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Adminstration

Administrators’ Message

Welcome to Providence Elementary School, home of the Panthers!  We are an amazing school with many programs designed to meet the needs of all learners.  Our staff maintains a great reputation for enriching the curriculum and stretching student thinking, supporting students through appropriate challenges, working as a team to make sure we all develop our skills, and partnering with parents to create the positive culture that Providence has enjoyed for years!

As an administrative team, we are committed to ensuring that your children have a safe, positive and productive school environment.  We set high expectations, but we know that we need to have the supports in place to ensure that we all reach our goals.  We will always work to make sure our staff is well-trained in the art and science of teaching, and that the relationships between your children and their teachers are strong and positive.   We want all parents to know how much we appreciate all that you do to develop your children’s academic and social growth at home.  Your support of us makes a huge difference, and we are fortunate to work with you.

We take pride in the level of intense professional development that we require of and provide to our staff to ensure that we are teaching your children to be prepared for the world of tomorrow.  We have a consistent approach to teaching higher order thinking skills (The Patterns of Thinking), we utilize common practices to promote a collaborative and respectful culture (Responsive Classroom), we embrace our status as a focus school in math, science and technology, and we are deeply involved in the research-based best practices that FCPS endorses.  This is a school that children are happy and proud to be part of, and they are also growing as thinkers and doers every day.

About Our Administrators

Principal Jesse Kraft

jesseMr. Kraft became the principal of Providence in 2009.  He began his educational career in FCPS in 1996 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh.  He taught 3rd, 4th & 6th grades at Newington Forest ES and was the assistant principal at Westlawn and Oak Hill ES.  He is a National Board Certified Teacher, and he earned his Master’s degree from George Mason University.  In 2010 he was recognized by FCPS with the Nancy F. Sprague Outstanding First Year Principal Award.  Mr. Kraft grew up in Philadelphia and still roots for the Eagles, Phillies and Flyers.

danMr. Phillips joined the PES administrative team last year. Prior to that, he was a six grade teacher and Assistant Principal at our sister school, Daniels Run. A graduate of JMU, he and his wife remained in Harrisonburg after graduation and taught in public schools near the college for 11 years.  Mr. Phillips was a stay-at-home dad for 8 years,  supervised the Summer Camp program for the City of Fairfax for 18 years, and returned to teaching in 2006.  He treasures time with his wife and two sons, both students in FCPS.  He loves to go to concerts, to root for the Redskins and Caps, and to travel with his family.

jenniferMs. Hertzberg is delighted to be at Providence! She began her career in Fairfax County Public Schools in 2001, after graduating from The George Washington University with a BA in Anthropology and a MEd in Elementary Education.  Since then, she has received her endorsement in Gifted Education from The University of Virginia, and has revisited her alma mater, GWU, to earn an EdS in Education Leadership and Administration.  She has taught multiple grade levels in FCPS, including 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades respectively.  Interesting to note, Ms. Hertzberg was raised in Tennessee and New Jersey, but considers Virginia her real home because she has lived here the longest! Outside of PES, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.