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Fairfax County Public Schools’ February 2026 CARES recognitions spotlighted employees who kept buildings operating, expanded opportunities for students, supported families and responded to emergencies across the division.
The monthly honorees represented the central office and each of FCPS’ six regions, while dozens of additional submissions praised teachers, transportation employees, custodians, administrators and support staff.
February’s regional honorees
Dave Martinez of the Merrifield Support Center received the Central Office recognition after responding to a frozen pipe that burst at the Gatehouse Administration Building on Feb. 4. He worked through the night to diagnose the problem and clear the obstruction, allowing the building to reopen fully operational the next morning.
South Lakes High School culinary educators Carlos D’Alvano and Cynthia Stowers were honored in Region 1 for running a program that teaches far more than cooking. Students develop leadership, communication, customer service, planning and problem-solving skills while learning to meet professional standards in a demanding but supportive environment.
Region 2 recognized Veronica Perez of Belvedere Elementary School for expanding access to grade-level instruction for English learners. Perez developed GLAD materials for classrooms beyond those she directly serves and created a supplemental booklet to help two students participate more independently in whole-group Benchmark lessons.
At Bucknell Elementary School, Chanel Favors earned the Region 3 honor for organizing the school’s second annual Career Day. Students from prekindergarten through sixth grade met professionals working in law, medicine, real estate, cosmetology, psychology, dentistry, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence security and entrepreneurship. Teachers praised both the diversity of presenters and the careful logistics behind the event.
Region 4 honored Centreville Elementary School instructional assistant Karen Bernat. In addition to supporting students at school and volunteering with the Centreville High School marching band, Bernat regularly helps neighborhood children reach their buses safely. She brings flashlights on dark mornings, watches icy intersections and asks drivers to wait when students are still approaching.
Von-Michael Corpuz, a special education teacher and Special Olympics coach at Chantilly High School, received the Region 5 recognition. A parent credited Corpuz with encouraging students and their families to participate together in Category B sports.
Lewis High School educator Mallorie Joyner was selected in Region 6 for her work with students who have complex academic, behavioral and social-emotional needs. Joyner was recognized for early communication with families, collaboration with district specialists, individualized support plans, staff mentoring and detailed advocacy for students.
Teachers and school teams earn family praise
Additional submissions recognized Claire Latham of Oakton Elementary for her partnership with a special education student’s family and Katie Denisar of West Springfield Elementary for combining classroom structure with warmth. Denisar was also praised for supplying books for students to read at home and comforting a child who was stung by a bee during a field trip.
At Lake Anne Elementary, Allison Goodman helped a student overcome earlier language arts difficulties, renewed his enthusiasm for the subject and became his most trusted adult at school. Cub Run Elementary teacher Brittany Linovitz was recognized for implementing a student’s 504 plan with patience and care.
Kelsey Lanza of Fairfax Villa Elementary supported her own students while also helping another classroom and its long-term substitute. Lillian Olsen of Terra Centre Elementary, Katherine Verdaguer of Forest Edge Elementary, Grace Ma of Eagle View Elementary and Rachel Cameron of Olde Creek Elementary were praised for creating classrooms where children are eager to learn and feel noticed.
At Colvin Run Elementary, Jason Henry was credited with building students’ confidence and forming relationships that last into middle school. Joseph Green of Coates Elementary mentors two first-graders and a fourth-grader who connected with him through informal hallway encounters.
Danielle Heffron of Daniels Run Elementary was recognized for adapting physical education lessons, equipment and expectations so students with different abilities can participate successfully. Sarina Harlow of Falls Church High School earned praise for building strong relationships and developing bilingual physical education lessons for English learners.
South Lakes High School test coordinator Billy Watts managed WIDA ACCESS testing for nearly 300 multilingual students across four language domains despite snow disruptions, absences and scheduling needs for students who were fasting.
