Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.
Today, get to know Erika Williams, the new principal of Dumfries Elementary. Williams has been an educator in Prince William County Schools (PWCS) since 2015.
Why Prince William County, and why Dumfries Elementary?
I came to PWCS in 2015 as a military spouse. I started as a fourth-grade teacher at Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary School and later taught at Kyle Wilson Elementary School. Following that, I stepped into the role of assistant principal at Yorkshire Elementary School. I became my best in PWCS, thanks to the leadership opportunities, professional development and peer support I was given. I can officially call this place home, as it’s the longest my family has settled anywhere during my husband’s military career, the second being Fort Cavazos, Texas.
Dumfries Elementary School piqued my interest because I see it as a place where I can really connect with the surrounding community. One of my Gallup strengths is connectedness. When I reviewed Dumfries Elementary's mission and vision, it resonated with one of my core beliefs: help, don’t hinder. The focus on goals, positive choices and collaboration aligned perfectly with my values. The staff and community were incredibly welcoming, offering support not just to students and families, but to each other as well. In times of need, they are all-hands, hearts and minds on deck.
How will you bring your experience as to your new role as principal in PWCS?I have a diverse background. These experiences enable me to lead empathy, innovation, and a strong commitment to the community, ensuring that Dumfries is a place where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed. My time as an assistant principal has equipped me with a deep understanding of school operations, staff management, and student needs. I plan to leverage this experience to create a supportive and efficient school environment, ensuring that both teachers and students thrive.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
“We do know there are parts of our system that will take weeks to repair or rebuild. In many cases, there is no road — not even dirt — where there once was one and our poles are down mountainsides or in the river in some cases,” Renee Walker, director of public relations at Blue Ridge, said.
The cost of Hurricane Helene's damage is in the billions, according to several reports and analyses. The death toll is above 200 people as well.
There will be several different special guests, performances, challenges and local agencies present at the expo. Read more below for the event schedule.
Schedule
- Noon to 12:10 p.m.:Â Opening ceremony (Ball Field 2)
- 12:10 to 12:35 p.m.:Â Prince William County Pipes & Drums
- 1 to 1:30 p.m.:Â Woodbridge High School Marching Band
- 1:30 to 2 p.m.:Â Make the Right Call Presentation
- 2 to 2:30 p.m.:Â Manassas Park High School Drum Line
- 2:30 to 3 p.m.:Â Egg Drop Challenge (Demo Alley)
- 3 to 3:30 p.m.:Â Vehicle Extrication
- 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.:Â School of Rock Haymarket House Band (Courtyard)
Exhibitors
FIRE & RESCUE
- PWC Fire & Rescue System
- Fire Marshal’s Office
- HAZMAT
- Life & Fire Safety Programs
- Office of Emergency Management
- Department of Fire & Rescue CPAT/Human Resources Office
- City of Manassas Fire & Rescue Department
- Manassas Park Fire & Rescue Department
LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Prince William County Police Department
- Prince William County Sheriff’s Office
- Manassas Park Police Department
- Town of Haymarket Police Department
- Town of Occoquan Police Department
- Quantico Police Department
- Dumfries Police Department
- Virginia State Police
LOCAL & REGIONAL AGENCIES
- AirCare 1 (PHI Air Medical Manassas)
- Department of Forestry
- Virginia Forestry
- Civil Air Patrol
- Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital
- Prince William District Scouts
- Prince William County Community Foundation
- NOVA Food Rescue
- PWC Animal Services
- Saving Prince William’s Littles
- Area Agency on Aging
- PWC Public Safety Communications 911
- Office of Executive Management
- Human Rights Commission
- Community Services Wellness & Prevention
- Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court Seals on Wheels
- PWC Building Development Building Code Enforcement
- Prince William Public Libraries’ Mobile Library Unit
- Office of Housing and Community Development
- Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry
- Volunteer Prince William
- Public Works/Solid Waste Management
- Office of Procurement Services
- PWC Department of Facilities & Fleet Management
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- PWCFRS Honor Guard
- Prince William County Pipes & Drums
- Antique Fire & Rescue Apparatus
- MedStar Health – Bleeding Control VR Experience
- PSCC 911 – Make the Right Call Presentation
- Firefighter/EMS Gear Dress Up Station
- Face Painting
- Egg Drop Challenge
- Rules
- Registration Form (closes Wed., Oct.9th @ 5 p.m.)
SPECIAL GUESTS
- Sparky the Fire Dog
- McGruff the Crime Dog
- Smokey the Bear
MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
- Woodbridge High School Marching Band
- Manassas Park High School Drum Line
- School of Rock Haymarket House Band
FOOD TRUCKS
- Two Smooth Dudes
- Virginia Grill
- Sweet Frog
- Bella’s Cafe
AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
The National Capital Chapter of the Construction Management Project Achievement Awards Program (CMAA) awarded the project this honor following its completion in late April.
CMAA recognized the project for its "innovative construction management" and collaboration between Prince William County's Department of Transportation and ATCS, an engineering consulting firm, over the several years it took to finish the project.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.
Today, get to know Chris McManus, the new principal of Antietam Elementary in Lake Ridge. He's a Prince William County native and an educator for nearly 20 years.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Early voting is open in Virginia! Starting on Sept. 20, Virginians can begin voting in the Nov. 5 general election and local election. Potomac Local News is dedicated to informing the community about candidates vying for one of three open seats on the Manassas City Council and the mayor’s seat.
To help voters make an informed decision, we are continuing a new feature series, “One-Question Manassas City Council Candidate Survey.” This series will run throughout the campaign season, offering insights into each candidate’s stand on key issues affecting our city. Our seventh one, which ran on Sept. 24, focused on power outages and the electrical grid.
The candidates are given 10 days to respond to a Google Form, and their answers will be compiled into a single post on PotomacLocalNews.com. This format lets voters quickly compare the candidates’ views on critical issues, helping them make an informed choice come Election Day.
Today’s topic: Schools.
The candidates were asked: Public school performance is a critical issue for many families in Manassas. With the School Board controlling school management but the City Council being a chief funding source, how do you plan to address the challenges our public schools face, such as lagging Standards of Learning (SOL) scores, provisional accreditation for Osbourn High and Metz Middle and the need for equal resources across all schools? Specifically, would you support setting benchmarks when the school board comes asking for funding during the upcoming budget cycle? Additionally, how do you propose to ensure transparency in the use of public funds, and how would you approach the ongoing discussions about funding and constructing new school facilities to accommodate growing student populations?
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
One of Sondheim's most popular musicals details the tale of the Baker and his wife, who in their quest to have a child, make a bargain with a vengeful witch. The couple finds themselves on a journey through the woods encountering familiar fairytale characters.
Performances will be held in the Wind River Theater at the ARTfactory from Oct. 11 to Oct. 20.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Take a look at some highlighted events.
Saturday (Oct. 5)
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The ticket is worth $1,505,297. The winning numbers were 6-20-32-36-43, and the winner had 180 days from the drawing to claim the prize with the Virginia Lottery.
In late August, another man from Prince William County won the Virginia Lottery Cash4Life, which totaled $1 million. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 1,221,759. The rolling jackpot for Cash 5 with EZ Match starts at a minimum of $200,000.
