Dear Cardinal Forest High School Parents, Students, and Staff,

I am pleased to announce that Ms. Felicia Speight Drake, Assistant Principal, Herndon Elementary School, has been named the new principal of Cardinal Forest Elementary School.  

Ms. Drake brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Cardinal Forest.  Ms. Drake began her FCPS career as a Special Education Teacher in 1990, teaching at Timber Lane Elementary School and Centre Ridge Elementary School.  In 2013, she was appointed to Hunters Woods Elementary School as an assistant principal, where she served until 2017.  At Hunters Woods, she redesigned and strengthened instructional practices through evidence-based practices and programs, which increased accountability for monitoring student progress, instructional planning and social progression of all students.  Ms. Drake became an assistant principal at Herndon Elementary School in 2017.  At Herndon, in addition to supervising and evaluating staff at several grade levels, she oversaw several community outreach and mentoring programs, organized Latina SciGirls, an eight week exposure to science and technology, to encourage Latina girls to develop a curiosity for STEM-related career pathways in collaboration with the National Children’s Science Museum and Dogwood ES.

Ms. Drake is a strong instructional leader who believes in promoting best practices for teaching and learning.  She builds relationships with staff, students, parents, and community members.  Ms. Drake looks forward to meeting with students, faculty, staff, families and the community.

Ms. Drake earned her Bachelor of Science in Education, Special Education at James Madison University, her Master of Arts, Initiatives in Educational Transformation at George Mason University, and her Master of Arts, Educational Leadership at Regent University.  Throughout her tenure with FCPS, she remained abreast of the latest trends in education and teacher leadership by attending workshops and becoming well rounded in all aspects of best practice instruction.

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Drake to Cardinal Forest Elementary School.

Sincerely,

Jay Pearson

Assistant Superintendent, Region 4