Leader Launch Plenary Session: What do we look for when hiring?

Dr. Rob Smith joined the Education Leadership program in fall 2009 after 44 years as a

K-12 public school educator, working as a teacher, building and central office adminis-

trator, and superintendent. He retired in July 2009, after serving 12 years as the Superin-

tendent of the Arlington, VA Public Schools. Rob spent the preceding 16 years as the

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instructional Services for the Spring Inde-

pendent School District in the Houston, TX area. The first 16 years of his career oc-

curred in the Frederick County, Maryland Public Schools where he performed a variety

of roles including teaching high school social studies, heading an adult evening high

school and a junior high school, running federal and adult education programs, and

leading K-12 curriculum and staff development.

Beginning his teaching career after graduating in history from Davis and Elkins College

(1965), Rob, while teaching and administering school programs, earned his M.A. in Robert Smith

Dr. Betty E. Hobbs received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Virginia

State University, Petersburg, Virginia; Master’s Degree in School Administration from

George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia; and Doctorate Degree in Education Admin-

istration with an emphasis on Personnel Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute,

Blacksburg, Virginia.

Dr. Hobbs served as a teacher and principal for Alexandria City Public Schools. In 1995, she opened Arlington Science Focus School for Arlington Public Schools and continued serving the Arlington community in a broader capacity by moving to the position of Assis-tant Superintendent of Human Resources in 1998.

Dr. Hobbs has been the recipient of the Education and Training Award sponsored by the

Plenary Panelist

Plenary Moderator

Government and Politics (1972) and Ph.D. (1973) in Educational Administration, Supervision and Curriculum

from the University of Maryland. Over the years, he taught graduate courses as an adjunct faculty member and/or

served on dissertation committees at five different colleges and universities. His research and publications have

reflected a range of interests and included implementing process skills in early childhood classrooms, the politi-

cal socialization of school children, teacher leadership reflected in various forms of collaborative inquiry, teach-

ing for meaning, school leadership and attacking achievement gaps. In addition to helping prepare school leaders

at George Mason, he looks forward to continuing studies that combine aspects of school leadership, teaching for

meaning, collaborative inquiry and overcoming achievement gaps.

Betty Hobbs

Alexandria Commission on the Status of Women; the Washington Post Annual Distinguished Educational Leader-ship Award; the Women of Distinction Award sponsored by Soroptimist International of Alexandria; the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Award for Excellence in Education; and the Alexandria Jaycees Outstanding Young Educa-tors Award. Dr. Hobbs states that her years in education reflect her belief that children are our most important access. When

we invest in our children, we are indeed investing in our future.

Dr. Kimberly Hough is in her 17th year as an administrator in education. She is currently

the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services with Loudoun County Public

Schools. She has previously worked as an administrator in the areas of special education,

instruction, and federal programs. She also served as an administrator at the West Virgin-

ia Department of Education. Dr. Hough formerly taught English and Social Studies in

grades 7, 8 and 9. She holds a doctorate in educational administration and policy from

The George Washington University, a master’s in educational administration from Mar-

shall University, and a bachelor’s in secondary education from WVU. Dr. Hough has

been published in the American School Board Journal, The School Administrator and the

Journal of School Leadership

Mr. Marty K. Smith currently serves as the Chief of Staff of Fairfax County Public

Schools and has held this role since July 2014. Several departments and offices report to

Mr. Smith, including the Department of Communications and Community Outreach, the

Office of Program Evaluation, the Office of Government Relations, and the TJHSST Ad-

missions Office. Mr. Smith is also responsible for implementing the Fairfax County School

Board’s strategic plan designed around the division’s work related to Portrait of a Gradu-

ate. Prior to this role, Mr. Smith served as the Assistant Superintendent for the former area

known as Cluster I, encompassing the communities of Herndon, Langley, and McLean.

As Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Smith provided leadership and support for 22 schools,

monitored student achievement; hired principals; provided support and resources; collabo-

rated with other FCPS departments to support Cluster I schools; and addressed parent is-

sues and concerns regarding student achievement and conduct. Under his leadership, 17

Mr. Keith J. Johnson joined Prince William County Public Schools in July of 2005 as the

Associate Superintendent for Human Resources. Mr. Johnson began his career as an ele-

mentary school teacher with the Baltimore County Public Schools, Maryland in 1977. Dur-

ing his career, he was an elementary school teacher, elementary school assistant principal,

and an elementary school principal prior to his move into Human Resources as a Personnel

Officer in 1993 for the Baltimore County Public School system. Prior to Mr. Johnson's ex-

perience in Prince William County, he served as the Assistant Superintendent of Human

Resources and Staff Relations in the Greece Central School District, Greece, NY from De-

cember 1998 to 2005.

