Interim Superintendent Lois F. Berlin has appointed Rachael Dischner principal of the new West End Elementary School that will open in fall 2018.
Dischner is currently the principal of the new pre-K center at John Adams Elementary School, where she has been instrumental in working with school administrators and ACPS facilities staff on the physical and instructional design of both the new pre-K center and the new West End Elementary School.
Dischner was previously an assistant principal at Randolph Elementary School in Arlington Public Schools and a special education coordinator for Child Find in Arlington before her move into elementary education. She began her career as a special education teacher in Ventura County, California.
Dischner has a master’s degree in educational leadership from George Mason University and a certificate in special education from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. She also has multiple postgraduate professional licenses including Administration and Supervision Pre-K -12, Early Childhood Special Education, Emotional Disturbance K-12, Intellectual Disabilities K-12 and Specific Learning Disabilities K-12.
“In our search for a principal for the West End Elementary School, it became clear that we already had a leader within ACPS who is an ideal match for this role. Ms. Dischner has been working closely with facilities staff to plan both the West End Elementary School and the Early Childhood Education Center at John Adams Elementary School. Her invaluable contributions to both projects, and her extensive involvement with the West End community and schools, make her the best candidate for the position,” said Interim Superintendent Lois F. Berlin.
Dischner’s work with the administrators, staff, students and families on the West End make her uniquely qualified to serve as the principal for the West End Elementary School. She has been deeply engaged in the West End community—attending principal chats, participating in meetings with parents and conducting walkthroughs with teachers as part of her work towards the new pre-K center. The relationships that she has forged within each of these communities will be especially beneficial in facilitating a smooth transition for families and staff as the new school comes online and the redistricting process gets underway.
“I am excited to be a part of the launch of the first new elementary school in Alexandria in 17 years. My role as the principal of the new school is a natural extension of the work that I’ve been doing over the past several months towards the creation of the pre-K center. I look forward to continuing my work with administrators and families in the West End as we bring the school online next fall,” said Dischner.
The opening of the new West End Elementary School at 1701 N. Beauregard Street coincides with ACPS plans to implement new school boundaries in the fall of 2018. The first four floors of the building will be used for the new 650-seat elementary school, while the top two floors will be used as office space by ACPS. Outdoor play space, including a basketball court, will be added on the roof of the adjacent parking garage at 1705 N. Beauregard Street, with a raised walkway from the school to allow for easy and secure student and staff access. The new school will be the first in ACPS since 2000. The process to determine the name of the new school is underway with suggestions being accepted online through January 3.
Dischner will start in the role on January 2.