The Region 2 Leadership Team is pleased to announce Farris Thomas, current Assistant Principal at Chesterbrook Elementary School, has been selected as the new principal of Franklin Sherman Elementary School.

Ms. Thomas began her career in education with Fairfax County Public Schools in 2004 at McLean High School where she was an English teacher and the English department chair. She also served as Instructional Coach, Testing Coordinator, and Assistant Principal at Rachel Carson Middle School, where she supported staff and students with Portrait of a Graduate skills and Project Based Learning. As Assistant Principal at Washington Irving Middle School for five years, Ms. Thomas oversaw the Special Education department as part of her schoolwide support for all students. Returning to the McLean community in 2020, Ms. Thomas has been the Assistant Principal at Chesterbrook since then, ensuring that all students receive access to rigor and high academic standards. She supports teachers in their own learning, providing modeling and feedback to all staff, and has helped make Chesterbrook a school filled with meaningful learning for all.  

Ms. Thomas has been trained by the Buck Institute in California for Project Based Learning integration in instruction and developed the curriculum and taught the FCPS Academy course for teachers on this topic.  Ms. Thomas’ strong work creating positive behavior intervention supports for students and supporting the needs of the special education community earned her recognition as a finalist for the 2019 Outstanding Administrator of the year from Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA). She also won the McLean pyramid Outstanding Leader award in 2023, and was a finalist for the Region 2 Outstanding Leader award in 2023 as well.

She earned a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master’s degree in Education from James Madison University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Initiatives in Educational Transformation and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, both from George Mason University. Ms. Thomas also wears the hat of a proud mom to three beautiful young daughters, Macie, Evie, and Josie. 

Please join me in welcoming Ms. Thomas as the new principal of Franklin Sherman, starting on January 16, 2024.