Administration

Dr. Jeannette Allen

School Principal

jeannette.allen@apsva.us

Dr. Jeannette E. Allen has over 20 years of experience in education and 14 years of dedicated service within Arlington Public Schools (APS), Dr. Allen brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and commitment to her new role as Principal of Arlington Community High School.

Dr. Allen began her career as a social worker working with non-profit organizations in Washington, DC, and Arlington County.  Dr. Allen has held various pivotal positions within APS, showcasing her versatility and leadership capabilities. She served as the Director of Secondary Education and Administrative Services, where she supported county-wide secondary education programs, ensuring schools met the strategic goals of APS and the developmental needs of students and supported APS administrators with student behavior. She also served as Interim Assistant Superintendent, providing principal support, leadership, and crisis management. Formerly, Dr. Allen held positions with Fairfax County Public Schools as a teacher and Lead Teacher and with Alexandria City Public Schools as a Principal.

Most recently, Dr. Allen has been the Assistant Principal at ACHS, where she developed a profound understanding of the school’s distinctive culture and the diverse needs of its student body. Her role involved focusing on instructional leadership, the academic schedule, student records, social-emotional learning, staff development, and student behavior management. She also played a crucial role in managing critical operations and the ACHS evening program.

Dr. Allen’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through her advocacy for cultural sensitivity within the school environment, ensuring policies and programs are inclusive and supportive of all students and staff. Dr. Allen was raised in Queens, New York and has lived in the Northern Virginia area for 29 years. Her mother immigrated from Ecuador to New York when in the early 1970’s when she was 22 years old.  Dr. Allen is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish, which enhances her ability to communicate effectively with the diverse ACHS community.

Dr. Allen holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from George Washington University, a Master of Business Administration in Executive Leadership from James Madison University, a Master of Education in Education Leadership, and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction-Multicultural Multilingual Education from George Mason University. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies: Social Work from George Mason University.

In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Allen has been recognized with several awards, including the Aspiring Leaders’ Award and the Resilience Project Research Fellowship. She is actively involved in community service and educational advisory boards, demonstrating her commitment to broader educational and community initiatives.