Dear Crestwood Elementary School Students, Staff, Parents, and Community,

The Region 6 Leadership Team is pleased to announce that Ms. Francoise Casablanca has been appointed as principal of Crestwood Elementary School, effective August 1, 2023.  

Ms. Casablanca brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in instruction and administration to her new role. Most recently, Ms. Casablanca served as acting principal at Waynewood Elementary School. Prior to her service at Waynewood, Ms. Casablanca served as an assistant principal at Groveton Elementary School for five years and an instructional coach at Groveton and Laurel Hill Elementary Schools for four years. Ms. Casablanca began her teaching career in Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School as an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher before transitioning to a Title I reading resource teacher at the same school. Throughout her 19-year career, Ms. Casablanca has also served as a family literacy instructor, an administrator for Extended School Year (special education summer school), and a facilitator for FCPS Latin X Affinity Groups.

As a proven instructional leader, Ms. Casablanca has extensive experience in developing school improvement plans, managing Title I funds, delivering professional development, and implementing multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) processes to ensure academic goals are met and continuous growth is achieved. Ms. Casablanca has championed the implementation of Responsive Classroom, mentored students, collaboratively designed cultural responsiveness training, and facilitated training for staff on trauma-informed practices. 

Ms. Casablanca is bi-lingual (fluent in Spanish) and has the childhood experience of learning English as a child in the United States, which motivated her to make a difference as an ESOL teacher and school-based leader.  In doing so, Ms. Casablanca created and managed programs that address families’ needs, and she looks forward to bringing her family-centered approach to Crestwood.

Ms. Casablanca holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Puerto Rico, a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction of Foreign Languages K-12 from George Mason University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Puerto Rico, and earned her certification in educational administration from the University of Virginia. 
Ms. Casablanca received the Region 3 Outstanding Leader Award for the 2021-22 school year, and we are excited to have her join the Region 6 team at Crestwood Elementary School.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Ms. Francoise Casablanca to the Crestwood Elementary School community. Together, we will strive for educational excellence, maintain a positive and inclusive culture, and ensure the success and well-being of all our students.

Sincerely,

Michelle Boyd, FCPS Region 6 Assistant Superintendent