of new teachers and staff members to our educational community. Over three comprehensive days of onboarding and orientation, these talented educators immersed themselves in everything that makes FCCPS special—from our collaborative culture to our commitment to student-centered excellence.
A Warm Welcome from Leadership
New Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade joined the orientation activities, personally welcoming each new team member and sharing his vision for collaborative excellence in education. Dr. Dade's presence reinforced our commitment to building strong relationships from day one and demonstrated the district's investment in supporting our newest educators as they begin their FCCPS journey.
"The needs of students come first, and we meet those needs through unsurpassed collaboration," Dr. Dade shared with the group, introducing them to the foundational principles that guide our work together. His message emphasized that no one succeeds alone in education—we achieve our best outcomes when we work as a unified team.
New Teachers and Staff by Site
Jessie Thackrey Preschool
Bushra Al-Eryani - Preschool teacher, Maria Burrell - Special Education Paraprofessional.
Not Pictured: Erynn O'Mahen - Paraprofessional
Mount Daniel Elementary School
(front l to r) Katy Anderson - Second Grade, Carrie Oteyza - Kindergarten, Kimberly Leong - Math Specialist, Anja Jacobi - Administrative Assistant, Geysa Disla Bone - Parent Liaison, Katherine Secrist - First Grade, Benedict Ochulu-Wengi - Special Ed Paraprofessional
(middle l to r) Stephanie Swanson - Special Education Teacher, Lorinda Kendrick - Paraprofessional, Farishta Arifi - Special Education Paraprofessional, Martha Blandon - Custodian, Shukria Ghaznavi - Paraprofessional, Casie Disantis - Reading Specialist
(rear l to r) Elsa Castro - Food Service, Sandra Galvin - Custodian
Not pictured: Karimah Albert - Paraprofessional, Brittany Stevens - Behavior Specialist
Oak Street Elementary School
(front l to r) Keeley Sickles - Fourth Grade Teacher, Dylan Haynes - Fifth Grade Teacher, D'Angelo Rivera - Permanent Substitute, Abby Tolkan - Special Education Administrator, Caitlin Schumacher - Special Education Paraprofessional
( back l to r) Kimberly Leong - Math Specialist, Kelly Harris - School Finance Assistant, Chike Onyewuchi - Special Education Teacher, Jacqueline Rocha - Counselor, Caroline Buttz - Counselor
Not pictured: Teresa Rodgerson - Art Teacher, Katherine Rotolo - Administrative Assistant, Meredith Grasso - PE Teacher
Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
(front l to r) Tom Kendrick - Counselor, Andrew Gonzales - Special Education Teacher, Emily Ives - Chorus, Taja Washington - Special Education Teacher, Amy Attiliis - Art Teacher, Jessica Eylem - English Teacher, JoAnna Hickmott - Counselor
(back l to r) Jill VanDervort - Math Teacher, Crystal Liller - Science Teacher, Quiletta Dunston - Special Education Teacher, Joseph Keimig - Health & PE Teacher, Caroline Byrne - Special Education Teacher, Ali Glover - Library Assistant, Peter Duffy - English Teacher
Not pictured: Denise Rodriguez - MYP Coordinator
Meridian High School
(front l to r) Joseph Langley - Administrative Assistant, Heather Colbert - English Teacher, Cassandra Peters - English Teacher, Brittney Livesay - Science Teacher, Richard Tiene - Special Education Teacher, Joshua Slager - Math
(back l to r) Morton Zederkof - Special Education Teacher, Chad Steffey - Band Teacher, Christopher Cantrell - Computer Science Teacher, Andrea Hanna - English/Social Studies Teacher, Armin Bonifacio - Special Education Teacher
No pictured: Joanna Quirine - Director of Student Activities, Megan Stetson - Special Education Administrator
Systemwide
Jose Mejia - Bus Driver, James Stewart - Bus Driver