K-6Teams

Meet the Kindergarten Team

Mrs. Dianne Tenney (10-E) started

teaching at WSES 30 years ago in 1986. Ms. Tenney
is a native of Northern Virginia and is a product of
Fairfax County Public Schools. She graduated from
Robinson High School in 1975 and then attended
George Mason University where she got her
Undergraduate and then Master’s degree in Early
Childhood Education. Ms. Tenney has two grown
children. Ms. Tenney has two big passions in her
life….children and animals. She just can’t seem to
get enough of either. She has a 15 year old dog
(Seren- a Jack Russell Terrier), a new puppy (Bentley-
a Lakeland Terrier), and a guinea pig, Scout, who is
her classroom pet. Ms. Tenney has been at WSES so
long that she has taught the children of her former
students. She is fiercely loyal to her school, her
students, and her Kindergarten team.

Mrs. Doreen Pagliaro will be entering her

33rd year of teaching this fall, and has been a WSES
“Mighty Mustang” since September of 2000. She has
taught from coast to coast and has been living and
working in Virginia for over 20 years. Mrs. P. just
celebrated her 32nd wedding anniversary to husband
Chris and is the proud mom of one daughter, Alaina,
who is a Senior at South County High School.
When not busy teaching, Mrs. P. enjoys spending
time with her family and friends, decorating,
painting and reading. Mrs. P. loves teaching
Kindergarten and is excited about the new school
year. She is looking forward to meeting her new
“Kinders” and their families!

Mrs. DeeAnn Best has been part of West

Springfield community for many years and continues
to love teaching kindergarten. Kindergarten
students hold a special place in her heart. Her
teaching career has all been in Fairfax County Public
Schools. Mrs. Best has two grown children and a
dog named Tucker. Her son and daughter both live
and work in the area. In her free time, she enjoys
going with her husband to their mountain in West
Virginia, going to the beach, boating, shopping,
reading, baking, scrapbooking, sewing and spending
time with her friends and family. Mrs. Best is
looking forward to a fun and exciting year with her
new kindergarten students and their families

Meet the First Grade Team

Mrs. Jennifer Walrath has been part of the

wonderful West Springfield community for many years.
She lives in the community and has three children. This
year Mrs. Walrath is looking forward to working in the
newer wing of the building with her dynamic team. This
summer, Mrs. Walrath and her family welcomed a new
yellow Labrador Retriever. They named him Barley and
he joins their seven year old chocolate Labrador
Retriever, Bourbon. Mrs. Walrath enjoys cooking and
has a BBQ catering business with Mr. Walrath on the side.
She enjoys spending time at her family beach house in the
Nags Head, North Carolina, whenever she can get away.

Ms. Carrie Gilbert is excited to join the West

Springfield Elementary community and teach first grade.
She has been a second grade teacher in Fairfax County for
16 years. She enjoys spending time with family and
friends, rooting for the Baltimore Orioles, and running
races in the fall. She looks forward to getting to know her
new students, families, and colleagues at WSES.

Ms. Michaela Sands is excited to start her second

year at WSES! She has loved growing up in Fairfax County
and is thrilled to be part of such a spirited Mustang
community and first grade team! She studied sociology
and received her Master’s in Elementary Education at the
University of Mary Washington She loves spending time
with friends and family, traveling, watching sports,
running, and doing arts and crafts. When she’s not at
school, she’s coaching for her alumna high school cross
country and track teams at Lake Braddock. She is looking
forward to meeting her new students September!

Meet the Second Grade Team

Mrs. Laura Bouamri is excited to start her 6th

year teaching 2nd grade at West Springfield Elementary
School! She has lived in Springfield for 27 years and
went to Orange Hunt, Irving, and West Springfield High
School when she was younger. She got her teaching
degree at Radford University. She recently got married
and her husband is trying his hardest to convince her to
get a puppy. Ms. Bouamri has a large family, being the
youngest of 6 children...she has five older brothers! She
is an aunt of 7 and even a great aunt now. Laura loves
elephants, laughing, smiling, sporting events, hanging
with friends and family, Netflix binging, and FOOD
(especially a sub from Jimmy Johns). Ms. Bouamr is
always up for learning and implementing new ideas into
her classroom. She's excited for an amazing year with all
of her Mighty Mustang family. ❤

Mrs. Candi Heinzman graduated from the

University of Maryland with a certification in both
Elementary Education and Special Education. Prior to
coming to Fairfax County in 1990 and teaching at Fort
Belvior, she had the opportunity to teach Preschool
through High School in North Carolina, Hawaii, and
California, and for the DOD at Quantico, Virginia. She
has been on staff at WSES since 2001. Mrs. Heinzman
will celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary with her
husband Bill in December. She has a daughter Heather
(38) who lives in Brentwood, TN with her husband and 8
year old grandson. In addition to spending time with
family, she enjoys morning walks and reading historical
fiction. She loves teaching and enjoys taking classes and
learning new teaching strategies. She hopes to inspire a
love of learning in all of her students!

Mrs. Katrina Glista is excited to be joining the

West Springfield community this year! She will be
joining the Second Grade team. This will be her twelfth
year in the county. She taught First Grade at
Shrevewood Elementary previously. Mrs. Glista decided
it was time to find a great school that was closer to
home and she is so fortunate that she has. She lives in
the area with her husband, three year old daughter,
Allie, and one year old son, Michael. In her free time,
she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Glista is originally from Hamburg, New York. She
received her Bachelor of Arts degree, in Early Childhood
Education, from Buffalo State College. After moving
here, Mrs. Glista went on to receive her Masters of Arts
degree in Curriculum and Instruction from George
Mason University. She cannot wait to get to know her
new students, families, and colleagues at West
Springfield!

