Meet Arlington Public School's 'Principal of the Year' Corina Coronel

Over the last 8 years, there has been an evident change in students who have graduated from Carlin Springs Elementary School. 

“The kids from Carlin Springs Elementary didn’t always succeed,” said Dan Redding, who is an assistant principal at Carlin Springs and was previously in the same role at Kenmore Middle School.

That was before Corina Coronel took over as principal.

“When she became principal, there was an immediate difference,” Redding said. “…They are doing so much better.”

In a testament to that success, Coronel last week was named the Arlington County Public Schools system's Principal of the Year.

She has been principal at Carlin Springs for 8 years and an educator in the county for about 20.

“It’s an honor and we are thrilled that the school is going to be out there and everyone is going to learn about what a great community we have here,” Coronel said.

Coronel, who was nominated for the award by Redding and other school staffers, was told of her selection in a ceremony last Friday with schools Superintendent Pat Murphy.

It was a surprise, to say the least.

“Of all days, I was late to work,” Coronel said, adding that she received frantic calls that morning from staffers urging her to get to school for what they said were issues with a substitute teacher.

“I thought that was really odd,” Coronel said. 

She arrived at school and was shocked to see the crowd awaiting her in the school’s multi-purpose room. The superintendent was there along with her staff and a handful of students.

“Corina possesses the qualities that we value in school leaders. She is an excellent communicator, a collaborator and a gifted educator,” Superintendant Murphy stated in a press release released by the school system.

Under her leadership, the school has also went from an under-performing school by Virginia standards to a performing one, Redding said.

While initially her challenges were in building a relationship with students and staff, the main focus has always been student success.

“We focus on the whole child,” Coronel said. “If we have families in crisis, we look at how to help the students so that they come to school ready to learn.”

“I believe in structure and routines,” Coronel said. “I have high expectations for students.”

Coronel said teaching has always been her passion, from when she was a child born and raised in Venezuela and she volunteered to teach Sunday school classes. 

“It’s what I’ve always wanted to do and what I’ve always done,” Coronel said.

Coronel immigrated to the United States and became a citizen, earning her bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education and special education from American University, where she also received a master’s in special education.

She went on to teach at the Lab School of Washington in DC, Randolph Elementary School, and assistant principal at Jamestown Elementary School.

At Carlin Springs, Coronel said she is especially proud of their “community school” model, where the school partners with local businesses and nonprofits to help children be exposed to a wide range of careers.

One partnership with Arlington Community Federal Credit Union spawned a local branch on school grounds, allowing students to learn about finance.

The branch opens on Fridays, and students can open their own savings account. Fourth an fifth graders staff the branch, under supervision from a member of the credit union and school staff.  

“They train students on financial literacy and how to save money,” Coronel said. “It’s a student-run branch.”

She also tries to instill personal responsibility in students, starting them young to develop good habits, Coronel said.

“We truly try and teach the kids that they are in charge of making their own decisions,” Coronel said. “…We like happy children who want to learn because it’s fun.”

Coronel will be recognized by the Arlington School Board on May 15 at Kenmore Middle School.

She will also be honored on May 7 as Arlington's recipient of The Washington Post's Distinguished Educational Leadership Award, which recognizes leadership in DC metro area principals each year.