New Superintendent Announced by School Board

FALLS CHURCH CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNICATIONS
Special to the Falls Church Times

March 31, 2011

Falls Church Selects Nationally Recognized Education Leader as Next FCCPS Superintendent

“I can promise the community of Falls Church that I will always be focused on what is best for our children!” – Dr. Toni Jones

After an extensive, nationwide search, the Falls Church City School Board today announced the selection of Dr. Toni Jones, currently the Chief Academic Officer for Deer Creek Public Schools in Oklahoma, as the new Superintendent of Schools for Falls Church City Public Schools. 

“The School Board is honored and delighted that Dr. Toni Jones will assume the helm of our school division, continuing our commitment to provide all students in the City with a world-class education,” School Board Chairman Joan Wodiska said. “Dr. Jones is a proven, effective, and innovative leader in public education.  She has the talent and vision to help ensure the quality, collaboration, and results our community expects from our public schools.” 

Honoring and building on Falls Church’s strong tradition of community and staff engagement, Jones will begin to meet FCCPS staff and community members as she transitions into her new position.  Jones will be introduced to staff and community members through a series of meetings scheduled for April 11 and 12.  After officially signing her contract at the April 12 School Board meeting, Jones will be introduced to staff and community members through a video message and letter. 

Dr. Jones will officially start on June 13 and commence her duties as Superintendent on July 1, succeeding Dr. Lois Berlin, who announced her retirement earlier this year.  

“The School Board is deeply grateful for the tremendous input from the community and staff on this important decision.  Such input directly informed and drove the School Board’s decision to hire Jones,” Wodiska said.   

As part of the Superintendent search process, the School Board conducted six public hearings, an online survey for staff, and an online survey for the community.  The Board also created a website to gather additional community and staff feedback and sought community input on the development of the criteria to evaluate Superintendent candidates.  In total, more than 550 individuals, including Falls Church parents, school employees, and community members, responded to the School Board’s detailed and thorough survey.  As the search moved forward earlier this year, the School Board convened a Community Panel to assist in the interviews of potential candidates. 

Recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards as a leader who “Promotes Accomplished Teaching,” Dr. Jones currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer for Deer Creek (OK) Public Schools where she has served in a variety of senior leadership positions for the past 13 years.  Under Jones’ leadership, Deer Creek – recognized by many as the top school district in Oklahoma – has grown from 1,200 students to almost 4,000.

She brings a vast array of experience that spans more than two decades, having served as an elementary teacher, special education teacher, elementary principal, secondary school principal, and district K-12 curriculum and instructional technology administrator.  She has worked on various aspects of more than eight large-scale school construction projects, and she has been a district leader on multi-million-dollar strategic planning.  

Prior to joining Deer Creek, Jones worked in Sydney, Australia as a teacher and administrator at SCECGS Redlands, a diverse and dynamic international school community.  Her career began in Reno, Nevada, as a multi-age teacher serving primarily an economically disadvantaged student population. 

“Jones has served in virtually every position available in a K-12 school division, and those experiences should help her acclimate quickly to Falls Church City Public Schools,” Wodiska said.  “She has spent the past 13 years helping lead a high-performing, small school district like Falls Church.  And with her experiences in everything from e-learning to special education to school construction, she brings both experience and knowledge in all of the major school issues currently facing our City.”

 “I am energized and humbled by this opportunity, and I can’t wait to embrace the community of Falls Church as we work collaboratively to make sure that our schools continue to build on a tradition of excellence that is highly regarded in Virginia, across the nation, and around the world,” Jones said. “Falls Church is the only school district I can see leaving my home of Oklahoma for.  I absolutely love what I do on a daily basis, and I can promise the community of Falls Church that I will always be focused on what is best for our children!”   

Dr. Jones brings with her a deep understanding of curriculum and instruction.  Her accomplishments include national recognition for technology integration K-12, implementing e-learning options, and seamlessly infusing a district wide data system for monitoring student learning.  She has a specific strength for developing programs to target and assist struggling learners, while maintaining an environment that is rich in content and opportunity for all students, including a focus on gifted education.

She holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, and a master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from Charles Sturt University in Australia.  Dr. Jones obtained administrative credentials from the University of Oklahoma, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK.

Art is All Around April 1 — No Fooling

The April Fool’s weekend starts off with several visual art exhibits on FIRSTfriday, April 1, at various venues throughout the City including: Art and Frame of Falls Church (111 Park Avenue), Stifel & Capra (260 West Broad Street), Curves (240 W. Broad Street), and Stacy’s Coffee Parlor (709 West Broad Street).  See www.FIRSTfridayofFallsChurch.com for more information.

Letters is Falls Church Arts’ latest exhibit in the gallery at ArtSpace Falls Church (410 S. Maple Avenue).  See the works juried into this show that asked artists to create and interpret LETTERS. The result is a wide variety of art in media ranging from paint to paper to fiber and photos. Gallery hours Friday, 5 to 7 pm and Saturday, 4 to 7 pm. See www.FallsChurchArts.org for details.

Make your own art at Clay Café Studios (101 N. Maple Avenue).  During the FIRSTfriday reception from 6 to 9 pm, decorate a free ceramic egg and you’ll have it in time for Easter.

Creative Cauldron continues performances of “The Selfish Giant” on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm at ArtSpace Falls Church (410 S. Maple Avenue). The play is an adaptation of an Oscar Wilde story that he wrote for his sons.  It features original music and a large-scale puppet.  The cast includes Helen Hayes Award-winning actor, Stephen Gregory Smith and student performers from Creative Cauldron’s Learning Theater program.  See www.CreativeCauldron.org for tickets.

Music lovers have choices all weekend with Irish music at Ireland’s Four Provinces Restaurant (105 W. Broad Street) and dance music at Dogwood Tavern (132 West Broad Street) both Friday and Saturday nights.  The State Theatre (220 North Washington Street) features rock/goth music by Peter Murphy on Friday night and The Clarks on Saturday night.

Blues lovers can hear – or play – all weekend at Bangkok Blues (926 West Broad Street) with bands performing Friday and  Saturday nights and an open Blues Jam Sunday evening starting at 6:00 pm.

Art is everywhere this weekend in The Little City of Falls Church.  No fooling.