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APS Announces 2025 Employees of the Year

On Thursday, March 13, APS announced the 2025 division-wide APS Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, Assistant Principal of the Year, Leader of the Year, and the Support Employee of the Year, as well as school-based Teacher and Support Employee honorees representing every school across the division.

“Each year, we have the honor of celebrating the incredible individuals who embody the values and vision of Arlington Public Schools. Our 2025 Employees of the Year represent the heart and soul of our district. Their dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to our students and community make a profound impact every day,” said Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán. “These outstanding individuals inspire us all to do our best, push boundaries and create an environment where every child can succeed. I am deeply grateful for their exceptional contributions and proud to have them as part of APS.

APS will celebrate the division-wide honorees as well as the Teachers of the Year and Support Employees of the Year for each school at the annual Celebration of Excellence on May 28, 2025, at Washington-Liberty High School.

Teacher of the Year Katherine Garcia-Larner, Arlington Community High School

Katherine Garcia-Larner, ACHS
Katherine is an English Learner teacher at Arlington Community High School. Katherine’s dynamic teaching style and passion for education inspire her students to strive for excellence. She excels in meeting the unique needs of each student, identifying their strengths and addressing their challenges. Katherine is the cornerstone of the ACHS community, fostering strong relationships with colleagues, students and families. Katherine exemplifies what it means to be a culturally responsive educator. She designs lessons that are both rigorous and engaging, consistently challenging students to promote critical thinking.

See below for the complete list of the Teachers of the Year for each school.

Principal of the Year Ellen Smith, Dorothy Hamm Middle School

Ellen Smith, DHMS
Ellen is the first principal of Dorothy Hamm Middle School and has over 30 years of experience as an educator in Arlington Public Schools. She consistently goes above and beyond in creating a supportive and dynamic learning environment for students and staff. One of the most remarkable aspects of Ellen’s leadership is her unwavering support for teachers. She encourages professional development, fosters collaboration, and empowers teachers to take creative risks in their classrooms. As a result, students are consistently engaged and motivated and the school has seen measurable academic growth. Ellen’s mindset allows her to be a masterful administrator, seamlessly managing the complexities of school operations while keeping the focus on student success and well-being.

Assistant Principal of the Year Octavia Knigge, Kenmore Middle School

Octavia Knigge, KenmoreOctavia has been a prominent and supportive figure at Kenmore for seven years. Each day, Octavia exudes the school’s vision and mission by promoting the success and well-being of our students and members of the community by fostering a supportive, inclusive, and high-achieving school environment. She plays a key role in articulating and cultivating a positive school culture at Kenmore by modeling the values and behaviors Kenmore seeks to instill in its students. Octavia is an integral part of the administrative team and through her day-to-day actions and work, she prioritizes her responsibility of working in a professional partnership with Principal McBride to develop and implement a shared vision for the school. She knows her students by name, strength and need. Her leadership has led to improved math scores and better outcomes for our students.

Leader of the Year Dr. Ty Byrd, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Ty Bird, DEITy’s exemplary leadership skills are on display through his daily work. He has a true passion for supporting students and for asking how students might be impacted by our decisions. He and his team never say no to school requests. He coordinates partnerships that provide direct services to students like the George Mason Early Identification program or the Multicultural Student Achievement Network. Ty chaperones, mentors and attends students’ extracurricular activities. Ty’s commitment to APS, its staff, students and community is unwavering. In his role, he has been a visionary leader, tireless advocate and an inspirational presence, guiding our district through a critical period of growth and change. Ty is a gifted communicator who has a talent for engaging diverse stakeholders in thoughtful dialogue about issues of equity and inclusion. He is a compassionate and empathetic leader who consistently leads by example.

Support Employee of the Year Roxanna (Roxy) Hernandez-Torres, Cardinal Elementary School

Roxy Hernandez-TorresRoxy is the Extended Day Supervisor at Cardinal Elementary School. She is a dynamic and dedicated professional who consistently goes above and beyond. She communicates effectively with both students and parents and fosters a positive and inclusive environment. Roxy is known for her outstanding customer service skills, with a warm and approachable demeanor. With a proactive approach, Roxy consistently identifies areas for improvement and implements innovative solutions to enhance the program. Roxy has been an excellent advocate for the program and is able to engage students in a wide variety of needs.

See below for the complete list of the Support Employees of the Year for each school.

Each school selects a Teacher of the Year and a Support Employee of the Year. The division-wide winners are chosen from this group of honorees.