At Hayfield Secondary School, Cameron Lyons expanded vocational instruction, community job placements and post-graduation exploration for students in the Category B program. Joan Swanson helped a 12-year-old develop confidence and a new enthusiasm for mathematics through daily practice, encouragement and family communication. Theater teacher John Kownacki was recognized for producing strong student performances while creating a safe and supportive classroom.
Hayfield Elementary teacher Janey Qualey was praised for maintaining high expectations and personal connections in a class of 30 students. At Wakefield Elementary, Kanae Winslow’s encouragement made her a favorite of a student receiving support for dyslexia.
West Springfield Elementary educator Andrea Cabrera helped a student build confidence and a more positive relationship with school. Maya Good of Beech Tree Elementary was recognized for teaching empathy, responsibility and cooperation alongside early academic skills.
Lake Braddock Secondary teacher Kelly McMillan earned praise for using multiple accessible teaching methods, promoting reading and responding closely to families. Falls Church High School’s Kari Nieto was recognized for guiding older students toward graduation and supporting those transferring to Fairfax County Adult High School.
At Centreville High School, Mariko Nojima was praised for giving students a compassionate place to seek help, even during her lunch period. Herndon Elementary first-year teacher Matilda White was recognized for engaging sixth-graders with creativity and high expectations.
Cunningham Park Elementary honored Charlotte Petty for teaching every student with energy and enthusiasm, while Mandy Valladares was credited with driving strong math growth among students in grades three through six. Michelle Flanigan was recognized for serving multilingual learners at both Cunningham Park and Churchill Road elementary schools during her first year in the role.
Churchill Road special education teacher Nicholas Amatucci was praised for adapting instruction, raising trout from eggs as a hands-on science experience, leading the safety patrol program and building enduring relationships with families.
At Robinson Secondary School, band director Tiffany Hitz was recognized after the Jazz Band Sweets ’n Swing concert for encouraging students to attempt solo and ensemble performances and district band. Young Eum of Hughes Middle School earned praise for providing math help before, during and after school, while Benjamin Hilt was recognized for checking on struggling students across their classes and designing flexible, inclusive lessons.
Rocky Run Middle School honored Molly Little for moving from math into eighth-grade science, making life science accessible and co-coaching Science Olympiad. Dayna Broskey was praised for creating a welcoming classroom for English learners, and Anna Slevin was recognized for her academic and career instruction as well as community events.
Jeannine Magwire received two submissions for supporting Rocky Run’s eighth-grade English team. Her help extended beyond school: During the winter weather, she dug colleagues’ cars out of the snow and provided groceries to an employee recovering from COVID-19.
At Stone Middle School, Alison Neun expanded a leadership course into hands-on work supporting school visits, celebrations, promotion activities and the school’s summer sendoff.
Annette Hodges of Aldrin Elementary kept students connected during weather closures through virtual group lessons, individual sessions and office hours. Grace Ma of Eagle View Elementary helped a student make major gains in reading and writing and encouraged her interest in geography, history and writing a book.
At Fort Hunt Elementary, Madeline McCloskey was recognized for individualized instruction and student advocacy. Nicole Gray inspired a student to practice piano, violin and guitar and develop stronger reading habits. Ann McMichael and Carla Tricoli-Rodriguez were praised for creative instruction and family communication, while Adriana Krogh successfully moved from Spanish instruction into a self-contained special education classroom.
Two nominations honored kindergarten teacher Linda Taylor for strengthening children’s confidence, addressing bullying connected to a student’s stutter and introducing Spanish to young learners. Marie Sauer was recognized by a student for teaching Spanish and organizing grade-level dances for Hispanic Heritage Month on her own time. Sarah Lee was praised for filling numerous office, attendance, communication, health and library support roles. Kimberley McPherson was credited with improving a student’s reading comprehension and English Standards of Learning performance.
Michele Sullivan of Mantua Elementary alerted Marshall Road Elementary to a downed power line during the Feb. 23 snow day, helping the school prepare arrival and traffic plans for Feb. 24. She later confirmed that repairs were complete.
