Miranda Stitzel, Kindergarten

I am so excited to begin my career as a teacher with Sunrise Valley ES! I graduated from James Madison University in May with my M.A.T. with a focus in inclusive early childhood education. This focus provided me with two degrees: one in special education birth through the age of five and one in general education from pre-kindergarten up until third grade. I completed my student teaching in a kindergarten classroom and am thrilled to begin my career following that path. My goal as an educator is to meet students where they are. In order for students to be successful, we need to help them pave that way to achieve their success!

In my spare time, I love to travel, read, and meet new people! I look forward to working at Sunrise Valley E.S. and meeting all of you!

Sydney Han, 4th Grade

I am very excited to begin my journey with the Sunrise Valley community as a 4th grade AAP teacher. I recently graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a focus in Math and Science. I enjoy traveling and have worked with diverse students in all grade levels. I have had student teaching experience in 3 different schools in Prince George's County (Maryland) and have taught students in Delaware, Taiwan, New Hampshire, and Boston (where I am originally from).

My goal as an educator is to create a classroom community of learners where students will engage in meaningful learning experiences, develop and foster a growth mindset, and celebrate diversity. In my spare time I enjoy watching my Boston sports teams, spending time outdoors, and trying new recipes to bake and cook. I am looking forward to meeting my new students and their families for a great year in 4th grade!

Karen Stevens, 4th Grade

I am delighted to be joining the SVES family.  My husband is retired military, and I have 3 children.  (One will be a freshman Hokie this year!)  I have 18 years of experience teaching grades PK – 8.  I received a B.A. in Elementary Education from The Catholic University of America and a M.A. in Teaching from Connecticut College.   Directly after my undergraduate degree, I joined the U.S. Peace Corps and served in Belize, Central America as a “Teacher Trainer”.  Additionally I have taught in Alexandria City Public Schools, and in the states of CT, NE, and WA.  I have taught all subjects, even Spanish!  I have spent the last 7 years at Lake Anne ES teaching fourth grade, the best grade ever!  I love learning new things and hope to inspire in my students a love of learning, a passion for curiosity, a willingness to take risks, and a belief that they each possess individual gifts and talents that enable them to be uniquely successful.  

My hobbies include walking my beloved puggle, Dobby, in the Piedmont Region, skiing and hiking in the Valley and Ridge Region, and cooking and reading anywhere in the world.

Alissa Kochel, 5th Grade

I am very excited to join the Sunrise Valley school community as a 5th grade teacher! I've been teaching 3rd grade for the past 3 years in Prince William County. Prior to that, I taught both 3rd and 4th grade at a school in Fayetteville, NC. I was born and raised in Belmar, NJ,  a small shore town, and graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ) with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in elementary education.

I'm looking forward to starting my new journey as a 5th grade teacher, as well as meeting my new students, families, and coworkers!

Outside of school I enjoy playing with my cute and energetic pit bull Leo! In my spare time, I read. I'm always looking for new book recommendations, however my favorite series is Harry Potter. Additionally, I enjoy experimenting with healthy cooking, trying new restaurants, traveling and watching my favorite television shows. 

Kate Hansen, 5th Grade

I am thrilled be joining the Sunrise Valley fifth grade team! As an educator, my goal is to guide and support young minds, so I create a classroom environment that encourages personal and academic growth.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Inclusive Childhood Education with a concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Houghton College and a master’s degree in Literacy Education from St. John Fisher College.

This summer, I moved to Virginia from New York where I worked with first, fourth, and fifth grade students. When I’m not at work, I enjoy reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and exploring my new home!

I am looking forward to an inspiring and memorable year in fifth grade!

Frankie Chang, Special Education

I feel so honored to be a part of the Sunrise Valley community and cannot wait to begin this school year with the students!  

I graduated from George Mason University with a Masters in Special Education and certificate in teaching students with disabilities accessing the general curriculum.  I began my teaching career at Manassas Park Elementary School (grades 3-5) and acquired 4 years of experience as a self-contained and inclusion teacher. I joined FCPS as a high school CAT B teacher for the 2016-2017 school year. As the school year progressed I found myself missing the elementary level and am now leaping back to that!  I am looking forward to implementing methods and practices to create the responsive classroom, tapping into students’ creative interest(s), and working together to ensure academic progress.  