A native of Powhatan, Virginia, he received his bachelor's degree from Coppin State Uni-

versity, going on to obtain his master's degree from Morgan State University, and has at-

tended the University of Rochester for post graduate schooling. Mr. Johnson is a former

Kimberly Hough

Keith Johnson

president of the Johns Hopkins University chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International, and he has served as a member

of the Board of Directors for the Maryland State Teachers' Association. He has served as the Professional Develop-

ment Chair for the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA) during the 2005-06 and

Marty K. Smith

out of 19 elementary and middle schools provided Level IV Advanced Academics strategies and resources for students

in grades 3 through 8. Mr. Smith was also the champion for the School Board’s Student Achievement Goal 3, which

promotes student responsibility to the community and service learning . He served on the Project Management Over-

sight Committee that monitored the Student Achievement Goals, as well as a variety of other committees and work

groups designed to increase student achievement.

Smith began his career with FCPS in 1994 as a classroom teacher at Flint Hill Elementary School. In 1998, he was

named a Pathways to Leadership administrative intern at Graham Road Elementary School. Smith earned his bache-

lor’s degree in elementary education at the University of Iowa and his master’s degree in education leadership from

George Mason University. He is working on his doctoral degree in education at Virginia Tech and expects to complete

his coursework in 2016.

Dr. Beverly Woody joined the Education Leadership Program (EDLE) after her tenure

with Fairfax County Public Schools where she served as an elementary teacher, school

principal and central office administrator. In the EDLE program, she teaches courses

that focus on research, organizational theory, and supervision.

Recently, she has served as a teacher in the Institute for Research and Exchange (IREX)

project providing leadership training to groups of students from Eurasia and South Asia

and assisted with designing curriculum for The Advanced Studies in Teaching and

Learning (ASTL) program for teachers and other educators who want to continue their

professional growth.

Networking for an Interview: Presenting your

Professional Self

Mary Jane Boynton

Mr. Alexander Case is principal at West Potomac High School, a diverse 2,400 student

high school in suburban Fairfax County. Mr. Case is passionate about facilitating a nurtur-

ing and engaging school experience for all students. His faculty ensures students’ college

and career readiness by enriching its already wide array of Advanced Placement (AP), dual

enrollment, academy, and elective course offerings and partnering with all stakeholders to

increase community support for the school and its students. Previously, Mr. Case served his

community as a high school social studies teacher, student government sponsor, Advanced

Placement (AP) coordinator, assistant director of student activities, middle and high school

assistant principal, and summer school principal. He studied political science, history, and

secondary education at the University of Mary Washington, holds a master’s in Education

Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia, and is presently a doctoral

student at George Mason University. Alex Case

Beverly Woody

Moderator

Panelist Dr. Mary Jane Boynton has served as an educator in Scotland, Malta, and Mexico.

Over the last 20 years her teaching experiences have ranged from Kindergarten through

12th grade, and has included music, ESOL (all subjects), and 4th grade.

She received her Bachelor’s of Education (Honors) in Music from the Royal Scottish

Academy of Music and Drama/Jordanhill College of Education in 1992. She earned her

Master of Educational Leadership from George Mason University in 2007. In July 2007

she joined Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) as a middle school Assistant

Principal, a position she held for four years. In 2011 she was named the Principal of

Parkside Middle School in Manassas, VA. During her tenure at Parkside Middle she

successfully applied for a $600,000 21st Century After-School grant as well as applying

and in 2013 beginning Parkside Middle’s journey as the first Virginia middle school to be certified as a Cambridge

International School. Mary Jane defended her dissertation in May of 2013, and graduated May 18, 2013 with her

Doctorate in Philosophy in Education from George Mason University. Her areas of specialty and research are liter-

acy and reading for adolescents as well as educational leadership.

She currently resides in Bristow, Virginia with her husband Darryl, and her son Andrew.

