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TLES,
It is with bittersweet emotion and tremendous pride that I share with you that our wonderful Mrs.Shele Banford has been named the principal of London Towne Elementary School in Centreville, VA. Mrs. Banford has been an amazing member of the TLES family for the last four years. She has made us all better educators, students, co-workers and human beings through her instructional leadership, her kindness and dedication to supporting all stakeholders with unwavering excellence.
Needless to say, we will all miss Mrs. Banford, yet we are thrilled for the London Towne Elementary community who is getting one of the best! Mrs. Banford's first day at London Towne will be July 1st, so we will get to end this school year celebrating not only our students and teachers, but also Mrs. Banford's time at TLES. This news will be shared with students through our morning announcements. To help them process it, we kindly ask that you also share it with your child at home. Please join me in thanking Mrs. Banford and in wishing her the very best as she starts this new journey as principal.
We're committed to finding the perfect fit for our assistant principal position. We'll conduct a thorough search to ensure we identify the best candidate. I'll keep you updated on our progress as we move forward.
Sincerely,
Ben Chiet, Principal
Below is the email that Becky Baenig, the Region 5 Assistant Superintendent sent out to the London Towne community:
Sent on behalf of Rebecca Baenig, Assistant Superintendent, Region 5
The Region 5 Leadership Team is pleased to announce that Ms. Shele Banford has been named the new principal of London Towne Elementary School.
Ms. Banford currently serves as an assistant principal at Timber Lane Elementary School, a Title I school, where she has positively impacted students, staff and families for four years. At Timber Lane, Ms. Banford collaborated with the leadership team to enhance the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), leading to significant improvements in student achievement. She also partnered with the FCPS ESOL office to improve English Language Learners’ performance in mathematics and writing through targeted instructional strategies and professional development. She led the inception of Timber Lanes’ Very Important Partners (VIP) Program to enhance family involvement in the school community. Additionally, Ms. Banford led efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism by building strong relationships with families and implementing effective tracking systems.
Prior to her role at Timber Lane, Ms. Banford was a Central Literacy Resource Teacher and a Literacy Collaborative District Trainer where she provided extensive training and support to school-based coaches, promoting a comprehensive approach to literacy instruction. In addition, she facilitated the design and delivery of district-wide professional development sessions, including the Summer Literacy Symposium.
Ms. Banford's connection to London Towne Elementary School runs deep, having previously served as a Literacy Collaborative Coach and Reading Resource Teacher at our school. During her tenure, she enhanced literacy practices resulting in consistent literacy instruction, improved student achievement and increased teacher efficacy. She also streamlined the Responsive Instruction process to better address academic and behavioral concerns.
Ms. Banford has been recognized for her outstanding leadership and excellence in FCPS. She was named the FCPS McLean Pyramid Outstanding Leader in 2024. She was nominated for FCPS Outstanding Leader in 2021 and Outstanding First Year Teacher in 2004.
Ms. Banford holds an Administration and Supervision Certification K-12 from the University of Virginia, a Master of Science, Reading and Literacy from Capella University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Regis University.
Ms. Banford began her teaching career at London Towne, where she taught 1st and 3rd grades, making her return as principal a full-circle moment in her career. We are confident that Ms. Banford’s extensive experience, dedication to student success, and collaborative leadership style will greatly benefit the London Towne Elementary School community. Her proven track record in improving student outcomes and engaging families aligns with the school’s mission and values. Ms. Banford resides in Vienna with her two daughters, a rising sophomore and a graduating senior. When she’s not at school, she enjoys spending time with family, time outdoors, and traveling.
Please join us in welcoming Shele Banford back to London Towne Elementary School as our new principal. We look forward to working together to continue fostering a positive and thriving educational environment for all students. Her start date will be July 1, 2024.
Rebecca Baenig
Region 5 Assistant Superintendent
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