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Fairfax County Public Schools recognized employees across the division in its June 2025 FCPS CARES selections, highlighting educators, counselors, transportation workers, technicians and support staff whose efforts made a difference for students, families and colleagues.
The summer 2025 FCPS CARES of the Quarter recognition went to James Patterson, Kevin Vo and Duy Nhan Nguyen of the Sideburn Support Center. The three repeatedly checked and repaired an HVAC system in a Deer Park Elementary classroom serving students with autism. During their visits, they also patiently explained the equipment to curious students, turning the repair work into an unexpected learning experience.
Regional honorees
Forestville Elementary teacher Katy Carlson was recognized in Region 1 for maintaining high expectations, strong family communication and a positive third-grade classroom. A parent praised her detailed planning, two rounds of conferences, attention to a student’s emotional well-being and growth-minded approach to Virginia’s Standards of Learning tests.
Region 2 honored Longfellow Middle School counselor Julienne Ricker. A parent said Ricker listened to and supported a seventh-grader whose medical problems made the school year mentally and physically exhausting, helping the family find a solution and avoid possible school refusal.
Riverside Elementary teacher Kristin Bosley received the Region 3 recognition for supporting novice educators. As a team leader and mentor, she shared classroom practices and adaptable Pre-K materials with new teachers, including colleagues she was not formally assigned to mentor.
In Region 4, Orange Hunt Elementary educator Lauren Chunn was recognized for years of patient and compassionate work with a student receiving special education services. The student’s parent credited Chunn with recognizing the child’s strengths, adjusting instruction and continuing to offer encouragement during difficult periods.
Johnson Middle School teacher Ashley Mies was the Region 5 recipient. In addition to teaching and mentoring special education colleagues, she organized Unified Sports and community-based activities. Her Eagles program also taught students business skills while preparing and delivering fresh beverages to classrooms.
Region 6 honored Saratoga Elementary fourth-grade teacher Heather Simpson for creating a classroom where students felt safe, challenged and supported. A parent said Simpson’s confidence in her students strengthened one child’s enthusiasm for learning and belief in himself.
Staff kept buildings, technology and transportation running
Several facilities employees were recognized for responding to difficult conditions. George Nosek found and installed two air-conditioning units so staff training could proceed at the Nancy Sprague Technology Center during two especially hot days.
Raymond Hansen and Stalin “Lin” Cordoba Herrera worked through an extreme-heat period to repair a failed air-conditioning compressor at the Gatehouse Administrative Center. Parts of the third floor had exceeded 80 degrees, while the outdoor heat index was reported at roughly 105 to 110 degrees.
Sideburn Support Center employees Nicholas Montgomery and Carlo Bertelli addressed more than 30 substantial roof leaks in a Burke School wing. After repeated temporary interventions, Bertelli helped accelerate a full roof replacement and scheduled the work for spring break to limit disruption for students receiving special education services.
Information technology employees also drew praise. Kristopher Bunch repeatedly followed through on telephone problems affecting Transportation staff, while Abdullah Giad patiently supported the collection of senior laptops at Woodson High School. Nicole Tempesta improved student artwork before it was turned into posters for a Get2Green project, and Annamaria Ward and Natalie Baumstark helped design an accessible, division-wide graphic for FCPS’ revised Learning Model.
Cassandra Caridakis was recognized for managing complex Food and Nutrition Services information on internal and public webpages. Amie Jenkins earned praise for her responsiveness and collaborative approach.
Transportation honorees included Kings Park bus driver Michelle Campbell, whose calm supervision helped families feel confident that approximately 60 young riders were safe. Miriam McGeehan and Patrick Goodwin were thanked for helping an autistic 5-year-old complete his daily ride from White Oaks Elementary without the distress he often experienced elsewhere.
Canterbury Woods driver Tewolde “Teddy” Kuflom was recognized for monitoring younger riders’ safety, remembering their routines and stopping the bus to remind students to include a child who could not find a seat. Diane M. McKee and Carolina M. Roca Del Valle were praised for arranging transportation support that helped a Fairfax High School student return after a crisis.
Stonecroft Transportation employees Susan Ratliff, Dana Griffith, Ajmal Mangal and Isam Mohamedali received recognition for mentoring, leadership and assistance to colleagues.
Teachers transformed students’ school experiences
Parents credited numerous classroom educators with helping children become more confident and engaged.
Ryan Graybill made his Newington Forest Elementary classroom feel welcoming to a previously anxious third-grader. Kristina Mickey challenged an Oak View Elementary fourth-grader to work harder and encouraged his successful application for Advanced Academic Program Level IV services. Oak View teacher Allison Sheppard had already begun using helpful accommodations before a student’s formal 504 plan was created, and her observations helped shape the plan.
Katherine Verdaguer gave a Forest Edge Elementary student a safe and empowering kindergarten year. Asel Snyder, Flor De Maria Alcantara and Malika Mrabti were thanked for creating a warm Mosaic Elementary kindergarten classroom in which a child’s reading, handwriting, confidence and curiosity grew.
