The School Board made several administrative appointments at its July 19 meeting.

Executive Director, Student Services
The School Board appointed Dr. Darrell Sampson as Executive Director of Student Services. His appointment begins Sept. 1 Dr. Sampson has 22 years of experience in education and has worked as a leader to make connections between academic achievement, college and career readiness, and the wellbeing of students, staff, and families. Dr. Sampson has served as a choral and vocal music teacher and as a high school counselor. He later transitioned to leadership roles in school counseling and student services in Fairfax County Public Schools and Alexandria City Public Schools. Dr. Sampson has contributed to state policies and guidance documents in the areas of student and staff social-emotional support, suicidal intervention and prevention, transgender, non-binary, and gender-fluid students, as well as high-school transcript requirements.

Dr. Sampson holds an undergraduate degree in vocal music performance from Millikin University, a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Oklahoma, a master’s degree in school counseling from George Washington University, and a doctoral degree in education policy, organization, and leadership with a concentration in diversity and equity in education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Sampson also maintains licensure with the Virginia Board of Counseling as a licensed professional counselor and is a Nationally Certified Counselor with the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Dr. Sampson is currently the Executive Director of Student Support Teams with Alexandria City Public Schools, where he oversees school counseling, school health, school psychology, and school social work. In this role, he has established protocols for the delivery and use of universal social-emotional screening tools, added additional research and evidence-based programs for students, and worked collaboratively with partners to increase the mental health services available in schools.

Director, Talent Acquisition and Management
Paige Tucker has been appointed as the Director of Talent Acquisition and Management (Licensed Staffing) effective Sept. 1. Tucker brings over 20 years of experience in education in Virginia. She joins Arlington Public Schools after serving as Director of Human Resources for Petersburg City Public Schools. In this role, she successfully helped increase teacher retention rates as well as decrease teacher vacancy rates for the division. Prior to her role in Petersburg, Tucker served as a teacher (elementary and middle school English) and Reading Specialist in Chesterfield County. She also held roles as a Licensure Specialist for the Virginia Department of Education and as a Talent Acquisition Manager for Petersburg. Tucker is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and Longwood University, where she earned a master’s in Reading. This coming year, she will complete her doctorate at William and Mary.

Supervisor, Employee Relations
Kashina Saunders has been appointed as Supervisor of Employee Relations effective Aug. 15. Saunders has over nine years of experience conducting workplace investigations. Saunders has worked as a Staff Investigator at Baltimore City Public Schools, where she investigated employee misconduct and Equal Employment Opportunity matters. Her most recent employer was Baltimore County Public Schools, where she held various roles, including HR investigations Analyst, HR Investigations Specialist and EEO Officer. In her most recent role, Ms. Saunders managed EEO investigations, Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) compliance and supplied training on employment-related topics.

Talent Acquisition Coordinator
Dr. Dimar Brown has been appointed as Talent Acquisition Coordinator, effective Aug. 15. Dr. Brown has over 13-years of experience in the design, implementation and measuring of education (college access), workforce development and talent acquisition programs. His work in K-12 consulting as well as post-secondary administration has allowed him to convene and lead diverse cross-functional teams and projects. Dr. Brown serves as the recruitment strategist for Baltimore City Public Schools. In that role, he implemented data-driven talent acquisition strategies that helped City Schools, for two consecutive years, achieve the lowest day-one teacher vacancies in the organization’s history.  

Dr. Brown earned a doctorate in organizational leadership from Northeastern University; a master’s in public affairs from Indiana University Northwest; and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Iowa State University. He also has certifications in quality improvement and change management.

Senior Paralegal
Raymond Franklin Jr. has been appointed as the Senior Paralegal in the Division Council Office, effective Aug. 1. Franklin is currently a federal contractor working with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. He received his certification from Georgetown University’s Summer Intensive Paralegal Studies Program. He has since amassed more than a decade and a half of legal experience in various positions within the federal government and large corporations.

Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Coordinator
Elisabeth Lua has been appointed as the Family and Community Engagement Coordinator in the Office of School and Community Relations, effective Aug. 1. Lúa is a graduate of the University of California in Los Angeles, earning a double major in Spanish, Community and Culture, and Latin American Studies. After graduation, she became an AmeriCorp Volunteer supporting families as a home visitor and an early intervention specialist. She received a Master’s in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Lúa has a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School Online and is receiving her Administration and Supervision certification from Longwood University.

After graduation, Lúa began teaching at Claremont Immersion School as a 5th grade teacher for nine years. She took a year off to volunteer for the Ministry of Education in Spain, supporting teachers and students in their English development. During her time at Claremont Immersion, she served as the Instructional Lead Teacher, Family Action Coordinator, after-school intervention coordinator, website liaison, Y.E.S. Club coach, and teacher mentor. She has also led curriculum writing and professional learning in instructional technology.