Recipient	FCPS Cares Submission
Chef Cynthia Stowers  Chef Carlos D'Alvano	I would like to recognize Chef Carlos D’Alvano and Chef Cynthia Stowers, two exceptional educators whom I appreciate both as a colleague and as a parent of a South Lakes student. When I began working at South Lakes ten years ago, I was told one of the best perks of our school was the Culinary Arts program. It did not take long for me to see why. Beyond the convenience of not packing lunch and being continually impressed by the incredible meals our students prepare, what truly stands out is the professional environment these teachers cultivate. Students are not just learning how to cook — they are developing leadership, communication, customer service, attention to detail, and the ability to perform under pressure. These are lifelong, transferable skills that will serve them well in any career path. When my son was in 8th grade, I “dragged” him to the curriculum fair to explore elective options. Culinary Arts was not initially on his radar — until a smiling student handed him a chocolate truffle. He was quickly won over by Chef D’Alvano’ s positivity and enthusiasm and decided to enroll in Intro to Culinary. Throughout that year, he genuinely loved the class. As a bonus, I occasionally benefited from the samples he brought me (staff don’t usually get Intro to Culinary food). Chef D’Alvano consistently encouraged him and helped build both his skills and his confidence. After that first year, my son was so committed to continuing in the program that he took PE over the summer to make room for Culinary 1 in his sophomore schedule. Under Chef Stowers’s guidance, he has continued to grow tremendously — not just in culinary technique, but in planning, teamwork, and problem-solving. He is still working on putting food and dishes away at home, but hopefully he will get there without me having to say, “Clean up like Chef standards!” Recently, while waiting outside the kitchen before a Valentine’s treat pickup (I was instructed to be first in line!), I could hear Chef Stowers joking with students as she prepared them for service. She models the perfect balance of maintaining high expectations while fostering a joyful, supportive classroom culture. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a strong Culinary Arts program at South Lakes. Chef D’Alvano and Chef Stowers are true gems who create meaningful learning experiences and help students thrive both in and beyond the kitchen.
Heather Thomas	Heather Thomas, South Lakes Director of Student Services is a forward-thinking, empathetic leader who creates an environment where students and families feel supported, heard, and empowered to succeed. She is always looking to better serve our community and communicate important information and resources so that families can make the best choices for their children. Her leadership is rooted in compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to student growth. She consistently inspires the school counseling team to perform at our very best. Heather pushes our team to grow while always making sure we feel valued and supported.
Natalie Hill	Natalie Hill is an exceptional employee in our SPED Department. When most people were enjoying a relaxing snow day, Natalie was busy notifying parents of cancelled SPED meetings and letting staff know of potential rescheduling. She was also scheduling, and reworking the calendar over and over again with each closing and delay announcement. This went on for several weeks and she did it all professionally and respectfully, being mindful of parents and staff needs. Also while providing support and taking part in her normal end-of-quarter duties with staff. It is because of her that we have been able to handle this massive wrench in our ability to stay in compliance with our SPED meetings. She is invaluable to the South Lakes SPED department.
Oliver Goodridge	Mr. Goodridge... has been a treasure to work with for several years. He has always been quick to answer any questions or concerns regarding scheduling, college questions or questions I'm not sure where to place-he will find the answer! Most recently, Mr. Goodridge has been incredibly helpful as my child has faced significant medical challenges. He has helped develop creative solutions and ideas so my child can continue to learn at home. Not only did he help coordinate getting an extended leave with a doctor, but he has also helped my child work with his teachers during this difficult time. His kindness is greatly appreciated, and he's a major asset to everyone at South Lakes High.
Alena Andrews	I'm not sure how Alena finds the energy to raise her own four children. She puts 110% of herself into each and every school day. She cares deeply about her own students in her classes, as well as her fellow teachers, staff, and school environment. She goes above and beyond on a daily basis. Whether it is walking through the halls even when it isn't her IPR, or taking on the task of Industry Certifications for the CTE department, or communicating details of emails to peers, we can all depend on Alena to take on tasks with energy and dedication. She is detail-oriented, and commits herself to designing creative lesson plans, engaging her students, and maintaining rigor. South Lakes High School is a better school because of the work that Alena does.
Ileana Cerda	Ms. Cerda exemplifies exceptional dedication and compassion in her service to the SLHS community. She consistently goes above and beyond her daily responsibilities, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the well-being of every student. Ms. Cerda provides meals to those in need, assists with personal care, translates for families, and helps coordinate transportation to ensure students arrive safely and supported. Her selflessness, reliability, and genuine love for others shine through in all that she does. Even when faced with challenges, she responds with grace, patience, and empathy. Ms. Cerda is truly a gift and a blessing—SLHS is deeply fortunate to have her as part of its family.
Linda Frantz	Linda Frantz went above and beyond to help me out on a busy Friday afternoon when she absolutely did not have to! While trying to prepare materials for teachers to return to the building, I asked her if she knew where the laminator was. Instead of simply telling me where it was, she helped me track it down (it had been moved over the summer and we couldn't find it), helped me figure out how load it, laminate over 150 individual pieces of paper and cut them out! This took over an hour and she was absolutely not expecting to spend this much time helping me out -- especially the Friday before Teacher Week!! I was so overwhelmed on this day and she helped make a task that could have taken me hours *so* much lighter! I appreciate Linda so much for helping me out and I feel so lucky to have her on our staff!
Binh Phan	The lasting impact of our former Building Supervisor, Binh Phan, is truly remarkable. Though he’s now at South Lakes High School, his dedication to Timber Lane Elementary hasn’t wavered, and his ongoing support has been invaluable to our school community. Binh has been a great mentor to our new building supervisor, offering guidance on everything from facility management and maintenance schedules to navigating district procedures. This continuous support has made for a smooth transition, helping our new supervisor confidently handle the demands of the job. Binh’s willingness to share his extensive knowledge and experience has been a cornerstone of our operational stability. Binh consistently steps up to help our staff with various needs. He has often facilitated the borrowing of resources, from cleaning materials to specialized tools for maintenance tasks. His proactive approach and generosity in sharing resources show his commitment to the entire FCPS community. Binh Phan is more than just a former colleague; he is a model of professionalism and a testament to the collaborative spirit of our district. His selflessness and willingness to support us on his own time demonstrate a rare level of dedication. He embodies the best qualities of a public servant, consistently putting the needs of others first. His continued support has not only made our jobs easier but has also fostered a stronger sense of community and teamwork.
Mackenzie Schmidt	I’d like to recognize Mrs. Schmidt for her exceptional dedication to her students. She goes above and beyond to recognize their strengths and build relationships that help them feel seen, heard, valued, and supported. Additionally, she takes the initiative to share these strengths with their parents. This was exemplified last Friday afternoon when I received a Talking Points message she had sent to the parents of an entire class to share how hard the students had worked and what they had accomplished that day. As a parent, it's always wonderful to hear positive feedback, and I deeply appreciate her thoughtfulness at the end of a busy week.