At Bonnie Brae Elementary, Cheryl Clark was praised for combining firm expectations with enthusiasm and individualized support. Strings teacher Ethan Miller took fourth-graders from little or no instrumental knowledge to a concert that impressed one parent and inspired a student to continue studying music.
Other elementary honorees included Logan Williams of Willow Springs, Meghan Pool and Elena Heyer of Cunningham Park, Serena Perricone of Kings Park, Karen Wedekindt of Bull Run, Katherine Pennington of Rose Hill, Dennis Michaels of Fort Hunt and Wafika Albani of Greenbriar East.
Perricone was singled out for using nonverbal communication signals, calming tools and personalized motivators with special education students. After reading a story about a possum helping an overturned turtle, one child described her simply: “Ms. Perricone is my possum.”
Phuong Nguyen and Melissa Nicolette of Greenbriar East were honored not only for their teaching but also for attending a student’s Crohn’s and Colitis Take Steps Walk in Washington, D.C., with their families for two consecutive years.
Patricia Finkhousen and Alexandra Conwell of Riverside Elementary contributed videos about early-childhood co-teaching for new teams, with Finkhousen also supporting an in-person June training. Patti Dickerson and Christie Johnson were recognized for years of coaching and assistance to early-childhood teachers, children and families as Dickerson prepared to retire.
At the secondary level, Algebra 1 teacher Rachel Barnes made sure Robinson students understood new material and celebrated their progress. Robinson Spanish teacher Mariana Van Waesberghe combined high expectations with humor and cultural activities.
Lake Braddock teacher Gil Martinez earned two submissions from a parent who valued his patience with a student who stutters. Martinez allowed the student time to speak and provided presentation feedback privately. Lake Braddock science teacher Robb Fiechtner was also recognized for making a difficult subject approachable and supporting struggling students.
Oakton teacher Blair Young devoted extra time to helping a student catch up following hospitalization. Westfield teacher Mary Constantino was thanked by a former student for providing support throughout all four years of high school, even when she was not the student’s classroom teacher.
Langley High School educators Jenica Bharucha, David Kuhn and Mary Wittrock were credited with lasting influence beyond their classrooms. Bharucha inspired continued French study, Kuhn helped spark an interest in law or politics, and Wittrock combined French instruction with mentorship through the Delivering Hope service club.
Other honored teachers included Emily Brown of McLean, Craig Primus of Chantilly, Karla Wiggins of West Potomac, Neena Rani of Hayfield Secondary, Mary-Elizabeth Ertel and Mike Hardy of Mountain View, Elizabeth Toledo of Marshall, Madison Bubolz of Key Middle, Daniel Schroll of Poplar Tree Elementary, Shelley Yu of Forestdale Elementary and Debra Tannenbaum of Saratoga Elementary.
Special education support drew repeated praise
West Springfield High School teacher Wala Osman was recognized for ensuring students received needed services and accommodations, assisting colleagues with individualized education programs and participating in school events.
At Fairfax High School, Megan Ciccarello, Mackenzie Anderson and Allison Eisensmith were praised for responsive, solution-focused special education leadership. A parent also credited Georgina Aye with assembling a team that had changed the family’s view of the program.
Homebound teacher Jeri Clark received several recognitions. Families said she learned complex communication systems, adapted lessons to switches and eye-gaze technology, maintained high expectations and helped students gain unprecedented independence. Colleague Marie Clay also praised Clark’s relationship-building and creation of adapted materials. Clark, in turn, recognized Clay for mentoring her in teaching students with blindness, visual impairments and cortical vision impairment.
Serena Perricone, Lauren Chunn and Ashley Mies were among the other employees recognized for work with students who have differing needs.
Jenn Saunders of the Herndon Learning Center was praised for developing accessible science resources and hands-on lessons for multilingual learners in nontraditional programs. Blanca Guardado of the Alan Leis Center helped a parent correct errors in an FCPS Pre-K application while making the interview process less stressful.
Counselors and school leaders stepped in
West Springfield interim counselor James “Jim” Carter received two recognitions for quickly building relationships with students and staff. Colleagues described him as an experienced counselor who brought empathy, warmth and extensive personal attention to the school’s Student Services department.
David Blair was honored after his first year as an FCPS social worker at West Springfield. He worked long hours, developed organizational systems for referrals, assessments, counseling and meetings, and shared those tools with colleagues.
At Carson Middle School, assistant principal Chris Powell was observed taking time from a busy day serving more than 1,300 students to consult math teachers and then help a student work through a problem.
Hayfield Secondary assistant principal Kelly Gardner supported the art department and enrolled in art academy courses to understand students’ creative work firsthand.
