A familiar face is coming back to Falls Church City Public Schools.
The Falls Church City School Board approved Valerie Hardy as the division's Executive Principal at its June 9 meeting. She begins July 1. The role's primary responsibility is supervising the division's school principals and building leaders.
Hardy is no stranger to FCCPS. She led Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School as principal from 2017 to 2021, then served as Head of Secondary Schools from 2021 to 2023, guiding the International Baccalaureate continuum across Mary Ellen Henderson and Meridian High School. During that time, she launched the Academy for Sustainable Thinking and helped steer the division through three successful IB program evaluations.
She returns from Prince William County Schools, where she is Director of Elementary Schools. There, she coaches and evaluates principals across multiple buildings, with work tied to gains of 5 percentage points in reading and 4 in math and science on Virginia's SOL assessments, and a drop in chronic absenteeism from 21 percent to 14 percent.
"Valerie knows our students, our families, and our IB mission, and she leads with relationships first," said Superintendent Dr. Terry Dade. "She rose to the top of a strong field because of her focus on every learner and her record of getting results alongside the people she serves. I could not be more excited to welcome her home."
Hardy emerged from a process that included a cabinet screening, a panel of principals, directors, and cabinet members, and a final interview with the superintendent. Dade pointed to her student-centered focus on equitable access, her leadership experience at every grade level, and her drive to build trust with staff, students, and families.
Hardy earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and special education from James Madison University, a master's in school counseling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an administration and supervision endorsement from the University of Virginia.
"Falls Church City has always felt like home," Hardy said. "Its commitment to wellness, equity, and belonging is the kind of community I want to serve. I'm honored to return and to partner with our principals, teachers, families, and students to build on what makes FCCPS special."