Support Staff

Mrs. BarnesReading Resource Teacher Mrs. Barnes is a proud Coates Star since Fall 2018. During her time here she has taught 1st grade. She is now one of our school's resource teachers and testing coordinators. In the future she hopes to be an administrator. In Mrs. Barnes free time she loves to read and hang out with her family. She is originally from eastern Pennsylvania and still visits there often. Her favorite place is the beach!
Ms. BrennanReading Specialist Ms. Brennan has been an educator in Fairfax County Schools for over 15 years. She has taught 2nd-5th grade, been a Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach. Most recently, she was a Literacy Collaborative Coach at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary in Alexandria. She is passionate about seeing students succeed and loves to help kids connect with books. She has many favorites that she would love to share with you; just ask!
Mrs. BuckAART Mrs. Buck joined the Coates team in 2015 as a math specialist. Previously, she started her teaching career in Ohio as a first grade teacher. She then moved to New England and taught middle school math and science. Finally, she moved to Virginia to begin her FCPS teaching career and in 2004 she obtained her Virginia Gifted Education Endorsement. She is excited to get back to this side of teaching! Mrs. Buck graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio with her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and obtained her master’s degree from NOVA Southeastern University. Mrs. Buck loves math; but it was time for a change. This will be her first year as an Advanced Academic Resource Teacher. She has two boys in high school and her oldest, a daughter, in her second year at UVA. In her free time, she loves to travel all over the world. Her most recent trip took her to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!
Ms. GravesInterventionalist Ms. Graves is excited to join the Coates community as a reading and math interventionist. Born and raised in Fairfax County, she brings ten years of classroom teaching experience within Fairfax County Public Schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech (“Go Hokies!”) and her master’s degree from Marymount University. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time at Bethany Beach and cheering on the Washington Commanders and Capitals.
Mrs. HerringSchool Based Technology Specialist Mrs. Herring joined the Coates family in 2020. Before becoming an SBTS, she was a classroom teacher for 14 years. She loves helping teachers and students effectively use technology to focus on Portrait of a Graduate skills. Mrs. Herring graduated from Clemson University. One of her favorite things to do is watch the Tigers play. When she is not at school she loves spending time with her family - her husband and 3 children. They love sports, especially baseball, hockey, and golf.
Mrs. JacksonMath Coach Ms. Jackson grew up in Fairfax County, attending Wolftrap Elementary School in Vienna and has been teaching in Fairfax County Schools for 9 years. She has taught 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Ms. Jackson completed her undergrad at UNC Greensboro, and finished graduate school at George Mason University. When she is not at school she loves going to the park with her kids and puppy, Milo.
Mrs. KnottsLiteracy Coach Mrs. Knotts joined the Coates staff in 2014. She has taught preschool and 2nd grade, and is excited to part of the Reading team this year! When she is not at school she loves to spend time with her husband and sons, play board games and curl up with a good book.
Ms. MeshankoBehavioral Coach Ms. Meshanko is from Pittsburgh, PA and loves her hometown teams (Go Steelers and Pens) ! She has been working in Fairfax county for the past 12 years. She is excited for her second year as a behavior coach at Coates. When she is not at school, she loves spending time with friends and family, playing tennis and volleyball, and snuggling with her cat, Zyp.
Mrs. RoweInstructional Coach Mrs. Rowe joined the Coates community as an Instructional Coach. Born and raised in Oregon, she graduated from the University of Oregon with her undergraduate degree and made the move east to earn her masters degree from Boston University. Prior to her time in Virginia, Mrs. Rowe taught in Boston and developed a love for baseball and the Red Sox. She loves watching college football, professional baseball and basketball with her puppy, Fenway, and enjoy walking outside with her family.
Ms. TravisBehavioral Coach Ms. Travis is a Herndon native and loves being back to serve her hometown community! After receiving both her undergraduate and masters degrees from James Madison University, she joined Fairfax County Public Schools and has happily been teaching here for 17 years. Ms. Travis has taught 1st grade, special education, and is entering her 9th year as a behavior coach. When she is not at school, she loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family and dog.