Mount Eagle Elementary employees Debra Schuman and Sara Weiss-Cowie were honored for quietly keeping school operations on track, supporting students and colleagues, and creating a welcoming environment. Schuman’s work ranged from furniture requests to giving students a place to reset, while Weiss-Cowie was praised for her attendance work, calm leadership and direct support of students.
Kennidi Knoblock of Cooper Middle School took over an afternoon Mentoring Novice Educators training when a medical need unexpectedly removed her co-facilitator. She completed the session with professionalism and flexibility.
William Solomon, FCPS chief of human resources, was credited with helping place nearly all affected Finance Department employees into other Finance roles after their positions were eliminated through budget reductions. The placement plan was developed with Comptroller Seema Ajrawat and Payroll Director Melissa Russell.
InnovatED presenters shared classroom strategies
Employees recognized for contributions to the 2025 InnovatED Symposium included Regina Dee, Claire Silva, Shannon Anderson, Elissa Levy, Charles Thull, Jane Iyengar, Elizabeth Toledo, Skyy Bollers, Monisha Blair, Joellen Delamatta, Mary-Elizabeth Ertel, Stephanie Lady, Dawn Lawson, Shahna Dunne, Monica Mena-Cuellar, Mary Lauer, Mike Hardy, Daniel Schroll, Shelley Yu, Madison Bubolz and Debra Tannenbaum.
Their sessions covered global classrooms, improvement science, artificial-intelligence-assisted instruction, multimedia warmups, ISTE standards, robotics in mathematics, student voice and choice, career exploration, Socratic seminars and Universal Design for Learning.
Presenters also demonstrated ways to use AI for student assessment and visual learner profiles. Other sessions explored intercultural competence, authentic learning, dialogue-driven assessment, technology-supported participation and connections between classroom work and future careers.
Colleagues strengthened professional learning
Willow Oaks Administrative Center employees Deborah March, Chrissy Brownson, Angela Couse, Lauren Allen, Karen Durocher, Allison Ovalle, Austin Stevenson, Tiffany Little, Greer Mancuso, Caitlin Radek, Mathew Kovalich, Eric Kinne, Bridget Wright, Laura Thieman and Gege Jones were recognized for assisting professional development for middle- and high-school Advisory leaders.
Their contributions covered student voice, cultural and holiday content, Get2Green, service learning, literacy, substance-abuse prevention, multilingual learners, inclusive practices, accessibility, AVID, WICOR and attendance. Lindsey Fisher and Laura Reed of Langley High School also shared technology and communication strategies.
Erika Thompson was honored for supporting Braddock Elementary’s Get2Green team and connecting it with other schools. The program’s accomplishments included collecting more than 100 pairs of used glasses, supplying food to families with significant needs and planting more than 50 trees on school grounds. Braddock serves a Title I population in which nearly 87% of students represent 25 countries and 32 languages.
Other professional-support honorees included Michele Anwyll, who guided an employee through FCPS retirement decisions; Charles Thull and Mary Lauer, who shared career-exploration strategies; and Laura Reed, who repeatedly recognized InnovatED participants.
Compassion extended beyond assigned duties
Fort Belvoir Upper Elementary educators Jennifer Howard, Alex Nietert and Tara James were thanked for frequent communication and emotional support that helped a military-connected third-grader feel secure before moving to another school.
Chantilly teacher Craig Primus sent a student a handwritten postcard during winter break, praising his basketball ability while encouraging him to maintain his studies. The student’s family said the gesture brought hope during a difficult period.
At Langley, Bharucha, Kuhn and Wittrock each attended a student’s graduation celebration, reflecting relationships that families said had extended well beyond ordinary classroom instruction.
Marcia Salgado Campos of Lake Braddock was recognized for welcoming substitute teachers and managing calls, student questions and staff concerns with steady professionalism. Denise Meridieth of Gatehouse was praised for reliability, training new security officers and dispatchers, and consistently stepping forward when help was needed.
Other June recognitions went to Regina Dee, Claire Silva, Shannon Anderson, Deborah March, Angela Couse, Lauren Allen, Karen Durocher, Allison Ovalle, Austin Stevenson, Tiffany Little, Greer Mancuso, Caitlin Radek, Mathew Kovalich, Eric Kinne, Bridget Wright, Laura Thieman, Gege Jones, Lindsey Fisher, Laura Reed, Kristopher Bunch, Michele Anwyll, Kelly Gardner, Katherine Verdaguer, Susan Ratliff, Dana Griffith, Ajmal Mangal, Isam Mohamedali, Marie Clay, Patti Dickerson, Christie Johnson, Robb Fiechtner, Jim Carter, Karla Wiggins, Neena Rani, Nicole Tempesta, Emily Brown, Katherine Pennington, Dennis Michaels, Sara Weiss-Cowie and Karen Wedekindt.
Together, the submissions portrayed a school division sustained not only by classroom instruction, but also by the quieter work of mentors, bus teams, counselors, technicians, office employees and facilities crews responding when students and colleagues needed them most.