2025 Award Announcements

Falls Church City Public Schools is pleased to announce the honorees for the 2025 employee awards. They were selected after review and voting by a panel of judges. The winners were surprised with a giant check from the Falls Church Education Foundation and will be recognized at the FCCPS School Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.. 

Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year Miriam Schimmoller, Third Grade Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School
Miriam Schimmoller is the winner of the 2025 Washington Post Teacher of the Year Award, representing the best of the best in the Washington, DC region.  

Professional Specialist of the Year Miriam Pirone, Speech Therapist, Oak Street Elementary School and Meridian High School

Academic Support Staff Employee of the Year Bushra Al-Eryani, Paraprofessional, Jessie Thackrey Preschool

Operations Support Staff Employee of the Year Alejandrina Sanchez-Martinez, Custodian, Meridian High School

FCEF Teacher of the Year Miriam Schimmoller

FCEF Professional Specialist of the Year, Miriam Pirone

Academic Support Staff Employee of the Year, Bushra Al-Eryani

Operations Support Staff Employee of the Year, Alejandrina Sanchez-Martinez

Congratulations to the Nominees for 2025 FCCPS Employee Awards

Nominees for Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year 

  • Lisa Beinhart, Special Education Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

  • Kent Foster, World Language Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Diane Kidder, Second Grade Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

  • Pam Mahony, Individuals & Societies Teacher, Meridian High School

  • Amanda Morey, Second Grade Teacher, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

  • Susan Rhyne, Preschool Teacher, Jessie Thackrey Preschool

  • Jamie Sample, Choral Music Teacher, Henderson Middle School and Meridian High School

  • Miriam Schimmoller, Third Grade Teacher, Oak Street Elementary School

Nominees for Operations Support Staff Employee of the Year

  • Annette Folks, Extended Day Care Staff

  • Alejandrina Sanchez-Martinez, Custodian, Meridian High School

Nominees for Academic Support Staff Employee of the Year 

  • Bushra Al-Eryani, Special Education Paraprofessional, Jessie Thackrey Preschool

  • Surabhi Dobhal, Special Education Paraprofessional, Meridian High School

  • Najla Muhammad, Finance Administrative Assistant, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

  • Kim Tanner, Special Education Paraprofessional, Mt. Daniel Elementary School

Nominees for Professional Specialist of the Year

  • Hai Le, Systems Operation Manager, Divisionwide

  • Miriam Pirone, Speech Language Pathologist, Oak Street Elementary School & Meridian High School

  • Kim Yeager, School Psychologist, Mt. Daniel Elementary School & Jessie Thackrey Preschool

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2025 Secondary Employee Award Nominees

2024-25 Awards Process & Calendar

  • October 21, 2024 Nomination form opens

  • November 19, 2024 Nomination deadline

  • Week of December 9, 2024 Announcement of nominees

  • Week of December 9, 2024 Letter of support portal opens

  • January 21, 2025 Letter of support portal closes

  • February 2025 Packets presented to all nominees

  • April 2025 Announcement of all award winners

  • May 13, 2025 Recognition of award winners at School Board Meeting

Contact awards@fccps.org with questions.

Falls Church Education Foundation Teacher of the Year
Tosin Adetoro, STEAM Teacher, Oak Street Elementary

Professional Specialist of the Year Mary Manzione, Speech Therapist, Jessie Thackrey Preschool

Academic Support Staff of the Year
Jessica Hollinger, Administrative Assistant, Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School

Operations Support Staff of the Year
Eduardo Molina, Custodial Supervisor