Dear Parents:
It hardly seems possible that I have been at Bull Run Elementary for a month. During that time I have had the chance to meet with many of the teachers and staff while preparing for the new school year. I know I am stating the obvious but we are very fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated group of professionals. I am also pleased to welcome Ms. Peggy Kenney as our new assistant principal. She will be joining Ms. Kimberle Pendergrass as my administrative team. And I also want to congratulate Mrs. Judy Baldwin on her promotion to principal at Hutchison Elementary.

For those of you who may not have seen my previous note to the Bull Run community I thought you might be interested in learning a bit about my background. I have been with Fairfax County Public Schools for eight years after moving here from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where I taught with the Broward County Public School System. I have an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Florida Atlantic University. In 2003 I received a Masters degree in Education Administration from Virginia Tech. Thanks to my dual certification in general and special education, I have taught as a special education teacher in a self-contained classroom, in the general education classroom for inclusion, and as a general education teacher.

When we moved here in 1998 I began teaching at Poplar Tree Elementary in the third grade and then taught fourth grade. While at Poplar Tree I was selected to participate in the Fairfax County Public School cohort program for administration. Upon completion of my graduate program at Virginia Tech, I was appointed as assistant principal at Buzz Aldrin Elementary where I completed three years in administration. In addition to my experience at Aldrin, I have also been principal during the 2004 summer school at Brookfield Elementary and at Colin Powell the following summer.

My husband and I moved to Virginia eight years ago when he assumed a position with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. We have been married for 30 years and have three terrific children. Our oldest daughter is married and living in Mobile, Alabama where she and her husband moved last October after graduating from Florida State University. Our son is a recent graduate of the College of William and Mary and is May 3, 2007ter is starting her sophomore year at Longwood University this month.

This is an exciting time for everyone at Bull Run. We are getting ready for a new school year and we are looking forward to seeing you and your children. Please be sure and mark your calendars for our Open House on Thursday, August 31st. Details will be posted on the school Web site http://www.fcps.edu/BullRunES/.

This school has a well-earned reputation for providing a warm learning environment and I look forward to continuing that tradition as we work together to ensure our children are successful.

Sincerely,
Deborah D. Miller