Cliff Hardison, Assistant Principal
Cliff Hardison attended West Springfield High School where he learned the value of academic rigor and intellectual curiosity. Many of his teachers went on to become educational leaders in FCPS. Belonging to the 70-member Scout Trip 991 provided him with multiple examples of adult leadership and modeling and synthesized values. His numerous outings into wilderness areas, rock-climbing, and canoeing encouraged collaborative team work, an inner persistence, and a wonder for Nature and the environment.
His education continued at George Mason where he majored in English and certification in history and education. His education was enhanced through valuable experiences gained from his varsity running at Mason and the Marine Corp's PLC. Yet, again, the importance of team and persistence were cemented. He obtained a masters in counseling at Virginia Commonwealth where he also coached Men's Cross Country. Later, he pursued a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Virginia Tech. He is currently an ABD.
He has taught middle school through the college levels over the years, accumulating over a decade in teaching experiences with gifted and remedial students, complemented by more years in counseling and administrative experiences. He worked at Godwin Middle School and helped start Potomac High School in Prince William County. He completed his internship in Richmond City and worked in Chesterfield County, VA. In FCPS, he has been a counselor at Edison (2.5 years), guidance director at West Potomac (6 years), and an assistant principal at Hayfield Secondary (almost 10 years). He has worked with all the various departments and aspects of school infrastructure as supervisor and gained valuable insight into the value of all courses and the amazing never-ending dedication of teachers and school staff. He readily acknowledges he has learned through the years just how essential it is for students to balance their lives with various experiences. His recent summer school principalship at South County Secondary and then his subsequent move to TJHSST this last August (2007) have enthused and inspired him to leap into the academic fray, wielding the mighty CIRPSICSR!
Cliff Hardison's passion in life is to ensure consistent and transparent practices instructionally and to enhance communication between various school community stakeholders and constituents. He has been awarded PTSA life-time memberships at Edison, West Potomac, and Hayfield. He has tried consistently to empower parents to better support their children in educational endeavors and affective development. Private-public partnerships have particularly appealed to his imagination and innovative views and have framed many of his efforts. Alternate assessment formats, applying brain research to learning, management/leadership books, and articles in Discover Magazine are topics he likes to discuss.
Faculty Curator: Richard Washer