Meet the Third Grade Team

Mrs. Betsy Foland received her Masters

degree from Kent State University with additional
educational endorsements from Norfolk State. As a
military wife, she has taught for the Department of
Defense Schools in Europe as well as schools in a
variety of states here in America. She has been
teaching for 35 years in a K- 3 classroom. This is her
6th year teaching at WSES. Mrs. Foland is an avid
scuba diver and enjoys fitness activities and
gardening. She is married with two children and lives
in Springfield, Virginia.

Ms. Esther Ha is so excited to begin her third

year at West Springfield Elementary as a 3rd grade
teacher! She was born and raised in Fairfax County,
and loves to be teaching here as well! She earned her
Psychology B.A. from George Mason University, and
her Masters in Elem. Education from Marymount
University. Outside of school, she enjoys outdoor
activities, shopping, traveling, and spending time with
friends and family. She looks forward to creating
positive relationships with her students, and all
around a wonderful school year!

Ms. Regina Uribe is thrilled to be joining

the third grade team! Although this is her first year
teaching, this is not her first time at WSES. She had
the privilege of being a long term sub in second grade
where she came to love this fantastic community! Ms.
Uribe is proud to be a Double Duke, earning both her
graduate and undergraduate degrees at James
Madison University. In her free time, she enjoys
spending time with her friends and family, trying new
recipes, and going on outdoor adventures. Ms. Uribe
is looking forward to a great year filled with learning
and laughter!

Meet the Fourth Grade Team

Mr. James Koontz is excited to begin his

eighth year as a fourth grade teacher at WSES. He and
his wife Ginger have two wonderful daughters in high
school, Jordan (a senior) and Madison (a sophomore).
He also shares his home with two mischief-making
dogs and a grumpy cat. He loves soccer (though
mostly just watching daughters are playing), music,
travelling, playing with gadgets, and is perpetually
trying to learn to play the guitar. He is looking forward
to another year of learning, fun, and friendship at
WSES!

Mr. Timothy Newton is delighted to return

to West Springfield Elementary for a second year as a
4th grade teacher! Mr. Newton graduated from
Millersville University and moved to Virginia last year
from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In his free time, he
enjoys playing soccer and ultimate Frisbee, going to
see live music, and has an interest in exploring new
places and food. Mr. Newton is excited to meet his
new students and see his previous ones.

Ms. Andrea Han is a recent graduate of

Marymount University, and is excited to spend her
first year teaching with the fourth grade team at West
Springfield Elementary. Ms. Han is originally from the
Northern Virginia area, and is excited to be teaching
in the Fairfax County community! She enjoys
traveling around the world, and was granted the
opportunity to live and teach in New Zealand during
her graduate studies. In her spare time, Ms. Han
dedicates ample time training and competing in
weightlifting competitions; which she hopes to
eventually compete at the national level.

Meet the Fifth Grade Team

Mrs. Alicia Giusti is excited to be a part of the

fifth grade team at West Springfield Elementary
School. She previously taught for 4 years at Laurel Hill
Elementary but is excited to be a part of the West
Springfield community since she graduated from
WSHS. In her free time, Mrs. Giusti enjoys crafting,
playing board games, and dancing. She is looking
forward to getting to know her new students and
their families.

Mrs. Brooke Greilsheimer is excited to join

the West Springfield Elementary School community as
part of the fifth grade team. She has 15 years of
experience teaching at the elementary level. Her first
8 years she taught in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and
for the last 7 years Brooke has been teaching in
Annapolis, Maryland. In her free time, she enjoys
reading, gardening and the nightly after-dinner dance
parties with her husband and two amazing daughters.
Mrs. Greilsheimer is looking forward to meeting her
new students and their families.

Ms. Danielle Johnson is thrilled to be

teaching 5th grade for her first year at West
Springfield Elementary School! Previously, she taught
3rd grade in Anne Arundel County and has since
moved to Arlington, VA. In her free time, Ms. Johnson
loves to paint, ski, and play tennis. She graduated
from the University of Maryland and enjoys cheering
on the Terps at football and basketball games. Ms.
Johnson cannot wait to begin teaching at WSES and
looks forward to meeting her future students!

Meet the Sixth Grade Team

Rachel Calderin is starting her second year at WSES

and eighth year of teaching. She likes to spend her days
with school, family, and outdoor activities. In her spare
time she loves to read, listen to music, watch and play
sports, and eat.  She is married with two kids and three
dogs. Ms. Calderin grew up in the Hampton Roads area
both as a military child and military wife. Her family
relocated to Fairfax last year and they love it. She earned
her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Christopher
Newport University. She is looking forward to another
great year of fun and learning with her students!

Ms. Emma Python is excited to join the 6th grade

team in the West Springfield Elementary School
community! She spent the past year teaching 4th grade at
a charter school in Washington D.C. and looks forward to
working in Fairfax. She received her Bachelor’s degree
from Saint Michael's College in Colchester, VT. In her free
time, Ms. Python enjoys singing, reading, and watching
Disney movies. She is looking forward to beginning the
year at WSES and cannot wait to meet her students!

Natalie Sebastian is blessed to continue her

educational career as a teacher at WSES! Over the past 18
years she has taught a variety of grades (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th),
been an Instructional Coach and an Assistant Principal. She
is moving to the area from Germantown, TN with her
husband, two boys (Kade-10 and Braxton-8), and the
family pets (cat-Buddy, fish- Mr. Fish). When she is not
teaching, she enjoys watching her boys play sports,
creating memories with her family and running. She
cannot wait to get acquainted with the community, her
colleagues and the students at WSES!