When the new school year begins, there’ll be a new leader at Daniels Run Elementary. Bringing more than 20 years’ experience in education with her, Susan Mullen will take the helm as principal of this Fairfax City school.
Making the announcement of her hiring during an online meeting last Tuesday, July 9, to the Daniels Run community were Fairfax County Public Schools Region 5 Assistant Superintendent Rebecca Baenig and City of Fairfax Schools Superintendent Jeff Platenberg.
In May, the school system announced that Daniels Run Principal Chris Smith would be leaving his post there to become the new principal at the City’s Katherine Johnson Middle School. He’s succeeding Tammy Sillipigni, who’d earlier told school officials that she planned to retire on July 1.
Regarding Mullen’s most recent experience in school administration, she comes to Daniels Run from Loudoun County Public Schools. There she served at John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary School as an administrator since 2012 and as principal since 2016.
She received a degree from George Washington University and dual master’s degrees from Chapman University and George Mason University in educational curriculum and instruction and education in leadership. And Platenberg is delighted that she’s now bringing her expertise to Fairfax.
“We are thrilled to have Susan Mullen join the City of Fairfax Schools community, and we welcome her to Daniels Run Elementary School,” he said. “She brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm with her, and we are excited to begin a new school year with such a talented leader.”