The Identity Project 2025

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.

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.”

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.