Award Announcement

FCCPS is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Employee Awards

Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year
Tosin Adetoro, STEAM Teacher, Oak Street Elementary

Professional Specialist of the Year
Mary Manzione, Speech Therapist, Jessie Thackrey Preschool

Academic Support Staff of the Year
Jessica Hollinger, Administrative Assistant, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

Operations Support Staff of the Year
Eduardo Molina, Custodial Supervisor

Three of the winners were surprised in their schools on Tuesday, April 16.  Eduardo Molina will receive his award posthumously. He passed away suddenly in March 2024, before he knew that he would be the winner of the award. 

The award recipients were selected in a process that started in October 2024  with an open call for nominations to the community. There were 34 nominees for all of the awards. The recipients will be recognized at the May 14 Falls Church School Board meeting. They received cash prizes from the Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) , and tickets to the annual FCEF Gala, which will take place on May 17.

Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year
Tosin Adetoro, STEAM Teacher, Oak Street Elementary

Professional Specialist of the Year Mary Manzione, Speech Therapist, Jessie Thackrey Preschool

Academic Support Staff of the Year
Jessica Hollinger, Administrative Assistant, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

Operations Support Staff of the Year
Eduardo Molina, Custodial Supervisor

Congratulations to the Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year Finalists

Eric Duchaj, Individuals and Societies Teacher, Meridian High School

Sara Tennyson, Special Education Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

Tosin Adetoro, STEAM Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School

Kate Mahr, Special Education Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

These school-selected finalists will be considered for the FCEF Teacher of the Year Award. The winner of this award, and winner of all FCCPS Employee Recognition Awards, will be announced in April 2024.

Eric Duchaj

Eric Duchaj, Individuals and Societies Teacher, Meridian High School

Sara Tennyson

Sara Tennyson, Special Education Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

Tosin Adetoro

Tosin Adetoro, STEAM Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School

Kate Mahr

Kate Mahr, Special Education Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School. 

2023-24 Awards Process & Calendar

Thanks you to the community for nominating 34 staff members for the 2023-24 FCCPS Employee Awards.

  • Week of December 4, 2023 Announcement of School/Department Nominees; Letter of Support Portal Opens

  • January 12 Letter of Support Portal Closes

  • February 2024 Announcement of FCEF Teacher of the Year Finalists from each school.

  • April 2024 Announcement of all Award Winners

Contact awards@fccps.org with questions.

2024 Nominees for FCCPS Employee Recognition Awards

Support Staff Employee of the Year (Operations)

  • Soon Chuan, Food Services and Transportation Staff

  • Ashlie Kendrick, Payroll Specialist

  • Josh Kingsley, Mt. Daniel Center Supervisor, Extended Day Care

  • Maeve McQuail, Oak Street Center Supervisor, Extended Day Care

  • Guillermo Mejia-Santos, Custodial Staff

  • Eduardo Molina, Custodial Supervisor

Support Staff Employee of the Year (Academic)

  • Jessica Hollinger, Administrative Assistant

  • Nancy Peacock, Administrative Assistant

Professional Specialist of the Year

  • Brittney Allen-Shaw, Special Education Administrator, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Valerie Chesley, School Counselor, Meridian High School

  • Larkin Epstein, Mathematics Specialist, Mt. Daniel Elementary and Oak Street Elementary Schools

  • Tara Filmyer, School Counselor, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Mary Manzione Speech Therapist, Jessie Thackrey Preschool

  • Jennifer O'Keefe, Mathematics Specialist, Meridian High School

  • Dana Quirine, School Counselor, Meridian High School

  • Katy Reardon, Reading Specialist, Mt. Daniel Elementary and Oak Street Elementary Schools

Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year

  • Tosin Adetoro, STEAM Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School

  • Chris Carrico, Special Education Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Eric Duchaj, Individuals & Societies Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Dawn England, Special Education Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School

  • Diane Kidder, Second Grade Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

  • Marleah Liebner, Language & Literature Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Casey Maco, Family and Consumer Science Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Ross Mandel, Language & Literature Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Kate Mahr, Special Education Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

  • Lisa Myklestad, Special Education Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Brigitte O'Donoghue, Special Education Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Kish Rafique, Science Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Kelly Schumann, French Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Dave Sikora, Kindergarten Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

  • Shelly Skomra, 4th Grade Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School

  • Katia Taylor, French Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Sara Tennyson, Special Education Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Ray Wu-Rorrer, Career & Tech Education Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle & Meridian High School

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Mt. Daniel Day Care nomination announcement

TEACHER OF THE YEAR HONOREES (1984 - 2023)

