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Fairfax County Public Schools recognized employees across the division in April 2026 for actions ranging from life-saving emergency responses to sustained support for students, families and colleagues.

The monthly FCPS CARES recipients included educators and staff members from the central office and each of the school system’s six regions.

April’s regional honorees

Central Office recognition went to Tanya Cork of Graham Road Community Center. During 22 years as an itinerant teacher for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, Cork has provided specialized services at schools across the county. Her work addresses self-advocacy, phonological awareness, reading comprehension and vocabulary development, while also supporting eligibility decisions and Individualized Education Programs. She collaborates with families, special education teams and audiologists and works with technology including cochlear implants, hearing aids and assistive listening devices.

In Region 1, Cunningham Park Elementary School employees Flor Bermudez and Claudia Davila were honored after helping a seriously ill student. Bermudez recognized that the student was in severe distress and called 911. Davila supported that decision, and the student was taken to a hospital and admitted in serious condition after his mother backed Bermudez’s judgment despite an EMT’s initial assessment that transportation was unnecessary.

Region 2 honored Falls Church High School Dean of Students Ileana Rios. She continued helping a former student after the student transferred to another FCPS school and stopped attending. Rios explained the potential value of an alternative school and offered to accompany the student on a tour.

Flora Chavez-Grieger of Clermont Elementary School received the Region 3 honor for her extensive support of students with disabilities. She develops review materials, communicates with families, supplies food and clothing when needed, creates academic and special-event activities and devotes personal time and resources to the school.

Region 4 recognized Diana Lauria, Catherine Clarke, AJ Rodriguez and Sean Corcoran of South County High School. The four responded when a bus attendant collapsed after suffering a stroke. Their immediate assistance allowed emergency personnel to intervene quickly, and medical professionals credited their actions with saving their colleague’s life.

Jessica Suh of Westfield High School was Region 5’s recipient. Although she was not teaching the student this year, Suh reached out after he lost a classmate, gave him a place to talk and involved him in plans to honor his friend. The student subsequently decided to attend prom and became involved in decisions about senior-year events.

Region 6 honored Hayfield Elementary School reading specialist Kendra Trainer. Once a week, she works with two CAT-B Work and Transition students from Hayfield Secondary School, helping them develop vocational skills, independence and social connections while making them feel welcomed at the elementary school.

Employees recognized across FCPS

Additional April submissions highlighted dozens of employees throughout the school system.

At Herndon Middle School, counselor Colene Luczak was praised for connecting with a student with special needs and supporting the student’s entire family. Enza Giannone-Hosig, Emily Ready and Hanah Wooten were recognized for the time and encouragement they invested in the school’s production of Newsies Jr.

Willow Oaks Administrative Center employees Carrie Pecoraro, Trish Palmer, Ernest Asante, Scot Edmonds and Ashley Lotfabadi developed an executive-function training series with practical strategies for families. Katie Server and Steven Myers researched mentoring and ambassador programs to improve student transitions. Maria Nasiry was recognized for proactively managing room requests and helping visitors throughout the shared FCPS and Inova building. Lourrie Duddridge and Beth Cantu helped Career and Transition Services add new IEP requirements in SEASTARS, while Carolyn Edner provided procedural and personal support during a difficult school situation.

Skyview High School counselors Alexa Scott, Christy Ryder and Molly Redican gave their personal time to welcome new families and ease their transition. A separate submission thanked Scott, then identified with Chantilly High School, for reconstructing the history of a highly mobile student and advocating for formal special education supports.

At Wilton Woods Center, Michael Hrabak, Brian Stagliano, Maliha Ahmad and Haile Russom configured an accessible, comfortable workstation for a colleague. Noah Hwang developed automated data processes, including a districtwide extraction method for Parent Digital Consent reports. Lesley Pang improved preparations for the Application Audit and Student Information System cleanup, while Sarah Niel led an enterprise router upgrade across all 202 schools and 28 administrative centers in nine months.

Doris Charles of Gatehouse Administrative Center was commended for responding quickly and compassionately to an employee’s personal concerns. Adriana Lopez earned recognition for the patient, welcoming assistance she provides at the front desk, and Delia Arnez was thanked for keeping the Gatehouse gym, showers and restrooms clean. Bryan Buser was recognized for guiding school website managers through technical problems.

A Gatehouse technology team—Dinesh Chandrasekaran, Francisco Tavarez, Anya Getter, Mitchell Spellman, Deedre Day and Derek Knizner—worked across departments to resolve UConnect access failures. The group remediated more than 280 profiles without requiring an enterprise-wide escalation.

At Nancy Sprague Technology Center, Mona Johnson-Phillips led the identification, procurement and implementation of ClickUp, including work with Procurement Services to replace the Contract Request and Management System. Her leadership also contributed to the IT Project Management team receiving the Innovation in Project Management Award at the Project Management Institute Washington, D.C., Chapter’s 2025 annual conference.