Recipient	FCPS Cares Submission
Mie Devers	In less than a year of being at South Lakes, Mie has hit the ground running and shown how much she truly cares for each and every learner. The relationships she has built with students and families in the SLHS community are evident in the positivity she exudes and the fact that so many students feel a sense of safety and belonging around her. She has gone above and beyond to help with chronic absenteeism rates at South Lakes, staying late after school and even on the weekends to help students make up instructional time. Mie is a literal "ray of sunshine" in our building -- everyone smiles the moment they hear her voice on the loud speaker because she exudes encouragement and energy. Mie simply makes everyone's day BETTER! We could not be happier or luckier to have her on our team. She is a problem-solver, always looking ahead and thinking about what is possible -- and most importantly, she's an enthusiastic cheerleader for our students! Thank you, Mie, for being an FCPS administrator, leader, and colleague who CARES!
Tiffany L Welborn	Ms. Welborn is a force of nature as a teacher. A constant presence in the morning hallway before class, she brings joy and energy to every student interaction and takes time to check in with all of her students whenever she sees them. She remembers little details about each child and makes them feel validated and special. Recently, while working on an annual IEP for a student, she identified a group of additional supports that her student could benefit from that had previously been ruled out. Ms. Welborn went straight to work writing letters and advocating for the opportunities that she felt would best meet her student's needs. Thanks to her efforts, her student received the programming that is right for her, and the student learned a valuable lesson in the power of advocating for her needs. FCPS is lucky to have a passionate and committed advocate like Tiffany Welborn!
Desiree Satterfield	My daughter was struggling to understand what and how to submit items for the MYP program. Rather than only respond to her email, Ms. Satterfield went out of her way to pull her aside and walk her through all the steps to make sure she knew what to do. She was very kind and understanding!
Stephanie Ingram	Stephanie is a new counselor at South Lakes HS this year. She helped my son Evan transition back to school after a traumatic injury. Stephanie was patient, kind, and thoughtful. She offered solutions to help make his return to school successful. As a parent, I felt supported and appreciated Stephanie's support and compassion.
Maurice Hirsh	As a former colleague and from a current parent perspective...Maurice is a bright spot in the SLHS community. He has a kindness about him that radiates into his interactions with students and staff. Last year was Maurice's first year at SLHS. It's always hard to be the new person, but he fit right in. Working with him in our sub-school, I was able to learn by his example. I was able to look at challenges from a different perspective and approach interactions differently. The patience that he showed with his "new" batch of students was amazing. He quickly became the "go-to" person for many of them, including some that weren't even assigned to him. Maurice is fluent in Spanish. I am not. As an ESOL counselor, that is an important aspect of his job. Many of the students would come into the our office needing assistance when he wasn't available. He helped me to begin to learn simple phrases that would help me in assuring that the students would feel comfortable communicating their need in his absence. He encouraged me and quizzed me on my knowledge, helping to build my confidence. From a parent perspective, he was wonderful with my own student. She would wait for me to finish my day and Maurice would always engage her in conversation about school and outside of school activities. Over the course of a few weeks, she became overly anxious about her Reading SOL for grade 11. She was stressing over it and Maurice would talk her through it. She passed it, undoubtedly in part from advice he gave her. She came to share the news and he was just as excited as she was. She felt seen and appreciated the care that he showed her. He made her feel like her stress and anxiety were not "silly teenager normalcy" but validated that even as grown-ups we feel that, too. She still talks about Mr. Hirsch's kindness. SLHS is so lucky to have him!
Kathleen Luongo	I can't express enough how grateful we are for all the guidance and support Kathy has provided to our son over the past three years. From the very beginning of his college research journey, she's been there to help him navigate the complexities of the process with dedication and expertise. Her open-door policy and willingness to assist at any moment have made a world of difference, giving him the confidence to pursue his college aspirations. We've come to know her well, and it's clear that her commitment to South Lakes HS students is truly exceptional. Thank you for everything you've done!
Cara Gottheim	Dr. Cara Gottheim is an incredible psychologist in our Comprehensive Services Site at South Lakes High School. She is always there to support, guide, and encourage the students and staff in our program, and she has also developed positive relationships with the family members of our students. Dr. Gottheim is trustworthy, kind, and calm, and people feel at ease in her presence. She utilizes the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach to help address the needs and concerns of students and staff, and she is an expert at facilitating meaningful dialogue. We all value and appreciate Dr. Gottheim, and we thank her for the important work she does every day.

