Thank You, Principals, for Inspiring and Supporting our Communities
October is National School Principals Month. We celebrate our dedicated school leaders who play an essential role in shaping their communities and paving pathways for success for each and every student and staff member in their schools.
At the 2024 FCPS Honors ceremony, Raven Jones, principal of Luther Jackson Middle School (pictured above) was named Outstanding New Principal. Jamie Gadley, principal of Dranesville Elementary School, was named Outstanding Principal. Read on to learn why these leaders were nominated by their peers for this recognition.
Outstanding New Principal Raven Jones
When Raven Jones arrived at Luther Jackson in 2022, she brought a renewed focus on inclusion and collaboration. Raven ensures “each student, staff member, and family feels supported and valued,” said her nominator Misbah Alhawsawi, multilingual teacher. She has been “instrumental in fostering an environment within our school where diversity is not only valued and appreciated but is an integral part of the educational fabric. What sets Raven apart is her ability to balance a results-driven approach with a deep commitment to the well-being of students and care of staff at the same time.”
Raven’s collaboration has reached beyond the school. She recognizes the importance of helping students and their families meet basic needs like having food to eat. She has collaborated with Food for Neighbors, a local nonprofit, to make sure families have what they need for students to come to school ready to learn. The food pantry at Jackson “has continued to be a vital resource,” Misbah said.
She has also partnered with businesses to provide the school and its students with grants, educational programs, and hands-on experiences. “Raven has ensured that our students benefit not only from a robust academic education but also from real-world exposure and the development of practical skills,” Misbah said. “Raven’s dedication to addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of our students showcases her commitment to creating a school environment that is deeply intertwined with and supportive of the broader community.”
Misbah says she nominated Raven for this award because she is focused not only on the success of her students but also on the success of her staff. “Central to her leadership philosophy is the deliberate focus on building the capacity of teachers and other leaders within the building,” she said. “Raven sets a clear vision for professional development and growth by establishing high expectations for her staff. Through strategic planning, she ensures that professional development opportunities align with the goals of the school and the evolving needs of students.”
Principal Jones joins those teachers in their classrooms with genuine interest, so she can understand what the teachers are experiencing.
Outstanding Principal Jamie Gadley
Jamie Gadley has been the principal of Dranesville Elementary School since 2020. She joined FCPS in 2003 after teaching in Baltimore City Schools.
Jamie’s nomination for Outstanding Principal focused on the kindness, consideration, and care she brings to her work. She recognizes the dedication and achievements of others, which encourages staff to continue to do their best.
Jamie “prioritizes people over everything,” said Jillian Palacios, assistant principal at Dranesville. “Jamie leads with her entire heart and soul in every action she takes and decision she makes.” Through her empathetic leadership, Principal Gadley has earned the respect of her entire school community, including the students themselves.
“She is always thinking about the whole child and how we can equitably support their individual needs,” Jillian said. Jamie has succeeded in providing all students with an opportunity to equitably access education at school by improving attendance schoolwide. Students deemed chronically absent, missing 18 or more days in the 180-day school year, went from 20.6% of Dranesville students in 2022-23 to just 6.9% in 2023-24.
“From weekly lunch bunches to meaningful conversations in the hallway, she knows her students' needs, wants, and passions,” said Jaclyn Young, school-based technology specialist at Dranesville. After a student shared a classroom success with her, “Mrs. Gadley responded with a giant smile, words of affirmation, and a high five that left the student glowing as she bounced down the hall. The students know that they are loved and cared for with Mrs. Gadley around.”
Jamie also encourages staff to give their all in their work. “Jamie expects excellence from all, and will work harder than anyone to make sure that all barriers have been removed so that students and staff have the opportunity to be the best that they can be,” Jaclyn said. “In addition to providing growth and leadership opportunities for staff to constantly stretch their learning, she provides many opportunities for rest and reflection, including organizing weekly staff Yoga before school, pickleball after school, and sweet treats to keep up morale in the building. It is difficult to find a harder working, kinder, more fierce champion of education than Jamie Gadley.”
