Sandburg's Yarborough Honored as 'Outstanding' Principal

All the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood award ceremony drew hundreds of guests to the first annual FCPS Honors at George Mason University Wednesday night. Teachers, principals, families and friends gathered to honor the best educators in the county and celebrate their achievements and enthusiasm.

“We honor teachers that dedicate their time to enhancing our student’s minds,” emcee and assistant superintendent of human resources Kevin L. North said, “Thanks to their efforts we’ve encouraged our students to strive.”

Carl Sandburg Middle School’s Terrance Yarborough won ‘Outstanding First Year Principal’. Yarborough was one of three finalists out of 12 nominations countywide for this award, according to a statement released by the school.

“He knew that he had a challenge ahead of him by coming into a middle school that was in need of some extra TLC and improved student achievement,” said assistant principal Tara Charity in a statement. “Mr. Yarborough has been ahead of the game ever since.”

Charity added that under Yarborough’s leadership discipline issues at Sandburg have decreased compared to previous years. To that end, he hired a dean of students to support teachers and administrators in addressing minor offenses like tardiness and skipping class, according to a statement from the school system.

Yarborough is also credited with increasing support and collaboration among administrators, teachers and staff.  Among some of his initiatives, was an off-campus retreat for staff members before the school year began and a weekly staff newsletter that highlights development opportunities, expectations and staff accomplisments, according to FCPS.  

He also has core subject teachers regularly administer assessments to analyze data so that teachers can share best practices among one another and adjust instruction techniques as needed.

 ‘I’m shocked. We don’t go into this profession to win individual awards,” Yarborough said. “To be awarded is a reflection of my school and the support we receive from our community. We’re creating a new culture and this is a win for my whole team.”

Yarborough began his career as an educator over 17 years ago as a substitute teacher and bus driver.  He started working in Fairfax schools in 2005 as a subschool principal at Hayfield Secondary School and later at Robinson Secondary School.  He was selected as Sandburg’s principal in 2010.

The FCPS Honors combined five previously solo award presentations into the evening’s reception and ceremony by the Foundation for Fairfax County Public School. The Eddie award was specifically designed for the ceremony and was awarded to the founding board member companies.

“We wanted to create the type of awards ceremony that the Eddie award is to education as the Emmy is to television, as the Oscar is to movies and the Grammy is to music,” North said. “The star in the Eddie represents the students looking to the future and it is supported by our teachers who hold them up.”

Revealed at the ceremony, ‘Outstanding First Year Teacher’ went to Heather Monfasani from Crestwood Elementary School and ‘Support Employee of the Year’ went to Shirley Miller from Cooper Middle School and Cheryl Temple from Assistive Technology.

‘Teacher of the Year’ Jamie Sawatzky from Rocky Run Middle School and ‘Principal of the Year’ Maureen Marshall from Garfield Elementary School were previously announce in the Washington Post, but also received their Eddie’s at the ceremony.

Local teachers Lynn Brosmer (Fort Hunt Elementary), Kati Ellsberry (West Potomac High School), Joseph Anderson (Groveton Elementary School), Anna Ford (Hybla Valley Elementary School) and Jeffery Feinstein (West Potomac High School) were all nominated for awards.