FALLS CHURCH EDUCATION FOUNDATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR

2023 - Julia Noble, First Grade Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

2022 - Jennifer Jayson, Mathematics Teacher, Meridian High School

2021 - Will Snyder, Computer Technology & Mathematics Teacher, George Mason High School

2020 - Layton McCann, 5th Grade Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2019 - Marc Robarge, Art Teacher, George Mason High School

2018 - Farrell Kelly, 8the Grade Humanities Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

2017 - Lisa Allan, 4th Grade Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2016 - Heather Van Gorder, First Grade Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

AGNES MEYER OUTSTANDING TEACHER AWARD

2015 - Nan Hof, Kindergarten Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

2014 - Stephen Erick, 4th Grade Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2013 - Joel Block, Mathematics Teacher, George Mason High School

2012 - Karin Tooze, Language Arts Teacher, George Mason High School

2011 - Suzanne Planas, Spanish Teacher, George Mason High School

2010 - Maryel Barry, Language Arts Teacher, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

2009 - Amy Harding-Wright, Preschool Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

2008 - Jed Jackson, 4th Grade Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2007 - Denise O’Neil, Speech Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2006 - Carol Monsess, First Grade Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

2005 - Mary Jo West, Band Teacher, George Mason High School

2004 - Emily Florence, 4th Grade Teacher Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2003 - Catherine Wiant, Language Arts Teacher, George Mason Middle School

2002 - June Chalou, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2000 - Linda Johnsen, French Teacher, George Mason High School

1999 - Patricia English-Sand, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

1998 - Nancy Brown, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

1997 - John Ballou, Design Teacher, George Mason High School

1996 - Heidi Lang, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

1995 - Grace Rissetto, ESOL Teacher, George Mason High School

1994 - Lois Blevins, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

1993 - Martha Ramey, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

1992 - Frank Sheedy, Printing Teacher, George Mason High School

1991 - Gail Lanouette, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

1990 - Robert Snee, George Mason High School

1989 - Trudy Taylor, Special Education Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

1988 - Michael Hoover, Langauge Arts & Journalism Teacher, George Mason High School

1987 - Ann Felker, Art Teacher, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

1986 - Steven Klass, George Mason High School

1985 - Mary Lee Tatum, Family Life Education Teacher, George Mason High School

1984 - 6th Grade Team: Lindy Hockenberry, Harry Shovlin, Tamara Ballou, Mark Wallace, George Mason Middle School

SUPPORT STAFF EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR (2005-2023)

2023 (Classroom) Michael Gilroy, Paraprofessional, Meridian High School

2023 (Operations) DeeDee Etheredge, Administrative Assistant, Meridian High School

2022 (Classroom) - Alane O'Neill, School Technology Assistant, Oak Street Elementary School

2022 (Operations) - Sindy Morel, Assistant Director, Food Services

2021 (Operations) - Natalie Espinoza, Attendance Secretary, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

2021 (Classroom) - Patrick DeShields, Paraprofessional, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2020 - Luis Sorto, Paraprofessional, George Mason High School

2019 (Operations) - Jennifer Lee, Food Services Manager & Bus Aide, Transportation

2019 (Classroom) - Norma Sorto, Paraprofessional, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2018 - Charmaine Barr, Bus Driver, Transportation

2017 - Jan Potrykus, Paraprofessional, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2016 - David Morales, Head Custodian, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2015 - Marty Gadell, Superintendent’s Secretary & Assistant Clerk of the School Board, Central Office

2014 - Shey Wakeley, Paraprofessional, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

2013 - Sara Blake, Payroll Finance Specialist, Systemwide

2012 - Debra Newman, Paraprofessional, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2011 - Leila Levesque, Data Information Specialist, Systemwide

2010 - LaBryan Thomas, Maintenance, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

2009 - Larry Allen, Band Paraprofessional, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and George Mason High School

2008 - Kathy Poff, Aide, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

2007 - Barbara Mitchell, Superintendent’s Secretary, Central Office

2006 - Bob Nissen, Maintenance Supervisor, Systemwide

2005 - Marco De Las Casas, Bus Driver, Systemwide

PROFESSIONAL SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR (2019-2023)

2023 Steve Knight, PK-12 Instructional Technology Coordinator

2022 - Jennifer Fessenden, PK-12 Mathematics Coordinator, Systemwide

2021 - Vicky Block, Physical Therapist, Systemwide

2020 - Vicki Galliher, Athletic Trainer, George Mason High School and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

2019 - Carol Seaver, School Counselor, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School