Our Principals

Principal: Deborah Thompson

Assistant Principal: Melva Holloman

Deborah Z. Thompson has been the principal of MacArthur since 1994. She has 35 years experience as an educator in Virginia. She has a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in school administration, both from George Mason University. She began her career as an elementary teacher in Loudoun County. Mrs. Thompson also taught in Alexandria, including 17 years as a teacher at MacArthur. In 1990, she was appointed as assistant principal at John F. Pattie Elementary in Dumfries, Virginia. After four years she returned to MacArthur as the new principal. Debbie states, "Coming back to MacArthur was like coming home. The MacArthur community is so special to me. It is wonderful to see my former elementary students as adults and now their children are coming to our school."

In November 2004, Mrs. Thompson was one of the recipients of The Washington Post's Distinguished Educational Leadership Award. This award recognizes outstanding principals in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area who create exceptional school environments. She also received the Northern Virginia ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) Award in 1999 for her support of the inclusion model at MacArthur. In addition, Mrs. Thompson has taught educational leadership classes at George Mason University.