2025 First-Class Award Winners
2025 award winners will be recognized at the Family Summit on March 15.
First-Class Awards
An annual celebration of individuals who support, design, and implement inclusion activities that result in positive outcomes for students.
First-Class Awards are presented each year to recognize and celebrate the efforts of educators, administrators, support staff, and students who demonstrate excellence in all facets of education related to disability.
2024 Winners
Category | Winners |
|---|---|
Elementary School Teacher | Annisa Chesnut |
Elementary School Administrator | Emily Cope |
Middle/High School Teacher | Jessica Magarelli Todd Utter |
Middle/High School Administrators | Amy Brown Shannon Matheny Betsy Fawsett John Basta |
Middle/High School Support Staff | Lisa DeCandia |
Central Office | Christian Lanzaro |
Specialty Program Staff | Chad Clayton |
Community Contributor | Food Bank & Hypothermia Center |
Students | Olivia Bradley |
Winners from Previous Years
| Category | Winners |
|---|---|
| Elementary School Teacher | Melissa DeStefano Special Education Teacher Silverbrook Elementary |
| Elementary School Administrator | Sharyn Prindle Principal Wakefield Forest Elementary |
| Elementary Support Staff | Shawna Peterson Instructional Assistant Rolling Valley Elementary |
| Middle/High School Teacher | Jae Lee Special Education Teacher Annandale High School |
| Middle/High School Administrator | Briana Kodadek Special Education Department Chair James Madison High School |
| Central Office | Mary Beth Harrison-Cunningham Manager Family Resource Center |
| Specialty Program Staff (Two Awards) | Ann Smith Emily Kaltenmark |
| Specialists (Two Awards) | Leslie Leisey Ashley Kiley |
| Community Contributor | Unlimited Potential (“UP”) Springfield South County Youth Club |
| Students | Culinary Arts Program Davis Career Center |
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Secondary Administrator | Dr. Ellen Reilly McLean High School Principal |
| Elementary Administrator | Scott Reeder Canterbury Woods Elementary School Assistant Principal |
| Central Office | Mike Bloom Central Office Department of Special Services Director of Special Education Instruction |
| Elementary School Support Staff | Katie Lacroix Special Education Instructional Assistant |
| Secondary School Support Staff | Alma Ortiz-Tellez McLean High School Instructional Assistant |
| Elementary Student | Jackson Allen |
| Secondary Student | Lila Jones |
| Secondary Student Club | Assistive Technology Club, TJHSST |
| Elementary Teacher | Amy LaCrosse Rolling Valley Elementary Enhanced Autism teacher/Lead Special Education Teacher |
| Elementary Teacher | Kenzie Bergh Bush Hill ES Multiple Disabilities Teacher |
| Secondary Teacher | Victoria Robinson Oakton High School Multiple Disabilities Teacher |
- Michael Chierichella, 5th Grade Teacher, Coates Elementary School
- Keely Norris, Special Education Teacher, Glasgow Middle School
- Julie Tiss, Special Education Teacher, Rocky Run Middle School
- Allie Ojjeh, Special Education Teacher, Herndon Middle School
- Mark Thompson, Special Education Teacher, McLean High School
- Deb Opalesky, Speech and Language Pathologist, McLean High School
- Anna Southworth, Career and Transition Teacher, McLean High School
- Mary Beth and Eric Fleming, Assistive Technology Resource Teachers, Assistive Technology Services
- Kerry Peerman, Principal, Halley Elementary School
- Sarah Chawki, Student, Bush Hill Elementary School
- Jordan Bristol, Kindergarten Teacher, Canterbury Woods Elementary School
- Nancy Lucas-Heck, Multiple Disabilities Teacher, Lake Braddock Secondary School
- Debra Opalesky, Speech-Language Pathologist, McLean High School
Family Summit
Our Family Summit is free and open to all families, educators and community members in the Fairfax County Public School division.
Special Education Instruction
Our Special Education Instruction program is designed to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities, ensuring they receive the support and resources necessary to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD)
The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is a local advisory committee for special education, appointed by each local school board, shall advise the school board through the division superintendent. This information is for school year 2024-25.
School Board Liaison: Rachna…