We ❤️ FCPS!

Diana Escobar is a special education teacher at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School. Her brother Mario is an instructional assistant at South County High School. The siblings are also graduates of Hayfield Secondary School. 

Their father Mario has worked for FCPS for more than 20 years, now working as an FCPS warehouse worker. Their mother Maira works in food service at Hayfield. 

“My family and I are from El Salvador. As foreigners in this country we have faced many obstacles, challenges and difficulties in our lives,” Diana says. 

“However with hard work, persistence and determination my parents were able to provide my brother and I a better future with the opportunity to attend school in an exceptional school district with strong academic programs. Now, to be able to work and be part of the same excellent school district as a family, we feel proud and honored.”

Ashleigh Fisher, school counselor at Daniels Run Elementary School, was an intern at Irving Middle School, Hayfield Secondary School, and Oakton Elementary School in 2018. She grew up in Stafford, Va., but the reputation of Fairfax County drew her to consider working for FCPS. 

In 2019, she was in a graduate counseling program at George Washington University. She met Zack Fisher, now a counselor at West Springfield High School, in a family counseling class. At that class, Zack introduced himself by blasting a digital air horn—as he did during morning announcements at Whitman Middle School every day. 

“As soon as he showed the class his airhorn, I knew he was something special,” Ashleigh says. The couple was married in 2021. 

“I enjoy learning from so many wonderful FCPS employees along my journey,” Ashleigh says about being an FCPS school counselor. The couple will return to George Washington University in a few weeks to talk about what it’s like to be a counselor and “how FCPS is a great county to work and intern for,” she says.

They both love supporting their students through regular duties and by being active supporters of after school clubs and helping with things like decorating for school dances. 

“I am proud to be married to such an awesome elementary counselor, who I know goes the same lengths to connect with students on a personal level,” Zack says.  

Paul Wardinski met his wife Anne at Marshall High School. Anne's brother was the DSA and Paul was the assistant DSA. Anne's brother had encouraged her to work at the school in the Student Services Office. 

Paul was also a marketing teacher. Anne had a degree in marketing, so he encouraged her to teach as well. The couple taught together, sharing the same room their first year.

Paul become an administrator and opened Marshall Academy before serving as principal at McLean and West Springfield high schools while Anne continued to teach.

After the couple had twins, Anne took some time off. When she returned to teaching, Paul retired, but he continued to work with DECA. After retiring a second time, Paul returned to the classroom last year, two days before the school year started, to help with the teacher shortage. 

Anne had come home saying she needed help. "I thought I was going to move a box or help with a bulletin board," Paul says. "Nope, she needed me to come out of retirement and teach marketing again. I came back after not being in the classroom for 25 years. We are now in year two of teaching together once again, just 8 feet across the hall from each other. We have been through a full circle as colleagues and a married couple."

Anne and Paul, who are now working at Lake Braddock Secondary School, are also both products of FCPS as are their twin daughters. 

Marc Cascio, English teacher at McLean, is a product of Fairfax County public schools. He attended Dogwood, Floris, then Fox Mill elementary schools, then Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High School. Both of his parents were FCPS teachers, and he started teaching in the division in 1993. 

To earn extra money, he took a second job coaching soccer for Braddock Road Youth Club. One of his first teams was “a lively crew of fifth grade girls” who primarily attended Olde Creek Elementary School. 

“These little girls decided that their single soccer coach should meet their single teacher, so they had her come to one of our soccer games,” Marc shared. “I have been married to their teacher for 16 years now, and about 10 of those little girls attended our wedding in Hilton Head, SC. We are still friends with them to this day, and it has been our pleasure watching them grow up.” 

Marc and his wife April, and SBTS at Bonnie Brae, now have three kids of their own in FCPS.

“Fairfax County Public Schools educated me, employed me, and helped me meet my wife and become a parent!” Marc says.

Robin Griffin and Casey Grubbs met while teaching at West Springfield High School. Two years ago, they were married in their living room after COVID foiled their wedding plans.

“It turned out perfect for our blended family,” Robin says. 

They both grew up in Fairfax County and graduated from FCPS schools. “We love our school, community and working together,” she says. 

Holly Mossburg, SBTS at Irving Middle School, met her husband Tony, emotional disabilities teacher at Eagle View Elementary School, in 2009 while working at Liberty Middle School. At the time, he was an instructional assistant and she was a science teacher. She also worked with Tony’s father, who was a Crisis Resource Teacher. The couple was married in 2011.

Holly’s oldest son graduated last year from FCPS, and her daughter and the couple’s son are currently FCPS students. Tony’s parents have both retired from FCPS. 

“We are a family of educators!” Holly says.

Hallie Sampson, newsletter support specialist at Central Office, is a fourth-generation FCPS employee. She attended Willow Springs Elementary School, Stone Middle School, and Westfield High School. 

Her mother Lisa Sampson and grandmother, Barbara Hamilton—who also both graduated from FCPS schools—worked in Transportation and drove school buses for the county until their retirements. 

Additionally, Hallie’s great-grandfather, Willard Clark, a World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, was a custodian with the county for 15 years beginning in the early 50s. He worked at Mclean and Marshall high schools. 

“My mom tried to tempt me with driving a bus for years, but it wasn’t the right fit," Hallie says. "I found my corner of FCPS on the communications team and feel very happy here!” 
 

Luke Tonia and Maggie LeGendre (pictured above) met at Hayfield Secondary School in 2015 where Maggie taught World History and Luke taught Chemistry. Maggie moved to the area from Pennsylvania to teach for FCPS, and the couple now lives in Old Town Fairfax. Luke is a graduate of Fairfax High School. They expanded their family to include three fur babies and got married in 2022. They originally bonded over their love of education and have since moved into different roles within FCPS. Luke is a data specialist in Instructional Support and Maggie is an SBTS at Hayfield.

Beth Murphy is a second-grade teacher at Oak View Elementary, and her husband Todd teaches 7th grade science at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Their daughter Megan is a fourth-grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary. 

All three of them have spent time at Oak View. When Megan was a student there, her father was working there as a teacher.