Alexandria, VA – Is ACPS, with multiple new elementary and secondary school buildings, now overbuilt? Have students fully recovered from learning loss associated with the pandemic? How is ACPS serving its exceptionally diverse student population? How will the end of pandemic-related federal funding affect ACPS? How is ACPS addressing employee retention and development in an era of teacher shortages and intense talent competition from nearby school systems? What is it like to attend Alexandria City High School now that its new Minnie Howard Campus is open?
A diverse and qualified panel will address these and other topics when Agenda: Alexandria kicks off its 2024-2025 season on Monday, September 23 at 7:00 pm at the Lyceum with a program on the Alexandria City Public Schools.
Mark Eaton will moderate the discussion. Eaton is a parent of three children who went through ACPS. He served three terms as a member, vice chair, and chair of the school board from 1997 through 2006. From 2007 through 2021, he taught English and Journalism at what was then T.C. Williams High School, now Alexandria City High School, where he was the English Department chair or co-chair for ten years.
Eaton currently writes a monthly column, “About Alexandria,” and occasional feature stories for The Alexandria Times. His columns, feature stories, and other work can be seen on his Substack at aboutalexandria.substack.com
Sophie Huemer, Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) director of the Office of Capital Programs, Planning, and Design Services, manages the design and construction of facilities for the division and supervises a diverse staff, including full- and part-time employees and contractors.
Huemer first joined ACPS in 2020 and most recently served as the school division’s principal planner, managing the formulation of the 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan Budget, aligned with the school board priorities alongside facilities and operations leadership. Hammer has led ACPS through four capital improvement program budget cycles.
Before joining ACPS, Huemer had seven years of urban planning and project management experience in Hanover County, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Denton, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science at Roanoke College and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also earned a post-baccalaureate certificate in Geographic Information Systems from Virginia Commonwealth University.
James Libresco is a dedicated student journalist and activist. A senior at Alexandria City High School, he is editor-in-chief of Theogony, the student-run newspaper. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including the Alexandria Gazette Packet, Alexandria Times, and Zebra, and received national awards. James is also student body president, a varsity basketball player, and an advocate for youth mental health and wellbeing.
Carmen Sanders has been the executive director of instructional support for the Alexandria school system’s Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership since 2022. Previously, she was the campus administrator for Alexandria City High School – King Street Campus (ACHS), an assistant principal at George Washington Middle School (GW), and a dean of students at ACHS. She began her educational career in 2006 as a teacher and served in the classroom until 2012.
Sanders provides instructional leadership and support to all schools in ACPS as a member of the Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English language, literature, and composition from Virginia Polytechnic University and a master’s degree in educational administration from Trinity University.
Aaron Thomas, an ACPS parent, has been working with the Polk PTA and community members to raise concerns with the City and ACPS regarding overcrowding in West End schools. Active in the community, he serves as the vice president of the Brookville Seminary Community Association. He has lived in Alexandria for 13 years with his wife and two daughters.
Thomas is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, and is a lead embedded engineer for a local company.