Specialist Team
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Mrs. Adams has taught instrumental music in FCPS since 1997. Prior to that, she taught middle school band for three years in the Alexandria City Public Schools. Mrs. Adams attended Herndon High and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Ed from West Chester University and Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton. Her favorite pastime is exploring museums and historical sites with her adult son and her husband, a retired US Air Force Band percussionist. She looks forward to continuing the excellent music tradition here at Coates. |
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Ms. Capurso joined the Coates Elementary staff in 2019. She grew up in Central New York and attended the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where she earned a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in music education. More recently, she completed a certification program in Orff Schulwerk pedagogy at George Mason University. She began her music teaching career in 2009 and joined FCPS in 2016. In her free time she enjoys singing with the Loudoun Chorale, contra dancing, and spending time with her husband and her dog. |
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Mrs. Claessen began teaching art for Fairfax County in 2011 and joined the staff at Coates Elementary School in 2013. She attended the State University of New York at Buffalo for her Bachelor of Arts and graduated with a major in Environmental Design. After working many years in the private sector, she changed careers. She took additional fine art and teaching courses at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), University of Phoenix and Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) to become an Art Teacher. Mrs. Claessen enjoys spending time with her husband and their three daughters. Her interests include painting, ceramics, travel, and volleyball. |
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Hello there! This is my fourth year teaching music and I'm very excited to be spending it with you! I am a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA and previously taught in Montgomery and Frederick counties. Outside of the music world I enjoy exercising, reading fantasy and science-fiction books, and spending time with my daughter, Leah. |
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Mr. Gardiner has been at Coates since it first opened in 2010. He started as an instructional assistant, then was hired as a PE teacher in 2011. He graduated with a Masters of Education (Curriculum and Instruction) from George Mason University in 2022 with a Health and PE concentration. He cherishes spending time with his wife (Elisabeth) and three young kids (Aimee, Sophia, and Jesse). He is passionate about his Christian faith and considers it central to his life. His family is very active in their church community. He loves cosmology, archeology, being outdoors in nature, and working on his yard. He enjoys all kinds of physical activities including hiking, basketball, tennis, skiing, playing with his kids, and the the family dog (Rosie - golden doodle). |
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Ms. Lowkis is starting her first year as a Music Teacher at Coates Elementary School. She graduated from George Mason University in May 2023 with a Bachelor’s in Music Education. Prior to joining FCPS, Ms. Lowkis taught private piano lessons for over 8 years and worked as a horse trainer and horseback riding instructor for several years. She is going into her second year as Chairperson for NFMC’s Falls Church Spring Piano Festival and has managed her non-profit program “Key Steps" since starting it in 2017. During her free time, she enjoys playing piano and spending time with her family, dog, and horses. |
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Rosemary Meehan joined the Coates staff in 2014. Ms. Meehan has been a media specialist since 1988. She has eight years of experience as a Media Specialist and 10 years as a Children's Librarian in the public libraries. Ms. Meehan has her BFA in Drama from Catholic University, an MLS from the University of MD and an MSIST from GW. She has an AAP certification from FCPS and 24 credits in Special Education. She has three children in UVA, VA Tech, and NOVA. Ms. Meehan loves to use technology to create formal and informal learning experiences. |
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This will be my 19th year teaching PE in FCPS as a proud Alumna. I earned a B.S. in Kinesiology with a Concentration in Athletic Training from James Madison University and a MS Ed. from Shenandoah University. |
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Miss Reed has taught 4th grade in Fairfax County for 11 years. This will be her first year here at Coates! She has a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Mary Washington. She also has her Masters of Science in Elementary Education and her Graduate endorsement in Gifted Education, both from UMW. Miss Reed loves project-based learning! She also loves camping, coffee, and Broadway musicals. |
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Mr. Renne has been teaching at Coates Elementary School since 2012. He also teaches orchestra at Rachel Carson Middle School. Mr. Renne has always lived in Virginia and even attended Fairfax County Public Schools. He graduated from Westfield High School and then received his Music Education degree from George Mason University. Mr. Renne enjoys making music and is a member of the American Prize winning Manassas Symphony Orchestra. |
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Ms. Reihanifard holds two master's degrees in Industrial Design and Graphic Design. She is a former faculty member of Azad University, Tehran, Central Branch, with 18 years of experience educating master's and bachelor's degree students in the Industrial Design Department. She has worked as a Visual Art instructor at various places like Ida Lee Community Center in Leesburg, and Douglas Community Center in Loudoun County. She is a resourceful and creative educator, artist, and designer with years of experience in academic education, practical designing, and supervising, which helped her to develop products in the design major and create artwork in different media in the art field. |
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I received my Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Sport Management from the State University of New York at Cortland. This is my first year teaching! I love being outside and visiting new places. I spend my Sundays watching football, specifically my NY Giants! I can't wait to meet and interact with my new students and hope to make an impact! |
Mrs. Adams
Ms. Capurso
Mrs. Claessen
Mr. Forbes
Mr. Gardiner
Ms. Lowkis
Ms. Meehan
Ms. Pualoa
Ms. Reed
Mr. Renne
Ms. Reihanifard
Ms. Wolstenholme