Mrs. BarnesReading Resource Teacher

Mrs. Barnes is a proud Coates Star since Fall 2018. During her time here she has taught 1st grade. She is now one of our school's resource teachers and testing coordinators. In the future she hopes to be an administrator. In Mrs. Barnes free time she loves to read and hang out with her family. She is originally from eastern Pennsylvania and still visits there often. Her favorite place is the beach!

Ms. BrennanReading Specialist

Ms. Brennan has been an educator in Fairfax County Schools for over 15 years. She has taught 2nd-5th grade, been a Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach. Most recently, she was a Literacy Collaborative Coach at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary in Alexandria. She is passionate about seeing students succeed and loves to help kids connect with books. She has many favorites that she would love to share with you; just ask!

Mrs. BuckAART

Mrs. Buck joined the Coates team in 2015 as a math specialist. Previously, she started her teaching career in Ohio as a first grade teacher. She then moved to New England and taught middle school math and science. Finally, she moved to Virginia to begin her FCPS teaching career and in 2004 she obtained her Virginia Gifted Education Endorsement. She is excited to get back to this side of teaching! Mrs. Buck graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio with her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and obtained her master’s degree from NOVA Southeastern University. Mrs. Buck loves math; but it was time for a change. This will be her first year as an Advanced Academic Resource Teacher. She has two boys in high school and her oldest, a daughter, in her second year at UVA. In her free time, she loves to travel all over the world. Her most recent trip took her to Costa Rica. Pura Vida!

Ms. GravesInterventionalist

Ms. Graves is excited to join the Coates community as a reading and math interventionist. Born and raised in Fairfax County, she brings ten years of classroom teaching experience within Fairfax County Public Schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech (“Go Hokies!”) and her master’s degree from Marymount University. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time at Bethany Beach and cheering on the Washington Commanders and Capitals.

Mrs. HerringSchool Based Technology Specialist

Mrs. Herring joined the Coates family in 2020. Before becoming an SBTS, she was a classroom teacher for 14 years. She loves helping teachers and students effectively use technology to focus on Portrait of a Graduate skills. Mrs. Herring graduated from Clemson University. One of her favorite things to do is watch the Tigers play. When she is not at school she loves spending time with her family - her husband and 3 children. They love sports, especially baseball, hockey, and golf.

Mrs. JacksonMath Coach

Ms. Jackson grew up in Fairfax County, attending Wolftrap Elementary School in Vienna and has been teaching in Fairfax County Schools for 9 years. She has taught 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Ms. Jackson completed her undergrad at UNC Greensboro, and finished graduate school at George Mason University. When she is not at school she loves going to the park with her kids and puppy, Milo.

Mrs. KnottsLiteracy Coach

Mrs. Knotts joined the Coates staff in 2014. She has taught preschool and 2nd grade, and is excited to part of the Reading team this year! When she is not at school she loves to spend time with her husband and sons, play board games and curl up with a good book.

Ms. MeshankoBehavioral Coach

Ms. Meshanko is from Pittsburgh, PA and loves her hometown teams (Go Steelers and Pens) ! She has been working in Fairfax county for the past 12 years. She is excited for her second year as a behavior coach at Coates. When she is not at school, she loves spending time with friends and family, playing tennis and volleyball, and snuggling with her cat, Zyp.

Mrs. RoweInstructional Coach

Mrs. Rowe joined the Coates community as an Instructional Coach. Born and raised in Oregon, she graduated from the University of Oregon with her undergraduate degree and made the move east to earn her masters degree from Boston University. Prior to her time in Virginia, Mrs. Rowe taught in Boston and developed a love for baseball and the Red Sox. She loves watching college football, professional baseball and basketball with her puppy, Fenway, and enjoy walking outside with her family.

Ms. TravisBehavioral Coach

Ms. Travis is a Herndon native and loves being back to serve her hometown community! After receiving both her undergraduate and masters degrees from James Madison University, she joined Fairfax County Public Schools and has happily been teaching here for 17 years. Ms. Travis has taught 1st grade, special education, and is entering her 9th year as a behavior coach. When she is not at school, she loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family and dog.