Jesse Kraft became executive principal for Region 3 in October 2021. He was previously the principal of Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary School in Region 5.
Kraft has an extensive background in educational leadership with 27 years of progressive leadership experience within Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). In 1996, he began his teaching career with FCPS as an elementary school teacher at Newington Forest Elementary. He taught third, fourth, and sixth grades during his nine-year tenure, and he served as a Great Beginnings coach for new teachers during his last three years at Newington Forest.
Kraft later served as an assistant principal at both Oak Hill Elementary and Westlawn Elementary, gaining experience in Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) and Title I programming and support. In 2009, he was named principal at Providence Elementary, serving for seven years before taking over the helm of Lutie Lewis Coates Elementary in 2016.
Kraft is a collaborative leader who builds capacity among staff, and he has a demonstrated history of managing all aspects of instructional, administrative and advocacy needs within the school community. Most recently, as the principal of Coates Elementary, Kraft led the school to a more simplified school improvement process resulting in double digit gains in reading and math in the first year while narrowing of achievement gaps for Black and Hispanic students, resulting in the elimination of Project Momentum support at Coates Elementary. (Project Momentum is an FCPS school improvement initiative that provides strategic and focused support for our most challenged schools.)
Kraft is committed to providing all students with the access and opportunities they need for academic success. He worked to expand access to AAP programming by strengthening Local Level IV full-time programming, normalizing the teaching of AAP strategies in general education classes at all grade levels, and instilling an equity approach to AAP screening practices, which resulted in more opportunities for traditionally underserved populations.
Among his many accomplishments, Kraft was named the Washington Post’s 2020 Principal of the Year. He was recognized for his courageous leadership during the pandemic, coordinated outreach to students and his community to ensure access to mental health resources, and technology support for families. He was recognized as the 2019 FCPS Outstanding Principal and the 2010 FCPS First Year Outstanding Principal. Kraft has published numerous articles and he serves as a presenter at annual conferences of the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals and the Fairfax Association Of Elementary School Principals.
Kraft earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing from University of Pittsburgh, his Collegiate Professional License from University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Educational Leadership from George Mason University.