Dr. Roberto Pamas currently serves as principal of O.W. Holmes Middle School in

Fairfax County, Virginia. Prior to his current position, he has served as assistant princi-

pal and taught Foreign Languages and English as a Second Language. He has previous-

ly served as a conference presenter for the Association of Supervision and Curriculum

Development (ASCD), National Middle School Association, and Virginia Educational

Facility Planners. His extensive experience includes the areas of recruitment and hiring,

school improvement, effective leadership, educational administration, parent/community

relations, educational facility, after-school programs, curriculum and instruction, and

instructional technology. He earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy

Studies at Virginia Tech and is an adjunct faculty member at George Mason Universi-

ty. He has also taught classes for University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

Roberto Pamas,

Tips for a Successful Interview

Peter Noonan

Ms. Kathy Bruce was born in California and moved to Fairfax County when she was in

the fourth grade. She is a graduate of Robinson Secondary, and her experience coaching

junior varsity field hockey sparked an interest to pursue teaching as a career. Ms. Bruce

graduated with a Bachelor in Science in Health and Physical Education from George

Mason University. Her first teaching position was a full-time PE position but split be-

tween three schools, namely, Garfield Elementary ES, Mount Vernon Woods ES, and

Belle View ES. The experiences at these schools led to an interest in obtaining a mas-

ter's degree in Special Education--once again, George Mason University was her school

of choice. Ms. Bruce transferred to a full-time opportunity at Orange Hunt Elementary

where she served for nine years. During those years, Ms. Bruce was afforded many

leadership opportunities, sparking an interest in educational leadership. She, therefore,

enrolled in the George Mason/FCPS Educational Leadership cohort and subsequently

was accepted into FCPS Lead Fairfax Program where she served as an intern at Sten-

Kathy Bruce

wood Elementary. Following the internship, Ms. Bruce was selected to be Assistant Principal at Bonnie Brae

Elementary and two years later she became principal of Bonnie Brae Elementary.

Since July 2012, Dr. Peter Noonan has served as Superintendent of the City of Fairfax

Schools. Prior to joining the City of Fairfax Schools, Dr. Noonan served as the assistant

superintendent for Instructional Services in Fairfax County Public Schools. In addition,

during his tenure with Fairfax County Public Schools, Dr. Noonan served as assistant prin-

cipal at Langley High School, as principal at Lanier Middle School and Centreville High

School, and as assistant superintendent for Cluster VII schools which include the Centre-

ville, Chantilly, and Fairfax High School pyramids within the county. Among his accom-

plishments, he received the Phi Delta Kappa 2008 Educator of the Year Award. Dr.

Noonan earned his doctorate in education from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State

University (Virginia Tech).

Panelist

Moderator

Mr. Anthony Terrell has over fourteen years of experience in Fairfax County Public

Schools. Prior to coming to Rocky Run, he served as an Assistant Principal at Fairfax

High School and at Cooper Middle School before that. Prior to becoming a school ad-

ministrator, he spent eight years teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages

(ESOL), first at J.E.B. Stuart High School and later at Pimmit Hills Alternative High

School. Between teaching assignments, he worked as a test administration specialist in

the Department of Educational Accountability of FCPS. He left FCPS for a brief time to

become the first Director of High School Placement for KIPP DC: Key Academy Public

Charter School in the Washington, DC.

A former naval officer, Mr. Terrell is a Desert Storm and Iraq war veteran. After his

active service, he spent three years as a project manager for computer systems integra-Anthony Terrell

tion consulting firms. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from The Citadel, an M.Ed. in Secondary Edu-

cation (ESOL) from The George Washington University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Leader-

Meg MacGregor

Mrs. Meg MacGregor is the wife of a Retired Naval Commander, and who is presently

a State Department Official. She has three sons, one studying to be a physical trainer,

one is in medical school, and the youngest is a senior at the University of South Caroli-

na studying Geographic Information Systems. Meg graduated from Stetson University

with a BA in Elementary Education/Special Education. While stationed in Connecticut,

she earned her first MS in Early Childhood Special Education. After studying French at

the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA for one year, and living in Geneva,

Switzerland for two years, the family settled in Northern Virginia. This is when Meg

began her 16 year career in Prince William County Schools at Antietam ES. During her

tenure at Antietam, she worked as an LD teacher, Preschool SPED teacher, Teacher on

Administrative Assignment, completed her MS in Educational Leadership at GMU, and

is now in her 6th year as Antietam’s Assistant Principal.

Resume Writing: Admin Feedback and Peer Review

Dr. Rich Moniuszko brought a wealth of administrative experience in psychology, spe-

cial education, human resources, research and accountability when he joined George

Mason’s Education Leadership Program faculty in January 2014, following a 37 year

career as a K-12 public school educator in both North and South Carolina as well as in

Virginia. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Virginia, M.S. in

School Psychology from Winthrop University, and Ed.D. from the University of South

Carolina.

