Dawn Clements Named as Fairfax County Public Schools Ombudsman
Dawn Clements, currently the assistant ombudsman for special education, has been named as the new ombudsman for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Her official start date is July 1.
Clements has been the assistant ombudsman for special education since 2019. Prior to her serving in this role, she was a procedural support liaison in the Office of Special Education Procedural Support from 2009-2019. During her tenure with FCPS, Clements has also served as a LEAD Fairfax administrative intern at Fairfax High School as well as Carl Sandburg Middle School, and as a special education department chair and teacher at Hayfield Secondary School.
In her current role in the Office of the Ombudsman, she has been able to serve as a resource and provide support to families, employees, students, and community members in partnership with the ombudsman. She has fostered many relationships, both internal and external, and has been able to build trust with all stakeholders. Clements has been instrumental in tracking and analyzing data disseminated in the quarterly Ombudsman reports as well developing and delivering presentations to various stakeholder groups around the outreach work of the Ombudsman’s Office. Clements firmly believes that all stakeholders should be heard and valued and treated with respect. She also makes sure that each inquiry and stakeholder is viewed through the lens of equity.
"Dawn Clements has a proven track record of success and her inclusive and respectful approach make her an ideal match to be the next ombudsman of Fairfax County Public Schools," said Nardos King, interim chief equity officer. "She has a warm, caring, and friendly approach that will be an asset to all the stakeholders in our community."
Clements holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has earned a master of special education from North Carolina State University. In addition, she has attained an administrative endorsement in educational administration from George Mason University.
