Teresa Johnson, currently the principal at Chantilly High School, has been named assistant superintendent for Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) department of special services, effective July 5. The announcement was made by Interim Superintendent Steve Lockard.

“Teresa Johnson has a wide-ranging background in special education over her 28 year career,” says Lockard. “She brings knowledge of state and federal requirements, education law, and, most importantly, strategies to help students learn, no matter their needs. We look forward to having her join the FCPS leadership team.”

Johnson has served as principal at Chantilly High since 2011, where she was responsible for the safety, security, and educational programming for more than 2,700 students and more than 300 staff members; saw an increase in ACT, SAT, and Advanced Placement (AP) test scores; managed the school budget; and developed the secondary transition to employment program to support students in developing work and life skills. She also oversaw a renovation to create a life skills room and accessible bathroom to support special education students. As assistant principal at Chantilly, Johnson was administrator for category A and B special education services as well as manager of a subschool.

Johnson’s professional experience includes serving as a special education pyramid resource specialist for secondary schools in the previous cluster VII, where she facilitated and coordinated Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, conducted trainings on special education policies, regulations, and procedures, and provided instructional support for schools to increase the academic performance of their special education students. She also served as an educational specialist in the office of monitoring and compliance to ensure compliance with federal, state, and FCPS regulations; and as special education department chair at Centreville High School. Johnson began her career with FCPS as a learning disabilities teacher at Centreville High in 1989.

A graduate of James Madison University with a bachelor’s degree in education-learning disabilities, Johnson earned her master’s from George Mason University (GMU), and a Virginia Professional License in administration and supervision from GMU.

Lockard needs to fill vacancies with friends before the new guy gets here.

this is a weak resume for running the Special Education services at FCPS - the best we could get?!?

whoo whoo Wrote:
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> this is a weak resume for running the Special
> Education services at FCPS - the best we could
> get?!?

She's highly thought of. She has education and experience with special needs kids. She has been a teacher and a very successful administrator.

Curious. What do you want?

Let the principal reassignment "musical chairs" game begin.

Principal burnout, low teacher morale, whining parents, disgruntled booster club, failing athletic program, rising discipline problems -- have no fear, FCPS will simply reassign incompetent administrators from one school to another.

Dance of the Lemons. You take my sour pucker, and I will take yours.

Let the dance begin.
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Principal Teresa Johnson honored with FCPS Region 5 Principal of the Year Award

A crowd of students, teachers and administrators gathered at the front entrance for a surprise announcement on Feb. 17. Nervous jitters and excited chatter filled the air. As Principal Teresa Johnson walked to the front of the crowd, she was presented with the FCPS Region 5 Principal of the Year award.

“I’m very honored; I have to say I was very speechless [when I got the award],” Johnson said. “It was a nice surprise. I usually don’t do well with surprises, but I’m very honored, and my goal is to represent my community and students well.”

Region 5 includes Chantilly, Westfield, Fairfax and Woodson, in addition to many elementary and middle schools. Since Johnson earned this honor, she is now in the running for FCPS Outstanding Principal of the Year. All region finalists will be interviewed before the outcome of the county-wide award is decided.

The presentation of the FCPS Region 5 Principal of the Year award was a surprise for Johnson, which only added to the joy felt by those present.

“It is always one of the best parts of my job to recognize and honor people who are doing outstanding work, especially if we can pull it off as a surprise, and it appears that we were able to have done that,” Region 5 Assistant Superintendent Frances Ivey said.

Initially reluctant to apply for the award, Johnson was encouraged by the administration and other staff members.

“Her humility is one of her greatest traits. She doesn’t look for [or] expect [anything]. It was hard to get her to even agree to be in the pool,” Director of Student Services Robyn Lady said. “We, as an admin team and as a faculty, said this is not about you for a change; it’s about the people who you serve that want you to be recognized.”

Many believe that Johnson is well-deserving of this award because of her admirable personality traits and commitment to her staff and community.

“I’ve worked in Fairfax County over 27 years, and I’ve loved all of my principals, but I have to say [Johnson] embodies the personification of Principal of the Year,” Career Center Specialist Iris Rivera said. “[She is exceptional in] the quiet way in which she leads by example. I’m not surprised [she won], because she was so deserving of it.”

Throughout her tenure as principal, Johnson has challenged herself and the rest of the staff to initiate new programs, most recently FCPSOn.

“She’s always so student-focused, she’s always looking at what’s next, she’s very visionary,” Ivey said. “She has the courage to try new things. She is just so resourceful in finding ways to support new initiatives.”

Colleagues and students alike agree that Johnson’s positive attitude creates a healthy environment that allows for students and staff to grow.

“She listens, she makes changes, she has high expectations, she’s visible, she goes to [events], she cares about every kid no matter where they are in the building, she cares about faculty [and] she cares about the community,” Lady said.

Johnson is an active leader of the Charger family, always making time to attend school events and to recognize outstanding students and groups. This is a trait that stood out to those who selected her for the award and a characteristic that those who work with her recognize and appreciate.

“Most people don’t know anything else if you’ve only been here under her tenure, but there are lots of principals who you never even see,” Lady said. “Some kids [at other schools] don’t even know what [their principals] look like in the building.”

Although the award was presented to Johnson herself, she immediately credited her success to her team, faculty and students. Her selflessness is one of the qualities that her colleagues admire the most.

“It’s not so much about me,” Johnson said. “I just want to make my students and community proud.”

Many believe this award is a well-deserved recognition and are pleased that it celebrates Johnson’s accomplishments, and those of Chantilly as a whole.

“I am absolutely delighted that the region got it right,” Lady said. “No question, she is by far the most outstanding principal in the county for a variety of reasons.”

I just heard from a teacher/co-worker who sits on The Superintendent's Advisory Council (SAC) that the finalist for the Superintendent position wasn't the top choice. The school board wanted to offer the job to a different person but they withdrew their job from further consideration. I have my doubts that things will change for the better.

The new superintendent and the new assistant superintendent of Special Services will be greeted with a lot of challenges. For example: JEB Stuart name change. The pro-name change dominated with 8 out of the 10 speaking slots, as they have still mastered a way to game the sign up process (on June 8th). The school board will vote on the proposed name change of JEB Stuart High School at the June 22. To change the school name of JEB Stuart High School it is estimated to cost one million dollars, while 9 out of 10 students currently do not think its necessary as the attempts to change the name have created increased tensions and animosity that did not exist before in the highly diverse school that liked and accepted the schools name as just another aspect of its diversity.