He retired as Deputy Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools in December

2013, following a similar role in Richland School District One in Columbia, South Car-

olina. He has worked in both large and smaller school districts, serving for 8 years as

Director of Pupil Personnel Services, then Director of Instructional Accountability in

the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) Schools, as well as a 16 year stint in the Spartanburg

(S.C.) schools, where he supervised special education programs and services and was Assistant Superintendent for

Human Resources.

His current research interests include leadership development, improving low-performing schools, strategic plan-

ning and improving the effectiveness of school governance.

Rich and his wife Linda (a retired elementary principal) live in Fairfax. They are the parents of three adult children

and proud grandparents of three (Andrew, Lucy and Alex).

Moderator

Rich Moniuszko

Joe Thompson

Ed Stephenson

Ray Lonnett

Dr. Ed Stephenson graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music with a B.M. in Vio-

loncello in 1998. He performed as a section cellist in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra,

freelance performer in the D.C. area, and private studio teacher prior to working as an

orchestra teacher in the Stafford County Public Schools.

After earning a M.Ed. from the University of Virginia, he served as a dean of students at

Clarke County High School and assistant principal at Battlefield High School while

completing a Ph.D. in Education from George Mason University. He served as Bull Run

Middle School's principal from 2009 to 2012 when he was selected to open Ronald Wil-

son Reagan Middle School's where he currently works as principal. He has also taught

Mr. Ray Lonnett is the principal of Great Falls Elementary in Fairfax County Public

Schools.

courses at both the masters and doctoral levels at George Mason University. He currently resides in Gainesville,

Virginia with his wife and four daughters.

Mr. Joe Thompson the Assistant principal at Annandale High School. Born and raised

in Fairfax County, he was hired into Fairfax County Public Schools in 1996. He first

worked as a teacher serving students with serious emotional disabilities at WT Woodson

and Oakton high school. At Oakton High School, he initiated the combined ED/LD ser-

vice model, allowing students with emotional disabilities to be educated in their base

school for the first time. He also worked as an Adjunct Professor at The George Wash-

ington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development, creating eth-

ics courses for the teacher prep program. While at Oakton High School, Joe was the

Head Football coach at Oakton High School from 2002-2011. During that tenure, he

won the school’s only state championship and was named Associated Press Coach of the

Year in 2005 and 2008. In 2011, Joe became an Assistant Principal at Annandale High School. In this capacity, he

has supervised the Special Education and English as a Second Language (ESOL) departments. He has also supervis-

es the Character Education program, as well as the community outreach program. In response to the needs of the

community, Joe has started a clothing boutique that opens at night for community members to access clothing for

themselves and children. He has also started several parent and student resource groups that meet with community

specialists from outside the school system to address the needs of the families. Additionally, Joe partnered with the

Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Student Services to create an on-line resource manual directing stu-

dents and families to the most efficient resources to meet clothing, food, child care, housing, and immigration needs.

The culmination of the collaborative effort was the Annandale Pyramid Resource Fair, which served over 4,000 peo-

ple by providing over $300,000 worth of goods and services directly targeted to the needs of families looking to ac-

cess materials needed to start the school year prepared for learning. Finally, Joe is married to his beautiful wife,

Donna and has 4 wonderful children: Tyler, Mackenzie, Paige and Abigail.

Panelist

Michele recently earned her K-12 Administration & Supervision endorsement after completing an Accelerated

Certification Cohort. Her career in education has spanned nearly 20 years. She was a teacher and department

chair in Virginia Beach City Public Schools, started a College Readiness Program (AVID) in North East Inde-

pendent Schools in San Antonio, Texas, and served as a teacher and department chair in Fairfax County Public

Schools (FCPS) before being promoted to a management position in the Department of Human Resources.

Michele is married and has twin boys who are about to turn two. She enjoys family, sports and fitness. She has a

passion for developing both students and educators. Some mottos that she lives by: always….seek learning op-

portunities, remain positive, value loyalty, and strive for excellence!