Other technology honorees included Vince Wang for dependable service-desk assistance; Michael Edwards for detailed project leadership; Jason Franks for resolving a laptop display problem tied to an outdated Group Policy Object; Thanh Nguyen-Huynh for mentoring and troubleshooting support; Griffin Payne for patient, reusable technical solutions; and Michael Dobbs for his work completing the yearlong TLS-EAP project for the FCPS Wi-Fi system in late March.

At Bonnie Brae Elementary School, Dorie Johanns, Laura Gill, Na Connelly, Amal Joseph, Holly DiPierto and Thanh Dang welcomed a new preschool teaching team into their classrooms. Fort Hunt Elementary School employees Haley Witt, April Medina and Charmaine Pritchard were recognized for creating joyful, inclusive environments where children feel known and supported.

Claudia Flores of Mount Eagle Elementary School was honored for connecting families with food, clothing, language assistance and school programs. Teacher Corinne Conner was praised for building strong relationships and offering help outside class, while substitute Karim Ahmed was recognized for reliably filling roles throughout the school.

At Lemon Road Elementary School, band teacher Dawn Meltzer encouraged students to enter the FCPS Solo and Ensemble Festival and arrived early to support them. Teacher Mika Allen was recognized for daily “mindful moments” that teach coping skills, boundaries and emotional awareness while keeping parents informed.

Katy Smallwood of Robinson Secondary School was honored for helping CAT-B students gain work experience and explore career centers. She also organized a breakfast recognizing participating employers. Kathleen Newton worked with a tenth grader experiencing severe anxiety to create a manageable path toward completing physical education requirements.

Edison High School ESOL teacher Giuliana Lamm was recognized for removing barriers for a multilingual student with a disability, engaging the student’s family and establishing predictable classroom routines that encourage English learners to participate.

At Forte Center, Maurice Leake and Adrian Rivadeneira adjusted a delivery at the last minute and unpacked 90 tables in a school gym. Daniel Gray was thanked for the reliable and friendly way he handles daily deliveries.

Danielle Burgos of Bailey’s Upper Elementary School created a welcoming library for classes, small groups and Davis Center students. She also distributed new books chosen by students, including popular English- and Spanish-language titles.

Karen Taylor of the Get2Green office evaluated Haycock Elementary School’s gardens and provided immediate and follow-up recommendations. Haycock teacher Buki Peters received two submissions for creating a culture built around the phrase “See something good, say something kind.” The practice encourages students to recognize kindness inside and outside the classroom.

Other school-community support honors included Wafika Albani of Dunn Loring Center, who received multiple submissions for helping Arabic-speaking and newly arrived families with enrollment, English-learning resources, school-system transitions and transfers. Claudia Davila’s work at Cunningham Park was also noted for making the front office welcoming and helping families navigate concerns.

At Terra Centre Elementary School, Kristin Bauersfeld and Laure Grove organized a Watershed Festival and Art Show with environmental organizations, interactive activities and Earth Day-themed student art. Maria Incer Nunez led Mantua Elementary School’s Family Culture Night and prepared ingredient signs for more than 50 family-submitted dishes so guests with allergies could make informed choices.

Samantha Goldstein and the Fairview Elementary School staff included a student in military-connected activities because her older sister attends the Coast Guard Academy, even though the family’s status was not reflected in the student information system. Jamie Leitch of Floris Elementary School advocated for an IEP that documented both of a military-connected student’s diagnosed conditions to protect continuity of services during possible relocations.

A Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology team—Yaara Crane, Michael Mukai, Mary Beth Vaughn, Betsy Fawsett, Shawn Frank, Dylan Forshay, Leah Conte and Sara Wright—was thanked for hosting Skyview High School staff and demonstrating an interdisciplinary approach through classroom observations and teacher discussions.

Indira Mendez of Sleepy Hollow Elementary School guided families through Advanced Academic Programs screening, helping guardians complete questionnaires and understand the central screening process.

Jeremy Doxer of Stonecroft Transportation supported the April 10 Stonecroft Complex road-e-o by supplying a tent and laptops for the Human Resources table during windy conditions. Xuyuan Wang and Angie Hudgins separately stepped in to cover field trips on short notice, while Cassandra Jones Randolph secured last-minute buses for Great Falls Elementary School. Walid Bennaji of Lorton Center was recognized for ensuring PAC students had safe, timely transportation despite delays, early releases and schedule changes.

At Fort Belvoir Upper School, Patricia Ficken, Jennifer Ross and Tara James stayed after contract hours to trace a missing backpack through the farm, school and transportation system. Their search established that the bus driver had the bag.

Colvin Run Elementary School leaders Kenneth Junge, Katie Friedman and Faye Cofer were recognized for balancing academic achievement with character development, family communication and community involvement.

