Annandale Community Insider - Newly Promoted Atoms!

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 team members who have been promoted or are stepping into new leadership roles across FCPS and beyond. 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: 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!

Dr. Sarah Eqab - Principal: Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Eqab on her promotion to Principal at Poe Middle School! Sarah has served as an Assistant Principal at Annandale High School, where she played a pivotal role in supporting instructional leadership, cultivating a positive school culture, and leading equity-centered initiatives. Her deep commitment to student achievement and staff collaboration made her an invaluable member of our leadership team. Sarah’s passion for inclusive education, paired with her strong relationships across the Annandale community, leaves a lasting legacy. While we will miss her tremendously, we are incredibly proud of this next step in her journey and confident that she will continue to inspire excellence at Poe Middle School.

Mary Burke (Johnson) - Assistant Principal: Congratulations to Mary Burke (Johnson) on her promotion to Assistant Principal at Fairfax Villa Elementary! Mary has served as the English Instructional Coach at Annandale High School, where she provided exceptional leadership in curriculum development, instructional support, and professional learning. Her dedication to fostering literacy across content areas and her collaborative approach to coaching have had a lasting impact on both teachers and students. Mary’s thoughtful leadership, commitment to equity, and passion for student growth have enriched our school community. We are excited for her as she begins this new chapter and confident that she will continue to make a meaningful difference in her new role at Fairfax Villa.

Dr. Hanna Langstein - Assistant Principal: Congratulations to Dr. Hanna Langstein, who has accepted an Assistant Principal position at Halley Elementary School as she pursues her goal of becoming an elementary school principal. During her time at Annandale High School, Hanna brought a student-centered approach to her leadership, building strong relationships and supporting a range of initiatives that promoted academic success and schoolwide well-being. Her positive energy, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to student growth have made a lasting impact on our school community. We are proud of Hanna for taking this next step toward her professional aspirations and know she will bring the same enthusiasm and excellence to her new role at Halley Elementary.

McClain Herman - Instructional Coach: Congratulations to McClain Herman on her promotion to Instructional Coach at Glasgow Middle School! McClain has been an English teacher at Annandale High School, where she also served as the English 11 Team Lead. Her leadership in curriculum planning, collaborative team support, and instructional strategy has had a meaningful impact on both students and colleagues. We’re excited to see McClain bring her expertise and passion for teaching to her new role and know she will thrive in this next chapter at Glasgow.

Laurie Ottehenning - Educational Specialist: Congratulations to Laurie Ottehenning on her promotion to Educational Specialist for Student Mental Health in the Office of Special Services. Laurie has served as a dedicated School Psychologist at Annandale High School, where she has been a vital member of our student support team. Her expertise, compassion, and collaborative approach have made a lasting impact on students, families, and staff. We are incredibly proud of Laurie’s continued commitment to supporting student well-being and know she will bring tremendous value to her new role at the division level.