Michelle Webb

Michele Webb is the current coordinator of administrative staffing for the office of Tal-

ent Acquisition & Management in Fairfax County Public Schools. This office facilitates

the hiring process for all Leadership positions to include Cluster and Department Assis-

tant Superintendents, Educational specialists/Managers, Principals, Assistant Principals,

Directors of Student Services, Directors of Student Activities, Psychologists and Social

Workers. A native of Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania, Michele Webb earned an AAS in

Business Management from Commonwealth College, and went on to Old Dominion

University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in Education, Occupational &

Technical Studies with an endorsement in Marketing Education. She obtained her Mas-

ter’s Degree in Education, Curriculum, & Instruction from George Mason University.

First Year Admin Tool Box

Scott Bauer

Dr. Scott C. Bauer serves as Director of the Education Leadership Division , and as pro-

fessor in the Education Leadership program. His research interests involve the application

of organizational design and theory to the improvement of schools, and the efficacy of vari-

ous strategies used to develop school leaders at all levels. His most recent publications deal

with the design of distributed leadership processes in schools, the development of teacher

leaders, and the redesign of school leadership preparation programs. He recently completed

a federally-funded three-year study of the implementation and effectiveness of a cross-

district coaching and mentoring support system for new principals. He is a member of the

board of directors of the School Leadership Center of Greater New Orleans and the Apple

Federal Credit Union Education Foundation, on the Supervisory Committee of Apple Federal Credit Union, and

on the Governance Team of Patriot Innovation Academy. His research interests include:

Organizational design of schools and school systems

Organization and leadership to support school improvement

School leadership development

Impact of organizational structure & processes on schools

Distribution of leadership, shared decision making and school-based management

Teacher leadership

Design and efficacy of leadership development programs.

Moderator

Ms. Cherith Pierson is a first year Assistant Principal at Cooper Middle School. Previ-

ously, she served in administrative roles at schools in Pennsylvania and Bangladesh.

She received her Leadership endorsement from George Mason in 2010.

Ashleigh Burnette

Panelist

Ms. Ashleigh Burnette is an assistant principal at Parkside Middle School in Prince

William County. After switching out of a career in sports medicine in 2002, Ashleigh

began teaching 6th grade Language Arts. She has had the good fortune to serve PWCS

as a teacher, a mentor, a lead-mentor, an activities co-coordinator, a specialty coordina-

tor and a Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century instructor. She is excited to be be-

ginning her second year as an assistant principal. Ashleigh, her husband, and three chil-

dren live in Manassas, Virginia.

Mr. Gordon Laurie was a career switcher to teaching after a career in commodities. He

taught English for 10 years. In 2011 he graduated with an Administrative Degree. He

was an Assistant Principal at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington from 2011-

2013. He is currently an Assistant Principal at Wakefield High School in Arlington. He

is currently completing his doctoral studies.

Gordon Laurie

Cherith Pierson

Shanna Tackas

Ms. Shanna Takacs is an Eligibility Coordinator for Loudoun County Public Schools

who monitors and coordinates the implementation of IDEA and Section 504. Prior to

this, she was Special Education Department Chair and Administrative Designee at who

opened the Special Education Department at Patriot High School in Prince William

County. Ms. Takacs also works part-time for Prince William County’s Community Ser-

vice Board as an Emergency Services Therapist. Ms. Takacs has an Ed.S. in Mental

Health Counseling, MA in Counseling and M.Ed. in Education with licensure in ED/LD

and Administration, Paralegal Certificate and a BA in American Studies. She is current-

ly “ABD” and completing her PhD in Education, specifically Special Education and Ed-

ucation Leadership from George Mason Univeristy. Ms. Takacs presented her research

on Mnemonic Intervention Strategies for Students with Disabilities at the Council for

Exceptional Children (CEC) in Denver, Colorado in 2012. Ms. Takacs resides with her two young children in

Bristow, Virginia. She can be contacted at shanna.takacs@lcps.org.

Mrs. Desiree Reynolds-Tickle, Assistant Principal of Cougar Elementary, has been in

the field of education for thirteen years. She earned her Bachelors in Elementary Edu-

cation K to 6 and Special Education K to 12 from the State University of New York at

Geneseo in 2001. Mrs. Reynolds-Tickle’s resume includes two Masters degrees from

George Mason University, a Reading Specialist license and National Board Certifica-

tion in Special Education Birth to 21. She has served in multiple roles while with Ma-

nassas Park City Schools which include general education teacher, special education

teacher, Early Childhood Special Education teacher, Child Find Coordinator, Special

Education Chair, Administrative Designee, Interventionist and accepted the position of

Assistant Principal at Cougar Elementary in September of 2013. Desiree Reynolds-Tickle