Sunrise Valley Elementary School is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Ashley Younger as its new principal, bringing with her extensive experience as an elementary special education teacher and school-based administrator. Having served many FCPS schools, Ms. Younger has established herself as a dedicated and passionate educational leader.

A Proven Track Record of Excellence

Ms. Younger began her career in education as a special education teacher at Waples Mill Elementary, where she also assumed the role of the local screening chair. Transitioning to Colvin Run Elementary, she took on the position of a special education administrative resource teacher before being selected as an assistant principal at Waples Mill.

In her role at Waples Mill, Ms. Younger designed and implemented a professional development plan focusing on opportunities for academic advancement. She chaired the School Improvement Plan, introducing a Responsive Instruction process that became fundamental to student-specific monitoring and intervention.

Leadership Beyond Boundaries

Ms. Younger's leadership continued at Garfield Elementary in 2016, where she spearheaded initiatives such as leading the English Language Learner Innovation Cohort, redesigning the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) process, and initiating a Strategies Lab. Notably, she developed a Parent Engagement policy, successfully increasing parent involvement in educational processes.

Since joining Sunrise Valley in 2019 as the assistant principal, Ms. Younger has left an indelible mark on the community. She has fostered a caring culture, integrating the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence's RULER approach and Responsive Classroom principles. Under her guidance, the school prioritizes equity and culturally responsive practices, ensuring every child experiences a strong sense of connection, engagement, and equal access to rigorous learning opportunities.

Awards and Recognitions

Ms. Younger's dedication has not gone unnoticed. In 2015, she was honored as the Teacher of the Year at Waples Mill, and in 2018, she was nominated as the Outstanding School-Based Leader at Garfield. Her leadership extended beyond the school level, chairing the Region 1 and Region 3 Assistant Principal groups to coordinate professional learning opportunities aligning with the pyramid framework.

Educational Background and Commitment

Ms. Younger earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Radford University. She furthered her education with a Master’s in Educational Leadership from George Mason University. Her comprehensive special education background, organizational and instructional leadership skills, and four years of dedicated service to the Sunrise Valley community make her an ideal fit for the role of principal.

Join Us in Welcoming Ashley Younger

Ms. Younger's skills, talents, and experiences make her a wonderful fit for Sunrise Valley Elementary School. The school community is encouraged to extend a warm welcome to Ms. Ashley Younger as she assumes her new role as principal. We're excited to embark on a journey of continued growth, excellence, and unity.