Debra Wotherspoon of Alan Leis Center stepped into an Eagle View Elementary School PreK classroom after its teacher relocated midyear. She modeled practices, coached staff, supported students, communicated with families and helped create a stabilization plan.

Churchill Road Elementary School employees Lesley Breddy and Angie Choi were credited with helping reduce chronic absenteeism through organized follow-up, clear calendar information and trusting relationships with families.

Lake Braddock Secondary School employees Kirsten Walker, Angela Almond and Scott Darwin supported a festival weekend serving roughly 670 students. Their logistical preparation, custodial work and response to an unexpected community-use event helped the gathering proceed smoothly.

At Laurel Ridge Elementary School, Principal Megan Counts, teacher Jessica Francis and teacher Edith Torres-Clouden supported a student and her family during and after a health emergency. Their responses included continued communication, information for doctors and home visits.

David Reynolds Jr. of Vienna Elementary School helped diagnose a blocked Adobe Podcast feature and guided an unblock request that restored student access across the county. Vienna reading specialist Darlene Doley was recognized for her calm work with students, schoolwide responsibilities and flexible classroom support.

At Chantilly High School, math teacher Veronica Moldoveanu accommodated a senior undergoing biweekly oral immunotherapy for chronic food allergies. She contacted his family after absences and expressed concern about keeping him prepared for an upcoming AP exam.

Brooke Altschuler of Ravensworth Elementary School was honored for responding to students’ individual emotional needs even without formal support plans. When one child arrived deeply upset, Altschuler took her on a short walk to process her feelings before returning to class.

Anice Denton of Fox Mill Elementary School was praised for counseling students, welcoming families and stepping into practical roles such as covering an absent crossing guard or escorting children to class. Julie Braden of Laurel Hill Elementary School was recognized for serving as a mentor and trusted adult to a student who needed sustained care.

First-grade teachers and reading specialists at Lees Corner, Bull Run, Laurel Hill, Fort Belvoir Primary, Timber Lane, Fairhill, Terraset and Armstrong elementary schools participated in a phonics-enhancement pilot. They tested more explicit Benchmark Advance lesson structures, welcomed classroom observations and provided feedback intended to guide a potential expansion to more first-grade classrooms.

Whitman Middle School’s Elizabeth Weyrauch and her neighborhood supplied more than 300 doughnuts each quarter for honor-roll celebrations after budget cuts threatened the tradition.

Other event-related recognition went to Elizabeth Fedor of Kings Glen Elementary School, who brought flowers for each of her students on opening night of a school play; and Terra Centre’s festival organizers. Samantha Goldstein’s military-family outreach and Mantua’s allergy-conscious Culture Night were also highlighted as examples of inclusion.

At Great Falls Elementary School, building supervisor Edwin Romero was praised for maintaining the school and calmly helping during an incident involving a student leaving a supervised area. Eagle View Elementary School building supervisor Jose Quintanilla was recognized for his fast, reliable response to work requests.

Ryan Northcutt and Peyton Bunch of Woodson IT received two submissions for installing and explaining updated news-studio equipment, including work at Laurel Hill Elementary School.

Ingrid Whalen of Mount Vernon High School coached students in the Seize the Moment Student AI Innovation Challenge, learned new skills alongside them and helped record a video in which students explained what families should know about artificial intelligence.

At Fort Belvoir Primary, Lees Corner, Bull Run, Laurel Hill, Timber Lane, Fairhill, Terraset and Armstrong, the phonics pilot recognized dozens of participating educators for allowing observations and helping refine instructional routines.

Additional honorees included Sean Jones of McLean High School for making physics interactive; Kelly Turner of Glen Forest Elementary School for academic and personal care of students; Kaitlyn Sam of Kings Glen Elementary School for building relationships during lunches; and Samantha Price of Forest Edge Elementary School for creating a dependable classroom where a student made academic and life-skills progress.

Patricia Ficken, Jennifer Ross and Tara James were joined among support-team honorees by Walter Vanegas Asturias, Justin Meade and Edward Carranza of Sideburn Support Center, whose painting work was praised for efficiency, cleanliness and coordination with school schedules.

Marissa Petty and Angela Couse of Willow Oaks stepped in to run a multipart library program when its organizer was unavailable. Comfort Tuffour of West Potomac High School interrupted her own work to help two students locate an expensive piece of dental equipment while keeping them calm.

The April submissions also recognized teachers Veronica Pereira and Ashlyn Lieberman of Cunningham Park Elementary School for creating aligned, supportive third-grade classrooms focused on multilingual learners; Delia Arnez for her care of Gatehouse facilities; and Adriana Lopez for making visitors feel heard and welcomed.

Together, the submissions documented emergency judgment, technical problem-solving, inclusive teaching, reliable transportation, family advocacy and countless quieter gestures that strengthened FCPS schools and offices during April 2026.