Marco Rando

Visual Arts teacher Marco Rando was the recipient of the the 2025 ArtsFairfax Education Award ! This award recognizes artists and arts organizations that provide exceptional arts education opportunities and experiences. Mr. Rando has been a longstanding contributor to the local arts community in Reston and his work with students at SLHS since 2011 has had a lasting impact on alumni, inspiring them to come back year after year to help current students with their public art installations. Read more about Mr. Rando's work with students and this wonderful accomplishment in our feature about his recognition. 

Emily Burrell

South Lakes High School Math Teacher Emily Burrell received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teachingfrom President Biden! This award honors the vital role that America's teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators. As a result, she was honored with a proclamation from the Fairfax County School Board . To learn more about the details of her Presidential Award, see our feature about this magnificent accomplishment! 

Nia Ravenstahl

Special Education Teacher, Nia Ravenstahl, was nominated for a Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) Award for Outstanding Special Education Teacher - Secondary! This award highlights exceptional achievements in supporting students with disabilities and learning differences within Fairfax County Public Schools! Learn more about Nia's nomination in our Feature !

Alan Klingensmith

Business & Information Technology Teacher, published a book:  Teaching with AI - Transforming The Modern Classroom ! The book is aimed at helping teachers discover how to achieve better work-life balance with AI without compromising the quality of education their student receive! We are proud of Mr. Klingensmith for publishing his book and for being a leader in helping educators everywhere know what can be possible with AI!

Kim Moore

IB World History and Theory of Knowledge Teacher, Kim Moore, was the recipient of an IBMA Faculty Excellence Award in the amount of $200! This award is granted to a faculty member nominated by a coordinator in each of the four International Baccalaureate Programmes (Career-related, Diploma, Middle Years, and Primary Years) at each IBMA coordinator meeting. 

One of the many accolades about Kim from a colleague: 

"Kim has made me a better teacher.  After nine years of teaching World Topics with her, I have learned how to better incorporate thinking routines and reflection into my own teaching practices, and to be braver about trying new approaches and activities for lessons.  It’s amazing what you can do in the classroom when you have a colleague who is so supportive of wild ideas like Kim."

Read more about this award and the Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools on their website . 

Matt Ravenstahl & Claudia Harvey

Art teachers Mr. Ravenstahl and Mrs. Harvey have been working hard to grow an inclusive fine arts program for South Lakes High School students and were featured in several news outlets, including ABC News affiliate WJLA's morning news program and Fairfax Times ! Their efforts have led to increased engagement for our students and have created more opportunities for multilingual and twice exceptional learners to thrive and explore new avenues of expression! Learn more about Mr. Ravenstahl and Mrs. Harvey's class in our feature !