Ms. Candace Hunstad was named the Executive Director of Strategy and Planning in the Department of Strategy, Planning, and Learning in October 2024. Ms. Hunstad supported the development of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan as the co-champion of the Principal/Administrator Team.
Ms. Hunstad has over 16 years of experience as a teacher and school administrator. She served as the principal at both Herndon and Fairhill Elementary Schools. Under her leadership, Fairhill Elementary School received multiple awards including the Virginia Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award, the Virginia Board of Education Purple Star School Designation for demonstrating a commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military, and the Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award for demonstrating progress towards excellence and closing gaps in achievement. In addition, under her leadership, Herndon Elementary School was awarded the Virginia Board of Education Exemplar Performance Award.
Ms. Hunstad has assumed several leadership roles in FCPS including the president of the Fairfax Association of Elementary School Principals (FAESP) and the FAESP chair of the Facilities and Transportation Committee. She has received three Superintendent’s Excellence in Equity Awards, was a nominee for the 2018-19 FCPS New Principal of the Year Award, and a 2020-21 nominee for the FCPS Principal of the Year Award.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from Mary Washington University, a Master’s in Education from George Mason University, and her endorsement in Administration and Supervision from the University of Virginia.
