Annandale Students, Parents and Community:

At Annandale, we’ve achieved so much over the past few years—and none of it would be possible without the dedication and  talent of our incredible staff. Every day, they go above and beyond to support our students—collaborating, innovating, and rising to meet the needs of our diverse school community. I often tell prospective candidates that working at Annandale is both challenging and rewarding—because here, you grow, you stretch, and you make a real difference.

Today, I’m proud to recognize several staff members who have been promoted or are stepping into new leadership roles across FCPS. While their departures are certainly a loss for our school, their impact will continue to ripple outward—and we couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead for them. Please join me in celebrating their achievements and wishing them continued success on their new journeys.

These promotions have become something of a tradition, as Annandale continues to serve as a pipeline for leadership across FCPS. We take great pride in seeing our staff grow into new roles and expand their impact beyond our halls. If you'd like to look back on more of our staff success stories, check out highlights from past years here: 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022 - Part 1, Part 2.

As always, please reach out with questions and Go Atoms!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Awesome Atoms!

Several staff members here at Annandale have been promoted or will be moving into positions that will allow them to continue to amplify their impact throughout FCPS and beyond. Please join me in congratulating them and wishing them well in their new positions!

Liz Amundson - Instructional Coach: Congratulations to Liz Amundson on her promotion to Instructional Coach at Fairfax Villa Elementary School! Liz has been an outstanding English teacher at Annandale High School. She served as the English 11 Team Lead, where she played an important role in curriculum development, collaborative planning, and supporting colleagues. Her thoughtful leadership and commitment to high-quality instruction have had a lasting impact on both students and staff. We are excited to see Liz bring her expertise, leadership, and passion for teaching to her new role.

Cragin Eres - On-Time Graduation Coordinator: Congratulations to Cragin Eres on her promotion to On-Time Graduation Coordinator at Herndon High School! As Annandale's Student Support Coordinator, Cragin has been a tireless advocate for students, helping remove barriers to success while building systems that support student achievement and graduation. Her leadership, compassion, and commitment to ensuring every student has a path to success have made a lasting difference at Annandale. We are excited to see Cragin continue this important work in her new role and know she will have a tremendous impact at Herndon.

Chameka Day, Special Education Department Chair: Congratulations to Chameka Day on her promotion to Special Education Department Chair at Fairfax High School! This past year, Chameka served as a special education science teacher, supporting students in biology and environmental science at Annandale High School. Her dedication to students, collaborative spirit, and instructional leadership have made her an invaluable member of our school community. We know Chameka will continue to make a meaningful impact as she leads and supports educators in her new role.

Mario Villanueva - Spanish Teacher: Congratulations to Mario Villanueva on his promotion to Spanish teacher at Poe Middle School! Over the years, Mario served as an Instructional Assistant supporting science, math, social studies, and Spanish classrooms at Annandale High School. His versatility, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment to students made him a trusted colleague and valued member of our school community. We are excited to see Mario step into his own classroom and know he will continue to inspire students and make a meaningful impact at Poe Middle School.

Lily Metress - Social Studies Teacher: Congratulations to Lily Metress on her promotion to Social Studies teacher at South Lakes High School! This past year, Lily served as an Instructional Assistant supporting science, math, and social studies classrooms at Annandale High School. Her flexibility, dedication, and commitment to supporting students across multiple content areas made her a valued member of our team. We know Lily will bring that same passion and student-centered approach to her classroom at South Lakes, and we wish her continued success.

Deb Spitz - English Teacher: Congratulations to Deb Spitz on her promotion to English teacher at Hayfield Secondary School! This past year, Deb served as an Instructional Assistant supporting English classrooms at Annandale High School, where she quickly built meaningful relationships with students while maintaining high expectations for learning. Colleagues praised her as an outstanding instructional partner whose positive impact was felt every day in the classroom. We are excited to see Deb begin this next chapter and know she will make a lasting difference for students at Hayfield.

Sara Holtz - Special Education Teacher: Congratulations to Sara Holtz on her promotion to Special Education teacher at South Lakes High School! During her time at Annandale, Sara served as an Instructional Assistant supporting science and math classrooms, where she consistently demonstrated patience, compassion, and a commitment to helping every student succeed. Her collaborative approach and dedication to student learning have made a meaningful impact on our school community. We are excited to see Sara thrive in her new teaching role.