Wendy Rath and Emmanuelle Paulston were recognized as a strong Haycock Elementary kindergarten team that celebrates students’ strengths and treats mistakes as opportunities to grow. Rath received another nomination for maintaining relationships with former students and finding ways for third-graders to help in her classroom.
Haycock ESOL teacher Meihua Qian was praised for supporting multilingual learners, maintaining family relationships and organizing cultural programs including Lunar New Year celebrations, a dragon dance and wushu demonstrations. Office assistant Paulette Farmakides and custodian Rafael Gomez were each recognized twice for their energy, reliability and contributions to a welcoming school environment.
Woodburn Elementary’s second-grade team—Chelsea Ettere, Brenda Yanes, Chelsea Andrade, Brooke Allport, Laura Kirchgraber and Haley North—was praised for teamwork, curriculum knowledge and flexibility during an Amplify lesson observation.
Woodburn’s ESOL team—Rebecca Wilkinson, Nati Urbon, Jordan Jones, Jerilee Williams, Adri Postiglioni and Amanda Castellucci—was recognized for using GLAD strategies, assessments, targeted groups and student goal-setting to support multilingual learners.
The school’s fifth-grade team of Abi Jauregui, Betsy Blosser, Jessica Aninon and Elif Turkay earned recognition for collaborative planning and accessible instruction using visuals, anchor charts and sentence frames.
Laura Kirchgraber received an individual nomination after delivering 35 meal kits to vulnerable Woodburn families during the snowstorm.
The Virginia Run Elementary first-grade team of Michelle Whetstone, Jenna Roberts, Nicole Ross and Caitlin Marshall was praised for creating an energetic and welcoming environment. Regina Severn and Jessica Green developed a case-manager notebook to improve organization and consistency among special education staff.
Virginia Run art teacher Margaret “Katie” Tuben was recognized for covering classes and duties while also sponsoring the student council and editing the yearbook. Anita Jewett earned praise for consistently encouraging colleagues.
At Mount Eagle Elementary, Skyler Arrington was recognized for leading multitiered support work, helping first-graders improve oral reading fluency, overseeing high-impact tutoring and temporarily taking over a classroom during a teacher’s maternity leave.
Jacqui Greene was praised for advanced academic instruction, after-school clubs, the Green Team and community events such as Math and Science Night. Kindergarten teacher Renae Polovchik was recognized for differentiated, joyful instruction, while ESOL teacher Beth Reidy earned praise for helping multilingual learners develop confidence, academic skills and a sense of belonging.
Fort Hunt Elementary also recognized Isabel Jimenez Jimenez for her patience and willingness to help, and the school’s families praised Scarlett Bavin, Crystal Wind, Velma Ellis and Camille Baguley at Centre Ridge Elementary for supporting a student’s academic and social-emotional growth.
Other instructional honorees included Peter Wolf of Willow Springs Elementary, Heather Thomas of South Lakes High School, Anna Weaver of Lake Braddock Secondary, Juliana Woodill of Fairfax High School, Laura Zirzow of Deer Park Elementary, Emily Gray of Lemon Road Elementary, Wendy Bowen of Herndon Elementary, Violeta Durand of Hunters Woods Elementary and Kelly Galbraith of the Willow Oaks Administrative Center.
Transportation workers answer late-night calls
Several transportation employees were honored for urgent and safety-focused responses.
Monique Martin of Stonecroft Transportation impressed Navy Elementary students and families by clearly explaining kindergarten release procedures, organizing each stop and ensuring children approached the bus steps safely.
At about 9 p.m. on Feb. 11, Seung Yang responded after an Arlington field-trip bus had to be towed. Although he had finished work and returned home, Yang immediately retrieved another bus and transported the stranded high school students and their coach.
Carmen Galindo Calderon, an Area 7 bus driver supervisor, coordinated that replacement transportation after being contacted outside normal hours.
Lorton Center driver James McGeehan and attendant Mirta Lizarazu took an additional assignment to transport three Kings Park Elementary students home, providing a warm bus and a calm, welcoming environment.