Teachers of the Year by School

  • Abingdon Elementary – Chelsea Summer Sachse
  • Alice West Fleet Elementary – Sarah Marie Switaj
  • Arlington Community High – Katherine Joan Garcia-Larner
  • Arlington Science Focus – Bobbie Marie Fullen
  • Arlington Tech – Michelle Van Lare
  • Arlington Traditional – Theresa M Chapman
  • Ashlawn Elementary – Madeline Quigley Long
  • Barcroft Elementary – Eleanor Divina Splan
  • Barrett Elementary – Ashley Gray Giglio
  • Campbell Elementary – Gabrielle Nicole Allen
  • Cardinal Elementary – Danielle Katherine De Lanoy
  • Carlin Springs Elementary – Jessica A Gilling
  • Claremont Immersion – Martha Teresa Linville
  • Discovery Elementary – John F Re
  • Dorothy Hamm Middle – Brooke Ashley Zeller
  • Charles R. Drew Elementary – Dayren Soto Valerio
  • Escuela Key Elementary – Jeremy Sullivan
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program – Kristen Michelle Moretti
  • Glebe Elementary – Lindsay Kramer Estabrooks
  • Gunston Middle – Lina Maria Tenjo Tipton
  • H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program – Deidre A Reimers
  • Hoffman-Boston Elementary – Patricia Inez Harvey
  • Innovation Elementary – Margaret Catherine Connelly
  • Integration Station – Emily Jeanne Matt
  • Jamestown Elementary – Nicole Helena Turner
  • Jefferson Middle – Christopher David (Kip) Malinosky
  • Kenmore Middle – Della Rodrigues
  • Long Branch Elementary – Krista Kurre Cook
  • Montessori Public School of Arlington – Rachel Ann Kipperman
  • Nottingham Elementary – Ryan Van Valen
  • Oakridge Elementary – Catherine Matthews Gaudian
  • Randolph Elementary – Kaitlyn Elizabeth Karian
  • Swanson Middle – Jesse James E Homburg
  • Taylor Elementary – Julia Eason Walker
  • Tuckahoe Elementary – Adam Xavier Cook
  • Wakefield High – Chris E Kaldahl
  • Washington-Liberty High – Patrice Marie Splan
  • Williamsburg Middle – Ashley Grace Bleakley
  • Yorktown High – Lisa Michelle Troiano

Support Employees of the Year by School/Department

  • Abingdon Elementary – Elsy Margarita Carrillo
  • Alice West Fleet Elementary – Troy Darren Savage
  • Arlington Community High – Daniel Guillermo Castillo
  • Arlington Science Focus – Stacia Wells Griffin
  • Arlington Traditional – Gina Lamo Memmott
  • Arlington Tech – Lori E Mcfail
  • Ashlawn Elementary – Dina Pham
  • Barcroft Elementary – Marina Gracibel Benitez
  • Barrett Elementary – Stephanie May Matadial
  • Campbell Elementary – Joyce Valeria Navia Penaloza
  • Carlin Springs Elementary – Sandra Pena
  • Claremont Immersion – Marfa Numbela De Meneses
  • Discovery Elementary – Magali Alexandra Valentin
  • Dorothy Hamm Middle – Alfred Eugene Reid, Jr.
  • Charles R. Drew Elementary – Conor Michael O’Rourke
  • Escuela Key Elementary – Karina C Rivera
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver Program – Stephanie M Bautista
  • Facilities & Operations – Brelynn Kelaine Black
  • Glebe Elementary – Sicili Lorin McCoy
  • Gunston Middle – Stephanie Palmer
  • HB Woodlawn Secondary Program – Daniel Alberto Degracia
  • Hoffman-Boston Elementary – Fozia Maqbool
  • Innovation Elementary – Drake Robert Anderson
  • Integration Station – Leah Anne Frazzano
  • Jamestown Elementary – Tahirih Lawot
  • Jefferson Middle – Amelia Jane Rosegrant
  • Kenmore Middle – Xenia Janet Quintanilla
  • Long Branch Elementary – Johnny Joe De Leon
  • Montessori Public School of Arlington – Shakina Marie Hardy
  • New Directions/Langston HS Cont Program – Noralee Nevius
  • Nottingham Elementary – Michael A Parks
  • Oakridge Elementary – Alemnesh Ali
  • Randolph Elementary – Toby Harrell Peabody
  • Swanson Middle – Christian Alexander Cobbins
  • Syphax Education Center – Department of School Support – Jayda Nachelle Parker
  • Taylor Elementary – Porscha Marie Adams
  • Tuckahoe Elementary – Meredith Rae Allen
  • Wakefield High – Robert Leonard Miller
  • Williamsburg Middle – Christina Marie Short
  • Yorktown High – Mary Ann Belette Mahan

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