Annandale Music Teacher Named 2022 Outstanding Elementary Teacher

ANNANDALE, VA — An Annandale Terrace Elementary School teacher was named Outstanding Elementary Teacher in the Fairfax County Public Schools system for the 2021-22 school year.

Essel Linton, a music teacher at the elementary school, was recognized at the FCPS Honors event held June 8. The event, sponsored by Educate Fairfax, was hosted at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts.

Five elementary school teachers, including Linton, were among the finalists for Outstanding Elementary Teacher in 2022.

Linton’s music class is always filled with students singing, dancing, playing instruments and having fun while creating beautiful music together, FCPS said.

Growing up in an immigrant family and being an English language learner herself, Linton brings her unique experiences to the creation of accessible lessons that integrate musical skills and language learning, according to the school system.

“From current and former students to mentoring the novice music educators, Essel’s impact as a teacher is felt community-wide,” FCPS said.

More than 700 employees in both instructional and operational roles are recognized through the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards Program. This year, 71 finalists representing 12 categories were recognized during the special award ceremony.

Among the finalists this year, FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand said in his opening comments at the ceremony that there seems to be a common thread among the award winners: adaptability in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and the return to classrooms and offices.