New principals have been named to lead Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy and Patrick Henry Elementary School. Alexandria Superintendent Rebecca L. Perry made the announcement last week after the School Board meeting.
Coleen Mann will be the new principal at Patrick Henry and Patricia Zissios will head Lyles-Crouch. The Patrick Henry vacancy was created when Marcia Baldanza left to take on the challenges as principal at Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics and the Lyles-Crouch vacancy was created when Lucretia Jackson agreed to assume leadership at Maury Elementary School. Both Lyles-Crouch and Patrick Henry are accredited while Jefferson-Houston and Maury are not.
MANN HAS been a teacher at the elementary and secondary levels for 24 years and was an assistant principal at T. C. Williams High School from 1998 to 2001. For the past three years, she has worked in the San Francisco Unified School District as principal of John Swett Elementary School, a culturally diverse visual and performing arts focus school. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Howard University, a master’s degree in public administration from the American University and a doctoral degree in educational administration from Nova Southeastern University.
“We are delighted Dr. Mann has returned to Alexandria to continue making a difference in the lives of students,” Perry said.
ZISSIOS HAS spent the past 31 years in the Prince William and Fairfax County school systems as a teacher and principal. For the last six years, she has served as the principal of Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield, where she established a core knowledge focus, which is the philosophy behind Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy. She received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Longwood University, a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision and a doctoral degree in educational administration from George Mason University.
“With her background, Dr. Zissios is well prepared to assume the leadership at Lyles-Crouch,” Perry said.
Perry angered many parents at Lyles-Crouch when she transferred Jackson to Maury without seeking their input. Parents were involved in Zissios’ selection and said that she was the committee’s first choice.