Leadership Team

Principal

Alicia Kingcade has been the principal at John Adams Elementary School (John Adams) since 2021. Dr. Kingcade has worked in Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) since 2010 in a leadership or teaching capacity. She served as the assistant principal of the Early Childhood Center from 2019-2021 and was previously an assistant principal at John Adams from 2013-2019. Dr. Kingcade was also the ACPS summer school coordinator from 2020-2021. Prior to joining the ACPS staff, Dr. Kingcade was a special education teacher for six years at Christina School District in Newark, Delaware. Dr. Kingcade earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in educational school leadership from Wilmington University, and a Doctorate in Education leadership from Seton Hall University. Dr. Kingcade has also earned early childhood leadership certification from Harvard School of Education. Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers.

Phone: 703-824-6970

Email: alicia.kingcade@acps.k12.va.us

Mr. Luther is beginning his sixth year as an assistant principal at John Adams Elementary School. Before joining the administrative team, he served fifteen years in Fairfax County as an assistant principal at South County Secondary and Lee High Schools. Prior to his time in Fairfax County, Luther taught Social Studies at George Washington Middle School here in Alexandria from 2000 to 2005.

In the eleven years before coming to Northern Virginia, Mr. Luther taught abroad in Australia, Costa Rica and Argentina. He hopes to use his bilingual skills (English/Spanish) at John Adams Elementary to support students and families.

He looks forward to working with the students, parents, and teachers from Grades K-2!

Phone: 703-824-6970

Email: mark.luther@acps.k12.va.us 

Jeffrey Palmer was appointed the assistant principal at John Adams Elementary School in June 2023. Dr. Palmer has worked in Alexandria City Public Schools since 2005 as a teacher, instructional coach and summer learning principal before his current role at John Adams. He served as the Title I Science and Math Instructional Coach at James K. Polk Elementary School from 2019–2021 before arriving to John Adams as its Science Instructional Coach in 2021. He was a fourth and fifth grade classroom teacher at James K. Polk from 2005–2019. Dr. Palmer was a fifth and sixth grade classroom teacher at the elementary and middle school levels in upstate New York from 1994–2004 before coming to Alexandria City Public Schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Elmira College, a master’s degree in educational leadership from SUNY Brockport University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. Beyond his teaching certification, Dr. Palmer has additional professional license endorsements in administration and supervision and gifted education.

Preferred Pronouns: He/His