Mrs. Duffy is a graduate of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. While there, she participated in the college’s Urban Education Cohort, providing her the opportunity to work with students in several cities including Indianapolis, St. Louis, East St. Louis, Chicago, and Los Angeles.  She has been a classroom teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana; Columbus, Ohio; and at Hayfield Elementary in Fairfax County.  Mrs. Duffy earned her Master’s degree in School Administration from the University of Virginia.  

She was selected as a LEAD Administrative Intern during the 2010-11 school year while working at Gunston Elementary. She was an Assessment Coordinator at Glen Forest Elementary during the 2011-12 school year and helped to found the school’s Garment Garage. In 2012, she became Assistant Principal at Parklawn Elementary where she helped to build a collaborative culture focused on helping all students succeed. Mrs. Duffy is passionate about teaching and learning and dedicated to supporting a safe and nurturing environment for our staff and students. Mrs. Duffy and her husband have three daughters and as a family they love swimming, reading books and travel.

Mrs. Gomes graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor's degree in Psychology, and has a master's degree in Counseling from Marymount University. She has worked at Herndon, Carl Sandburg, and Key Middle Schools, as well as Laurel Ridge Elementary School - Extended School Year. She attained her Administration and Supervision Certification from the University of Virginia through Fairfax County Public School’s Accelerated Certification Cohort. During her experiences, she has led initiatives such as establishing school-wide Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, enhancing comprehensive school counseling programs, and serving as the ESOL School Counselor.

Being a native Portuguese and fluent Spanish speaker has allowed her to work with families across our diverse communities to foster stronger connections between home and school life, which results in more support for the students. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, which includes her husband, son, daughter, and their two pets, a dog and a bird. As a family, they enjoy creating lasting memories through travel, spending time at Lake Anna, and exploring the outdoors. In her free time, she loves to cook delicious meals (including homemade pizza), read novels, and she is learning how to grow a vegetable garden.

Ms. Side holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Child Studies from Lesley University and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University. She is a licensed professional with multiple postgraduate credentials, including Administration and Supervision Pre-K-12, Early/Primary Education PreK-3, and English as a Second Language PreK-12. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate at The George Washington University, specializing in laws and regulations for English Language Learners.

Ms. Side has previously served as an assistant principal in Alexandria City and has extensive experience in various leadership and educational roles, including district lead assistant principal, test coordinator, special education coordinator, and classroom teacher. She resides in Alexandria with her husband, their senior dog, Remi, and their new puppy, Gus.