Congratulations 2024-2025 SEPTA Excellence Award Winners!

Fairfax, VA — May 21, 2025 — We are thrilled to share the winners of Fairfax County SEPTA’s 2024-2025 Excellence Awards! These awards recognize the students, staff, and community members who see, value, and celebrate our children for their strengths – while also supporting their needs. To see a list of all of this year’s nominees, click here. Nominees – thank you for all you do every day to celebrate and support our students!

The annual SEPTA Excellence Awards ceremony was held on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025, at Fairfax Church of Christ – the perfect way to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week! SEPTA received approximately 200 nominations from schools across all grade levels in FCPS. Please join us in congratulating all of our nominees and winners!

The evening was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we work together to ensure all students are included and have an opportunity to thrive. I left inspired by the remarkable stories shared and grateful for the tireless efforts of SEPTA and its members in building a more equitable and supportive school community.

~Karl Frisch, School Board Chair

2024–2025 Excellence Award Winners:

• Outstanding Student: Ads Annessa
• Community Champion: Master Dumont Fearon-Price, Life Champ Martial Arts & Centreville Dance Academy
• Abbie Bachmore Memorial Inclusion Award: Lily Nguyen
• Outstanding Administrator, Elementary: Emily Cope, Hunters Woods ES
• Outstanding Administrator, Secondary: Jamese Herring-Barker, Special Education Dept. Chair, Hayfield SS
• Outstanding Support Staff: Mirna Oliveira, Bus Driver
• Outstanding Central Office Staff: Bethany Demers, Specialist, Student Health & Wellness
• Outstanding Co-Curricular Staff: Kannan Cangro, Librarian, Clermont ES
• Outstanding Co-Teaching Team: Meghan Walsh & Yanilka Cespedes, Preschool Autism Classroom, Aldrin ES
• Outstanding School-Based Inclusive Program: Ballin’ with Buddies – Rolling Valley ES, Irving MS, South County HS & West Springfield HS
• Outstanding General Education Teacher, Elementary:
  Christine Waters, Union Mill ES
• Outstanding General Education Teacher, Secondary:
  Melissa Holmes, Hayfield SS
• Outstanding Related Service Provider:
  Jarrod Wallace, Social Worker, Justice HS
• Outstanding Instructional Support Staff:
  Timothy Evans, Rose Hill ES
  Asmae Loukili, Rose Hill ES
• Outstanding Special Education Teacher, Preschool:
  Laure Grove, Terra Centre ES
• Mark Stewart Memorial Award for Outstanding Special Education Teacher, Elementary: Erin Byrum, Fox Mill ES & Adam Orton, Aldrin ES
• Outstanding Special Education Teacher, Secondary:
  Donna Waiss, Lake Braddock SS
• SEPTA Superhero Award (Volunteer of the Year): Emily Sachdev
• Special Educator of the Year, Preschool: Lori Murphy, Colin Powell ES
• Special Educator of the Year, Elementary: Margaret Lowe, Terra Centre ES
• Special Educator of the Year, Secondary: Julie Landry, Hayfield SS

These awards celebrate the extraordinary efforts of FCPS educators, staff, schools, and community members who make a lasting impact on our students with disabilities. […] This is critical work which touches on many parts of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, including Goal 2 (Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered), Pillar A (Differentiated and Culturally Responsive Learning Environments) and Pillar B (Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships). Go Team FCPS!!
~Dr. Michelle Reid, Superintendent

Thank you to Fairfax Church of Christ for being our hosts and providing A/V support!

Thank you to all of the elected officials and FCPS Leadership who attended to support our nominees and awardees: Delegate Laura Jane Cohen, Delegate Kathy Tran, Supervisor James Walkinshaw, School Board Chair Karl Frisch, School Board Vice Chair Sandy Anderson, School Board members Ryan McElveen and Rachna Sizemore Heizer, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS Chief of Schools Dr. Geovanny Ponce, and FCPS Asst. Superintendent of the Dept. of Special Services Dr. Terri Edmunds-Heard

Thank you to the students and faculty of Davis Center for providing the delicious desserts for the evening, and Trader Joe’s for donating the flowers!

Thank you to Emma Shelley for donating your photography services for the event!

Finally, thank you to the SEPTA Board and volunteers, without whom this beautiful event would not have been possible!