The Falls Church City School Board has unanimously appointed Terry J. Dade as the next Superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools. The official vote took place at a special meeting on Monday evening at Meridian High School, followed by a community reception welcoming Mr. Dade to the district.

"We are thrilled to welcome Terry Dade as our new superintendent," said School Board Chair Tate Gould. "His exceptional leadership experience across diverse school settings, combined with his proven track record of academic excellence and innovation, makes him the ideal leader to guide our district forward."

Mr. Dade, who will begin his tenure on July 1, 2025, brings over 25 years of educational experience to FCCPS. He currently serves as Superintendent of Cornwall Central School District in New York, where he oversees five schools serving approximately 3,200 students—a district similar in size to FCCPS.

"I am honored to join this exceptional learning community that values academic excellence, innovation, and inclusion," said Mr. Dade after the appointment. "I look forward to building upon FCCPS's outstanding legacy while working collaboratively with students, families, educators, and community members to shape an even brighter future for our schools."

The appointment follows a comprehensive search process that began in December 2024 when the School Board contracted with HYA Associates to facilitate the search. The process included extensive community input through forums and surveys, with more than 800 stakeholders providing feedback on the qualities desired in the next superintendent.

Mr. Dade's career includes significant experience in Northern Virginia, having previously served as Assistant Superintendent for Region 3 in Fairfax County Public Schools from 2015-2019. During this time, he successfully reduced the number of schools with accreditation warnings from 12 to just 1. He also previously served as Principal at Graham Road Elementary School in Falls Church, where he achieved the highest FARM vs. Reading and Math SOL pass rates in FCPS while improving teacher retention from 65% to 89%.

"Mr. Dade's familiarity with our region, combined with his diverse leadership experiences in other districts, gives him a unique perspective that will benefit our schools," noted Gould.

Mr. Dade holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Trinity University and is currently completing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Manhattanville University.

He will succeed Dr. Peter J. Noonan, who is retiring after eight years as FCCPS Superintendent. During his tenure, Dr. Noonan oversaw significant improvements to district facilities, expanded the International Baccalaureate program, and guided the schools through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The School Board has planned several opportunities for staff, students, families, and community members to meet Mr. Dade before he officially assumes his role in July. Details of these events will be announced in the coming weeks.

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