Rachelle Wigenton, operations manager in the Area 4 Transportation Office, responded to a water-main break at Marshall Road Elementary at about 1 a.m. and relocated buses before they could be damaged.
Shan Ahmad personally cleared an icy public walkway between a daycare and a bus stop after determining that the unresolved hazard threatened students’ route. John Leishear spent several days clearing snow and ice from his assigned bus at the Gatehouse lot and also helped elderly neighbors reach a medical appointment.
Stonecroft employee Veronica Lowe was recognized for answering questions, handling unusual requests and helping schools locate buses. Carmen Galindo Calderon, Seung Yang, Monique Martin and Rachelle Wigenton joined other transportation honorees praised for placing student safety first.
Custodians and staff battle snow and ice
Winter storms prompted numerous acts of service.
Great Falls Elementary custodians Edwin Romero, Pablo Constanza and Neris Velasquez cleared the school’s parking lot, bus loop and sidewalks. Mina Tawdoroys and the Dogwood Elementary team extended their snow clearing beyond school property, creating a path through a neighboring apartment complex.
At Wakefield Forest Elementary, new building supervisor Bola Shehata began work Jan. 26 after a major snowstorm. When another custodian’s vehicle was stuck, Shehata picked him up so the team could continue snow removal.
Donan Mejia worked additional hours to clear Union Mill Elementary’s walkways, while Irv Kalugdan and neighbors plowed and salted an icy sidewalk near a Mount Vernon High School bus stop.
At Crestwood Elementary, Nel Leaming, Chenar Allen and Milton Rivera Mejia joined the principal in clearing neighborhood sidewalks used by a student population in which 98% of children walk to school.
Dogwood custodian Mariam Abdelsheheed was recognized after helping a student whose clothes and shoes became heavily soiled outside. She washed the shoes and worked with administrators to find replacement clothing so the child could go home clean and comfortable.
Darlene Dorsey of Mason Crest Elementary was praised for welcoming students with enthusiasm and a bubble wand, remembering birthdays and forming relationships with children she does not teach.
Technology, operations and administrative work recognized
Griffin Payne and Michael Dobbs of the Nancy Sprague Technology Center helped employees adapt approximately 500 field iPads to new policy requirements. Adam Bowen solved a Zoom configuration problem that had caused overlapping operational meetings to disconnect.
Jeevan Shrestha, Dell McDonald, Lauren Jones, Anthony Felt, Lisa Basta and Sharron Wooden responded to a late request for in-person support during a large training involving new devices and software, despite snow and ice.
Hammad Farrukh quickly resolved a wave of time-sensitive support tickets, while Noah Hwang automated manual office workflows to improve efficiency and student-data accuracy.
CeCe Lowry of the Gatehouse Administration Center was recognized for years of dependable problem-solving. Ritchie Math earned appreciation for helping a colleague obtain needed clothing, and Dan Meredith was praised for principled leadership.
Ellen Kennedy received recognition for providing legal oversight in employee-relations matters involving equal opportunity, performance management, misconduct investigations, grievances, hearings and other proceedings. Her eight years with FCPS and previous experience with Arlington County Public Schools were cited as valuable to the division.
Krista O’Connell led development of a family transportation survey supporting boundary-change cost estimates under a tight timeline. Rebecca Pollard helped colleagues interpret Strategic Plan data on short notice.
Emmanuel Bonhomme and Michael Mazzarella built a literacy-plan workbook in less than 30 days, combining multiple data sources to guide Tier 3 literacy support.
Ronnie Presley and his Forte Center team unpacked a fully loaded delivery truck to locate packages that had been included because of incorrect shipment information, preventing a major delivery error.
At the Wilton Woods Center, Noah Hwang’s automated workflows reduced repetitive work and improved data quality. Travis Tucker of Westfield High School was recognized for creating accessible data tools and sharing his expertise with other school-based administrators.
Paul DesVergnes of Centreville High School supplied equipment and technical support that prevented a wrestling tournament delay. Rory McGlinnen of Westfield High School was praised for quickly helping another school obtain needed information.
