June 22, 2023
Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS) will start the 2023-2024 school year with three new elementary principals – Bruce McDaniel at H.M. Pearson Elementary School, Erika Kersey at Greenville Elementary School and Mark Rendell at Grace Miller Elementary School. The three administrators will assume their new positions on July 1, 2023.
Bruce McDaniel – H.M. Pearson Elementary School
Bruce McDaniel, 67, will become the principal at Pearson Elementary School. The veteran administrator will take over for Principal Mark Marchinetti, who has led the school for the past four years.
When McDaniel first learned he would be Pearson's principal, he felt blessed and excited. "Even after a long career, I welcome this opportunity to continue doing what I love – elementary education," McDaniel said. "I look forward to working with a great team of teachers as we help prepare these young students who represent our future."
McDaniel always looks forward to seeing the students and positively influencing their education. "It's a joy watching them learn and grow, celebrate their achievements, and learn from their mistakes," he said. He also looks forward to getting to know and work with the H.M. Pearson staff and parents and mentoring the teachers.
Bruce McDaniel has served as principal at both Pierce Elementary School and Grace Miller Elementary School and, most recently, as interim principal at Greenville Elementary School. He has spent the last three years in administrator roles across FCPS, including multiple schools and levels. Before his time in Fauquier, McDaniel worked as an educator for 28 years in Prince William County, 17 of those years as an administrator.
As McDaniel reflects on his time in FCPS, he proudly recalls his first years in Fauquier after being appointed as principal in 2014 at M. M. Pierce Elementary and in 2017 at Grace Miller Elementary. "Together as a team, we had great success in building upon a distinct shared vision while establishing relationships which led to a positive learning climate and increased standardized testing scores for these young students," he recalls.
Looking forward, McDaniel is committed to fostering a supportive learning environment and maintaining positive relationships with students, parents, and the community. Most of all, McDaniel is a champion for students.
"We want our students to know we all care and want them to feel safe, confident, and thrive in their academic achievement,” he said. “We want to celebrate their achievements and want them to enjoy the journey. We hope to help them recognize their potential and build upon the fundamentals of respect, good citizenship, kindness and responsibility."
McDaniel, a Northern Virginia native, comes from a family of educators. His mother taught first grade for over 40 years, and two of his aunts also taught elementary education, as well as his sister, Jane Todd, who recently retired from FCPS. His two nieces, Maggie Todd and Amy Snyder, are elementary teachers. Maggie teaches at Warrenton Middle School, and Amy teaches in Stafford County.
He earned a bachelor's degree in health, driver's education and physical education from Carson-Newman University and a master's degree in administration and supervision from George Mason University.
In his spare time, McDaniel enjoys staying active by playing golf and traveling with his wife, Sue.
Erika Kersey – Greenville Elementary School
Erika Kersey, 46, is the new principal at Greenville Elementary, where she has spent the past year as the school's assistant principal, working alongside Principal Tim Gardner and Interim Principal Bruce McDaniel.
"Learning I would be the next principal of Greenville Elementary School was an honor," Kersey said. "I am privileged to serve a community that means so much to myself and my family. We have a phenomenal school with the potential to become even better. At GES, our motto is Guiding Each Story…Together, and I am truly looking forward to being a part of the next chapter of our story!"
In her new role, Kersey looks forward to building strong relationships with students, teachers, families and community members. Regardless of her role, Kersey considers herself a teacher at heart, and she is passionate about helping others learn and grow using their unique strengths and passions to elevate their success. She enjoys being a part of her students' and families' stories. Seeing former students years later and learning the impact that education had on them is what makes her job most rewarding.
Kersey grew up in Queensbury, New York, and attended college at SUNY Potsdam, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in speech communication and a certificate of licensure in elementary education. In 2005, Ms. Kersey earned a master's degree in education from the University of Phoenix in curriculum and instruction. In 2019, she received a second master's degree in education from the University of Virginia in administration and supervision.
In 2016, Kersey earned the distinction of National Board-Certified teacher (exceptional needs, specializing in gifted education birth- 21 years). She achieved renewal certification in 2021. She also holds an endorsement in gifted education.
In 2012, she began in Fauquier County Public Schools teaching third through fifth-grade gifted education at P.B. Smith Elementary School. In 2016, she transferred to teaching third through fifth-grade gifted education at C Hunter Ritchie Elementary School. In February 2021, she accepted the FCPS Supervisor for Professional Learning position. Then in July 2022, she became the assistant principal at Greenville Elementary School. From 2019-present, she has also served as a clinical coach/supervisor for student teachers/interns for the University of Virginia School of Education and Human Development.
Ms. Kersey and her husband have a large blended family of ten children aged six to 26. Eight of the couple's children have attended Greenville since the school's opening over 15 years ago. Ms. Kersey loves spending time with her family and friends and being an active church member. She enjoys exercising, needlepoint, and reading when she finds moments to enjoy time for herself.
Mark Rendell – Grace Miller Elementary School
Mark Rendell, 43, is the new interim principal at Miller Elementary, where he has spent the past four years as the school's assistant principal alongside Principal Debbie Diaz-Arnold. Rendell came to Miller from H.M. Pearson Elementary School, where he spent three years as the assistant principal.
Mr. Rendell was excited and honored to be selected to lead Grace Miller. "We have a great school community with terrific teachers and students," Rendell said. "It is truly an honor to be able to lead Grace Miller. I look forward to working with everyone as we continue to grow and develop our students to be the best they can be."
Mr. Rendell's goal is for every student, staff member, parent and family member to feel welcome at Grace Miller. He is also committed to making a difference in the lives of students.
"I want to see all of our students excited to come to school each day knowing that they can and will achieve great things while having fun," he said. "We will support our students' academic and social skills and be the building blocks for their future success. I want our students to know that I believe in them and that they can reach their goals through hard work."
Mr. Rendell graduated from Hobart College, earning a bachelor's degree in economics and completing the teacher preparation program. He also earned a master's degree in teaching and curriculum from the University of Rochester and a master's degree in educational leadership from George Mason University.
Rendell decided to enter the field of education after working in the America Reads program in college. Through this program, he worked with elementary school students a few days a week with their reading. He enjoyed having the opportunity to work one-on-one with younger students on their reading skills.
Mr. Rendell started teaching at the Edison Charter School of Science & Technology in Rochester, New York, where he was a fourth, sixth, and eighth-grade special education teacher. He then moved to Virginia and began teaching in Manassas Park, where he taught elementary and high school special education. Rendell taught third and fifth grade in Prince William County before coming to Fauquier County.
Mr. Rendell grew up outside of Buffalo and moved to Virginia in 2003. He lives in Culpeper with his wife, Becky, and two daughters, Cailin and Tenley. He enjoys coaching and practicing softball with his daughters in his free time. He also likes to watch sports and movies and to attend concerts