Outside of teaching I enjoy all DC sporting events, concerts, hiking, cooking, and coaching Freshman Girls Basketball.

Leigh Brooke, ESOL

I am excited to join the Sunrise Valley community. As the new ESOL teacher, I am looking forward to building relationships with students, teachers, and parents. I currently hold a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Winthrop University. I have also earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech as well as certification in ESOL. I have over 20 years of teaching experience in Fairfax County Public Schools as a classroom teacher, Reading Specialist, and ESOL Resource. 

I live in Vienna, VA with my husband and two sons. I love to read, take long walks, and spend time with my family and friends.

Jessica Howell, Reading Teacher

I'm looking forward to being a part of the SVES learning community! I received both my bachelors and masters degrees at McDaniel College and taught in Carroll County, MD for 8 years (both as a classroom teacher and a Reading teacher). I then worked as a Reading Teacher at London Towne (FCPS) for 7 years. 

I am passionate about literacy, collaborating with teachers through coaching, and being a lifelong learner.

I love reading, yoga, fitness, crocheting, cooking, baking, being at the beach, and spending time with my husband and 2 daughters (13, 11). 

Eliza Brown

I am thrilled to be reuniting with the wonderful staff, students, and families at Sunrise Valley... I missed you all last year! Sunrise Valley holds a special place in my heart, not only do my children attend Sunrise, but I went there after my family moved from Illinois many years ago! 

I attended University of Mary Washington where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology, then earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. I have been teaching Art for 9 years, 2 of which were spent in Middle School while living in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Last year I taught at Freedom Hill Elementary in Vienna, and for 4 years before that I was teaching part time at Sunrise Valley and Terraset Elementary.

I come from a large family and growing up there was always a lot going on with siblings, friends, animals, etc. so I feel perfectly at home in the elementary classroom and find a certain amount of chaos to be very inspiring! My goals for the artists in my classroom are: (1) to appreciate their own voice and to respect the voice of others (2) work hard, take risks, make mistakes and (3) be brave enough to show who you are.

April Hewko, Art Teacher

I look forward to becoming a part of the Sunrise Valley community. I also teach at Oak Hill ES, and I am entering my 8th year with FCPS. I am originally from New York State. I grew up in the Adirondack Mountains, and I enjoy returning there for a few weeks every summer with my family. I taught in New York State for four years before moving to Virginia with my husband. We have two children, a six year old daughter and our latest addition, a four month old son.

I have a B.A. in Studio Art with a concentration in Art Education, and an M.S. Ed in Visual Arts Education. My medium of choice is ceramics, and I bring my love for clay into my art room. I strive to make every student in my classroom feel welcome and at ease. I believe every student can be successful in the art room as long as they are trying and growing. It's not about being a traditionally "good" artist, but about being willing to take risks and try new things.  I'm excited to meet everyone!

Mythia Allen, PE

I am so excited to be joining Sunrise Valley Elementary School! I started my career in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where I worked for nine years.  In 2003 I joined the Fairfax County Public Schools community.  My teaching experience varies from public to private schools with grade levels ranging from Pre K-12, it also includes a variety of personal achievements in individual and team sports.

I am married and have two adult children, I enjoy traveling, sewing, home improvement projects, learning different languages and spending time with family.

Sheila Murphy, School Counselor 

I am looking forward to joining the Sunrise Valley Elementary School community this September as the part time counselor. I began my school counseling career in Prince William county and have had the opportunity to be a counselor in Kansas and in an International school in Beijing, China before moving to Fairfax County.  For the last 11 years I have been a counselor at Forest Edge ES. I received my Masters in Counselor Education from San Diego State University and my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Mary Washington College. My role as a counselor revolves around my belief that each student is important and uniquely contributes to his/her classroom and the school.  I am passionate about teaching kids to accept and respect themselves and others and for them to recognize that school is a safe place for them to practice and learn life skills.

My husband and I have two children and live in Vienna. When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places, walking our two yellow labs and volunteering.