Student services and community support stand out
Cindy Shepard of the Alan Leis Center worked with a family and teaching team to prepare a student for hospitalization and return to class. She created a personalized social story and later taught a hands-on lesson about casts that supported academic learning and empathy.
Myrial Antayhua of Frost Middle School helped a parent access ParentVUE by locating technical assistance and translating, improving the family’s access to school information and ability to address attendance.
Lisa Lujan of Cunningham Park Elementary was recognized for connecting families with food, clothing, health care, mental-health assistance and legal referrals while continuing her counseling duties.
Laura Thieman of the Willow Oaks Administrative Center developed presentations on attendance, belonging and inclusive school culture, worked with the Title I Parent Advisory Committee and helped continue a spring-break engagement program serving 20 schools.
Maggie Contreras kept Community Services Board mental-health supported-employment meetings organized by managing Zoom, presenting FCPS information and coordinating guest speakers.
At Lemon Road Elementary, counselor Emily Gray quickly became part of the school’s clinical, multitiered support and behavior teams. She also coordinated with five middle schools to help sixth-graders prepare for the transition.
Myriam Antayhua, Kelly Galbraith, Mary Burke, Karen Wells and Rebecca Pollard were among other employees praised for responsiveness, organization and compassionate support.
Additional teams and employees celebrated
Fairfax Villa Elementary recognized principal Mary Burke for thoughtful leadership and office manager Karen Wells for handling daily details with care. Olde Creek Elementary praised Farah Chohan and Christie Armstrong for making the front office welcoming and dependable.
At Davis Career Center, Stephany Mercedes was recognized for balancing her roles as the principal’s administrative assistant and finance technician while supporting students, staff and Spanish-speaking families.
Mandy Valladares, Allison Hoak, Kelsey Patterson and Michelle Flanigan were among Cunningham Park employees honored for instruction, leadership and staff support.
Oakton Elementary’s Brendan Lins received three submissions praising his work keeping special education operations running smoothly and offering practical support to staff and students.
At West Potomac High School, Adam Sanchez helped administrators and security manage three student groups during a district choral event. Tanisha Lee, a first-year intellectual disabilities teacher, was recognized for supporting students and colleagues, including purchasing items herself for a special education fundraiser. Marianne Vareldiz volunteered during every first-period class to help operate the school’s main-entrance detection equipment.
The Willow Oaks Administrative Center recognized a transition-services group whose plans were reviewed by the Virginia Department of Education and highlighted as examples of excellence. The named employees included Rebecca Cousins, Beth Weisbrodt, Anna Southworth, Bonnie Kolbenstetter, Kristen Morgan, Theresa Piccolo, Megan Pitts, Maureen Szente, Candace Jones, Marcus Dunton and Matt Goetz.
At Lake Braddock Secondary, Janice Pritchett, Paul Agner, Meagan Tubbs, Pamela Sutey and Kristyn Wharton were recognized for organizing a Hall of Fame event. Milka Willis launched WIDA testing season with a pep rally that combined assessment information, games and staff encouragement.
Annandale High School teachers Christian Hassel and Theresa Souther conducted detailed analysis of Workplace Readiness Skills assessments and gave students individualized feedback for future testing.
The Woodburn, Virginia Run and Mount Eagle teams joined numerous other collaborative groups honored for improving instruction, strengthening family connections and creating inclusive school communities.
Other February nominees included Kelly McMillan, Natalie Hill, Heather Thomas, Meihua Qian, CeCe Lowry, Andrea Cabrera, Maya Good, Laura Thieman, Kelly Galbraith, Anna Weaver, Matilda White, Daniella Reed, Taylor Dorgan, Alina Jimenez Rosa, Mais Hasan, Adam Sanchez, Marianne Vareldiz, Carmen Galindo Calderon and Charlotte Petty.
Across the submissions, the common thread was work extending beyond ordinary job expectations—from clearing ice and answering late-night transportation calls to redesigning lessons, delivering meals and ensuring students and families felt safe, included and supported.