The true history of Crestwood Elementary School is found in our students and school staff. Though time has changed the appearance of our classrooms, our technology, and teaching methods, our commitment to providing a quality education for children remains the same. As you walk the halls of Crestwood, you’ll learn that the cafeteria, gymnasium, and library were named in honor of people. The following is a glimpse into the stories of some of the principals, teachers, and volunteers who've shaped the Crestwood school community. 

Evelyn I. Lynn

Evelyn Lynn was the first principal of Crestwood Elementary School, a position she held from 1956 to 1972. Mrs. Lynn came to Crestwood from Garfield Elementary School, where she had served as a “well-known and well-liked” fifth grade teacher for two years.

Principal Lynn retired in May 1972 after 40 years of dedicated service in the education profession, the last 16 of which were spent at Crestwood. Just prior to her retirement, the Crestwood P.T.A. approached the Fairfax County School Board, and requested permission to honor Mrs. Lynn’s outstanding service to Crestwood’s students and community. The School Board adopted a resolution dedicating Crestwood Elementary School to Evelyn Lynn, “for bringing honor to herself and to the school.”   

The Boyd W. Collins Gymnasium

In 1972, Boyd Winston Collins became the second principal of Crestwood Elementary School, a position he held until his retirement in 1979. During his principalship, Collins and the Crestwood P.T.A. lobbied the Fairfax County School Board to build a gymnasium for our school. Prior to the construction of the gymnasium, physical education was taught by teachers in their classrooms, or outdoors through structured play. Construction of the gymnasium began in 1978, and the facility was completed prior to Principal Collins’ retirement the following year. On May 24, 1979, the School Board formally named our gymnasium in his honor.

Boyd Collins began his career with Fairfax County Public Schools in 1952 as a teacher. He served as the principal of Franconia Elementary School from 1953-57, was the principal of North Springfield Elementary School from 1957-69, and then worked for three years as an elementary school supervisor. Mr. Collins retired on May 31, 1979, after 27 years of service to the children of Fairfax County.

The Pat Plummer Hall

Patricia Plummer taught first grade at Crestwood Elementary School for 27 years, beginning in 1962. The kindergarten and first grade classroom wing at Crestwood was named in her honor by the Fairfax County School Board on May 25, 1989.

The School Board resolution stated: "Patricia Plummer has gained a reputation among parents, students, and staff for her love of the teaching profession, and has continuously shown her concern and caring for children and parents. She has also served the community through her involvement with youth in her church and work with the Jaycees' wives. Plummer has continued in the capacity of full-time substitute at Crestwood, after her retirement on February 28, 1989, because of her dedication to the school and to her students. The students, community, faculty and staff initiated a request that her lasting contributions and effective guidance be acknowledged in a permanent tribute at Crestwood Elementary School."

The Eleanor Williams Cafeteria

For more than 50 years, Eleanor Williams was the heart of Crestwood Elementary School. Mrs. Williams came to Crestwood when our school opened in 1956, when her children enrolled in our school. Over the next two decades, she frequently volunteered in the cafeteria, making sure each child sat at the correct table every day. Around 1980 she was hired as our school's cafeteria hostess, a position she held until her retirement in 2011. On October 19, 2006, the Fairfax County School Board officially dedicated Crestwood's cafeteria in her honor.

Eleanor Williams learned of the dedication at our school's 50th anniversary celebration. P.T.A. President Vickie Kline told those in attendance, "She has enriched the Crestwood community with her unwavering dedication to the community for the past 50 years. She is the essence of the school, the essence of the cafeteria, by providing so many fond memories that former students carry and current students will take with them.” A reporter from the Connection Newspaper interviewed Williams that evening, and quoted her as saying, "It’s been such a joy working here. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I think the school is better now than when we first started. I think it's just wonderful."

The Kathryn S. Nutter Library

On April 23, 2009, the Fairfax County School Board formally named our library in honor of Kathryn Nutter. Mrs. Nutter was Crestwood’s librarian for 28 years. During that time, she profoundly influenced countless students by encouraging self-confidence and instilling a lifelong love of reading.

The School Board resolution stated: “Mrs. Nutter has contributed innumerable hours to Crestwood’s students, parents, staff members, and the surrounding community, and is known for her thoughtfulness, kindness, and can-do attitude. She worked tirelessly to celebrate the achievements of Crestwood students by photographing and videotaping school productions and assemblies, creating the school yearbook, and serving as curator of the school web site. Mrs. Nutter was widely known throughout Crestwood Elementary School as a walking reference book and the school’s resident grammarian, renowned for her uncanny ability to identify just the right book in a very short period of time. She tirelessly devoted herself over the years to leadership of other student activities and events at Crestwood including sponsoring Crestwood patrols, the S.C.A., the morning news show, the Reading Is Fundamental program, and the annual book fair.” Mrs. Nutter retired at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

Outstanding New Teacher

In 2011, former Crestwood Elementary School fifth grade teacher Heather Monfasani was the recipient of the FCPS Outstanding First Year Teacher Award. Ms. Monfasani taught at Crestwood from 2010-14.

In her nomination letters, Ms. Monfasani was praised by her colleagues for her dedication and planning skills, her ability to build relationships, and for the variety of ways she used to get to know her students. She was described as “a breath of fresh air” because of her commitment to students, and her intrinsic drive to boost academic confidence. Ms. Monfasani implemented the Girls on the Run program at Crestwood in 2011, and was the coordinator of the Saturday Scholars Intervention Program from 2013-14.

Teacher of the Year

In March 2013, current Crestwood Elementary School teacher Melissa Porfirio was named the Fairfax County Public Schools Teacher of the Year. Ms. Porfirio went on to compete at the state and national levels. She took the top prize in Virginia, becoming the 2014 Virginia Teacher of the Year, and was one of four finalists in the national competition.

Melissa Porfirio began teaching at Crestwood in 2005. Prior to becoming a teacher, she was a social worker in Washington, D.C. and North Carolina, and taught English in Seoul, South Korea. In 2013, Ms. Porfirio was profiled on Insight, the FCPS Red Apple 21 cable television news magazine program.

Our Principals