The Identity Project 2025

Naming Our Spaces: Continuing The Identity Project

The Alexandria City School Board has received four community petitions, each including more than 100 signatures, proposing names for the following school facilities:

The Field at Parker-Gray Stadium at Alexandria City High School – King Street Campus
The Fields at Alexandria City High School – Minnie Howard Campus
The Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School
The Courtyard at the Early Childhood Center

Building on the structure of The Identity Project in 2020 and governed by School Board Policy FFA and Regulation FFA-R, ACPS is embarking on a robust community engagement process. The goal is to ensure an inclusive and transparent naming process that reflects ACPS community values and honors the significance of each space. To that end, we invite the community to learn about the individuals and names proposed for these spaces.

Second Community Poll Now Open

The second community poll opens Nov. 10-19, 2025. To help inform the School Board’s decision, please take one to two minutes to share your views and complete the semi-finalist poll.

Complete the semi-finalist poll

Proposed Names for The Field at Parker-Gray Stadium (Alexandria City High School – King Street Campus)

Keith Burns Field at Parker-Gray Stadium
Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert Field at Parker-Gray Stadium

Keith Burns Field at Parker-Gray Stadium

Keith Burns is a 1990 Alexandria City High School (formerly T.C. Williams High School) graduate who enjoyed a 13-season NFL career, primarily with the Denver Broncos. He was a member of the back-to-back Super Bowl-winning teams in 1997 and 1998. Following his playing career, he transitioned to coaching, including stints as special teams coach for the Broncos and later the Washington Redskins. In 1997, he established the Keith Burns Foundation, which has supported the Alexandria community by providing essentials like backpacks, holiday gifts, childrens' coats and more than 5,000 Thanksgiving baskets for local families.

Proposed via: community petition with 100+ signatures

Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert Field at Parker-Gray Stadium

Army Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert, a T.C. Williams High School running back known as “Touchdown Talbert,” was killed in action on July 27, 2004, while serving with the West Virginia Army National Guard during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Remembered for his transformation from local athlete to dedicated soldier and role model, he exemplified courage, perseverance, and an enduring commitment to his community and country.

Proposed via: community poll write-in

Proposed Names for The Fields at Alexandria City High School – Minnie Howard Campus

Kerry Donley Athletic Field Complex
Titans Territory Athletic Field Complex

Kerry Donley Athletic Field Complex

A former mayor of the City of Alexandria and longtime public servant, Kerry Donley made extraordinary and long lasting contributions to the Alexandria community through public governance, public education and community service. Under his leadership, a number of facilities, infrastructure projects and improvements were approved, financed and constructed, including the construction of Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School and expansion of George Washington Middle School, Francis C. Hammond Middle School and Alexandria City High School (then T.C. Williams High School). After leaving elected office, Donley served as the high school athletic director here in Alexandria. Donley and his wife raised their five daughters in Alexandria, all of whom attended ACPS schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade and were active participants in interscholastic sports including field hockey, soccer and crew.

Proposed via: community petition with 100+ signatures

Titans Territory Athletic Field Complex

The Titans mascot and identity was originally forged during the 1971 consolidation of the city's high schools, serving to unify students across various campuses and backgrounds. Today, the name "Titans Territory" is valued for its ability to serve a similar, unifying capacity: designating the facility as a shared, central space accessible to and representative of all high school campuses.

Proposed via: community poll write-in

Proposed Names for The Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School

Jean B. Reid Media Center
Karl F. Smith Media Center

Jean B. Reid Media Center

Jean B. Reid, a dedicated teacher to thousands of Alexandria students and mentor to countless teachers in Alexandria and across the country, worked for ACPS as a reading specialist from 1971 until her retirement in 2001. She taught and held leadership positions at Lee, Charles Barrett, Stonewall Jackson, Patrick Henry, Mount Vernon and Cora Kelly Elementary Schools. She was honored as an Alexandria and Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher. But what has made her such a legend in Alexandria is her generosity with other teachers and her extraordinary success with children who have trouble learning to read. Reid was once described as “a tornado” with “the force to knock-out the old and useless while creating a new path for the new and purposeful.”

Proposed via: community petition with 100+ signatures

Karl F. Smith Media Center

Karl F. Smith was a longtime Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) educator and principal, leaving a profound legacy across several schools, including Naomi L. Brooks Elementary (formerly Matthew Maury Elementary) and William Ramsay Elementary. He was widely known for his compassionate leadership and unwavering advocacy for equity and underserved students. His dedication to promoting teaching and learning, which consistently went beyond the demands of his job, earned him The Washington Post's annual Distinguished Educational Leadership award. Smith’s career exemplifies a commitment to excellence, community service, and profound dedication to the children and families of Alexandria.

Proposed via: community poll write-in

Proposed Names for The Courtyard at the Early Childhood Center

Owen's Place at the Early Childhood Center

Owen's Place at the Early Childhood Center

A compassionate teen dedicated to helping children, Owen Michael Wagner loved listening to music and attending sporting events. He is the late son of Heidi Haggerty-Wagner, the first principal of the Early Childhood Center. His professional goal was to follow in his mother’s footsteps and become a teacher. Owen was dedicated to helping children.

Proposed via: community petition with 100+ signatures

Community Engagement: Three Ways to Participate

Submit Name Ideas and Participate in Polling: Weigh in on the proposed names for each facility or suggest additional names for consideration through the two community polls.
Speak at Board Meetings: Sign up to speak at school board meetings and the final public hearing to share your feedback directly with the Board.
Stay Informed: Follow ACPS communications channels for updates on the process, dates for the polls, and the final Board vote.

How to Participate in the Name Processes

The first of two community polls opened Oct. 10-22, 2025. To help inform the School Board's decision, the poll was designed for our community to share their views and were invited to provide feedback and suggest their own recommendations through the form provided.

The second community poll opens Nov. 10-19, 2025. To help inform the School Board’s decision, please take one to two minutes to share your views and complete the semi-finalist poll.

Roadmap to the Final Decision

Oct. 3, 2025	Naming Process announced to the public
Oct. 13, 2025	First community poll opens
Oct. 22, 2025	First community poll closes
Nov. 7, 2025	Board Brief - Community poll results
Nov. 10, 2025	Second community poll opens
Nov. 19, 2025	Second community poll closes
Dec. 4, 2025	School Board Meeting - Presentation of Superintendent’s recommendations
Dec. 11, 2025	Public Hearing to start at 5:00 p.m., Work Session to follow.
Dec. 18, 2025	School Board Meeting - Vote

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In This Section

The Identity Project 2025

Naming Our Spaces: Continuing The Identity Project

Second Community Poll Now Open

Proposed Names for The Field at Parker-Gray Stadium (Alexandria City High School – King Street Campus)

Keith Burns Field at Parker-Gray Stadium

Sgt. DeForest L. Talbert Field at Parker-Gray Stadium

Proposed Names for The Fields at Alexandria City High School – Minnie Howard Campus

Kerry Donley Athletic Field Complex

Titans Territory Athletic Field Complex

Proposed Names for The Media Center at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School

Jean B. Reid Media Center

Karl F. Smith Media Center

Proposed Names for The Courtyard at the Early Childhood Center

Owen's Place at the Early Childhood Center

Community Engagement: Three Ways to Participate

How to Participate in the Name Processes

Roadmap to the Final Decision

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