The Alexandria City School Board on June 4 approved Seth Kennard as the new Charles Barrett Elementary School principal, effective July 1. Kennard, currently assistant principal at Samuel Tucker Elementary School, will replace Annetta Lawson, who will retire in June with 36 years of service to the students of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).

Lawson began her tenure in ACPS as a teacher in 1973, and became an administrator in 1996. Under her leadership, Charles Barrett was one of the first schools in Alexandria to meet accreditation. In a letter to Charles Barrett parents and teachers, Lawson wrote, "I have enjoyed my time working in the Alexandria City Public Schools system and appreciate those who helped me along this journey. This job was my passion . . . I appreciate the 'big, hairy audacious' goals of Superintendent Sherman and the initiatives that will be implemented to make Alexandria City Public Schools a world class model."

Kennard received his Master's of Education in administration and supervision from The University of Virginia. He is in his second year as Tucker's assistant principal. His educational passions are special education, literacy readiness and parental involvement. He looks forward to working with the teachers at Barrett to maintain the high expectations and high level of student achievement already in place.

Before joining Samuel Tucker, Kennard was an assistant principal at Moncure Elementary School in Stafford County, Virginia. There he served as his school's special education coordinator, school improvement team chair, crisis team coordinator and a lead teacher recruiter for human resources. Prior to his three years serving as an assistant principal, Kennard was a fifth-grade teacher.

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