Letter to the Editor

We are writing on behalf of the many FCPS educators listed below who support Janie Strauss for the Dranesville School Board position.  Her work the past 18-years has given teachers, as well as parents and students, an intelligent and thoughtful voice in school affairs.  Specifically we want to acknowledge her work to end the pay freeze for teachers with a 3.5 percent increase, her focus on resources to support high student achievement for all children, her success in achieving all day kindergarten for all schools, her defense of a liberal arts and STEM curriculum for all children in all schools, and her work to ensure that FCPS remains a world class, nationally ranked school district. 

We trust Janie Strauss as an educator who listens, who get results, and who can lead FCPS into the 21st century.

Catherine Colglazier, former English Chair, TJHSST and McLean HS

Elizabeth Lodal, former Principal, TJHSST, McLean HS, Hughes MS, Kilmer MS

• Frank Benzinger, former Principal, Forest Edge Elementary School
• Phil Bigler, National, Virginia, & Fairfax Teacher of the Year, former History Teacher, TJHSST & McLean HS
• Linda Bigler, former Spanish Teacher, TJHSST
• Bill Blackwell, former English Teacher & Chair, McLean HS, TJHSST

• Shirley Bloomquist, former Director of Student Services, TJHSST & West Springfield HS
• Judy Bowns, Theater Arts and Dance Specialist, former English Teacher, Langston Hughes MS & Herndon HS
• Ottilia Calhoun, former Spanish & German Teacher, Longfellow MS
• James Catlette, former Social Studies Teacher, Langley HS
• Sara L. Coleman, former School Psychologist, TJHSST & Bren Mar Park ES
• Sandra Connelly, Guidance Counselor, Herndon HS and TJHSST
• Vicki Doff, former Guidance Counselor, TJHSST
• Mary Dolson, former English Teacher & Journalism Advisor, Langley HS
• Sandy Furick, former Principal of Spring Hill ES and Colvin Run ES
• Sara Geer, Elementary Teacher, Haycock ES
• Libby Hankins, former 7^th grade Science Teacher, Longfellow MS
• Margaret Lunter Harris, former Guidance Counselor, TJHSST
• Jeremy Hays, Marketing Teacher, Langley High School
• Judy Howard, former Admissions Director, TJHSST
• Dean Howarth, Physics & Living History Teacher, McLean HS
• Barrett Kashdan, Counselor & FEA Building Rep., McLean HS
• Brigitte Lavey, FCPS Teacher of the Year(2010), English Teacher, Langley HS
• Lara Maupin, former Social Studies Teacher & Student Government Advisor, TJHSST
• Greg Miller, Assistant Director of Student Activities, Herndon HS
• Joan Packer, former Health & PE Teacher, Peer Mediation Coordinator, 8th grade School Counselor, Longfellow MS & Conflict Resolution Specialist
• Patty Pearson, former Social Studies Chair, McLean HS
• Michael Piotrowski, Marketing Teacher, Langley High School
• Nina Pitkin, former Director of Student Services, TJHSST & Robinson SS
• Tricia Poythress, Marketing Teacher, Langley HS
• Dr. Gail Ritchie, FCPS Teacher of the Year (2000), NBCT, Instructional Coach
• Elaine Rudd, former English Teacher, Langley HS & Langston Hughes MS
• Eleanor Saslow, former Director of Student Services, West Springfield HS, President of Virginia State Board of Education
• Melissa Schoeplein, Social Studies Teacher, Diversity Chair & former Student Government Advisor, TJHSST
• Sylvia Shenk, former French Teacher, Longfellow MS & Headmistress, Village Green Day School at Lowes Island
• Rebecca Sipos, former English Teacher & Journalism Advisor, McLean HS & Lee HS
• Karen Singer, Modern Languages Teacher & Chair, Langley Teacher of the Year, Langley HS
• Rich Slivosky, former Math Teacher & 8th period Coordinator, TJHSST
• Nancy Stansberry, former Kindergarten Teacher, Spring Hill ES
• Janice Stoodley, former Asst. Principal, McLean HS, Director of Student Services, Marshall HS & Key MS
• Audra Sydnor, former Dranesville Cluster Superintendent & FCPS Principal of the Year
• Milde Waterfall, English Teacher, TJHSST, McLean HS, Dunn Loring Alternative School, & Kilmer MS