Mission First, People Always: How One FCPS Grad Turned Military Moves Into a Path to Leadership
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to honor the resilience and strength of children who grow up in military families—often adapting to new schools, new friends, and new beginnings.
From ‘Frenemies’ to Wedded Bliss: One FCPS Alumni Couple Tells Their Love Story that Began With a High School Connection
Sisiam “Sisi” Roda Reyes and husband Raul Reyes were not high school sweethearts.
“I don’t think she liked me very much in high school. I was kind of annoying,” Raul said with a grin.
The two knew each other at Falls Church High School, but ran in different circles. They maybe had a few friends that overlapped in some of those circles and one or two classes together during their four years in high school.
Maureen Boland & Brett Surbey: West Springfield HS & Hunt Valley, Class of 1986
Brett and I met in 1979 at HVES. We were in the same class in 6th grade. Brett was a Coast Guard brat and moved around through middle school returning to FCPS junior year in HS. We began dating in the summer of 86 right when we graduated. We broke up during college when he was at Miami of OH and I was at UVA. Fast forward to a reconnection in 1990 and then an engagement in 92 and marriage in 93. We’re still going strong 31 years later and have raised three girls in FCPS schools.
Bill Carter & Carolyn Cable Carter: Oakton High School, Class of 1970
We met in HomeRoom in 1968, shortly after Oakton High School opened its doors to students for the first time! Carter and Cable were naturally in the same class. We graduated together with the OHS Class of '70. From there, we went to Northwestern U. (Bill) and the University of GA (Carolyn). When completing college, 4 years later in 1974, we married.
We have now been married over 50 years and our children attended FCPS and now, we have grandchildren attending FCPS! Thank you, FCPS!
Karen (Paulhus) Joseph & Mark Joseph: Annadale High School, Class of 1987
Our story goes way back to middle school—Poe Middle School, to be exact—where we first met as seventh graders. Back then, we were just two kids in the same school, crossing paths but not thinking much of it. It wasn’t until we got to Annandale HS that we actually became friends.
By junior year, we somehow ended up in all four of our core classes together. We started studying together, sharing notes, helping each other out, and before we knew it, we became really good friends. We spent so much time together that it just felt natural, like we were meant to be in each other’s lives.
Jenny Abrahamson & Tanner Biehn: Fairfax High School, Class of 2017 & 2018
It's crazy to think that Tanner and I actually met. I was a junior, and he was a sophomore. I’d spent my entire school career in Fairfax City, while he was a military kid who moved every three years. I’d been on the Women's Varsity Crew team for the last two years, and Tanner had just joined the novice team, mainly because of some pressure from a close friend. We never practiced together, nor did we see each other during winter training. It wasn’t until late February, as we were gearing up for water practice, that carpools started being organized.
Read moreKevin Liang & Anhthu Cung: Thomas Jefferson High School, Class of 2019
We first met at Frost Middle School, but didn’t become close friends until TJ. We became friends that first year of high school over our shared middle school and our shared bus ride to and from school, living in the same neighborhood.
All four years of high school, we never had a class together, but we’d see each other every morning and afternoon on the bus. When we started driving to school, we’d make sure to still meet up in the mornings before classes, sitting at a table in the library, or in the afternoons, walking around the empty hallways of the school.
Carol Tingley Davis & Richard Davis: Lee High School, Class of 1963 & 1964
Met my sweetheart Richard (Rick) Davis at lunch at Lee HS in 1962, after my 7 years at Franconia Elementary where I was once SCA President. We dated and went to prom. Continued to date; he graduated 1963 and I graduated as Salutatorian Class of 1964, Edison HS, where I had lettered in softball, basketball and field hockey.I went off to Longwood College and Virginia Tech. He graduated from VMI 1967 with a commission with USAF after which we married. USAF sent us to Atlanta where he received his Masters from GA Tech 1969.
Kimberly Pham & James Diaz: John R. Lewis High School, Class of 2018 & 2019
James and I met a little over 10 years ago at Key Middle School—he was an eighth grader, and I was a year younger. We lived just a few streets apart, and I would sometimes walk over to his bus stop to be with my best friends. Once we met, we instantly connected over growing up in the same neighborhood, attending the same elementary school, and our shared love of skateboarding.
One of my favorite memories from back then was spending time with James’ dog, Charlie, who always tagged along when we walked around the neighborhood. I even still have a picture with him! Anyway, we liked each other back then, but we were just kids, so I figured it was best to stay friends.
Levi & Lindsey Barber: Thomas A. Edison High School, Class of 2010
My husband and I went to elementary, middle, and high school in Fairfax County. We both went to Thomas A. Edison high school and graduated in 2010. We first met in our 9th grade English class at Edison. Levi sat in the back of the class with a friend who was very talkative. I sat in the front of the class and one day our teacher decided to switch my seat with the talkative student. I was assigned to sit next to Levi and from there we formed a unique friendship. He would tease me and play jokes on me all the time. I later found out it was all to get my attention. We started dating in the fall of 2008 and are married with one daughter. We both currently work in FCPS and Levi currently works at Edison High school! We are very grateful for our experience and time with FCPS.
Helen Tingley & Sam Meyer: West Springfield High School, Class of 2019
We met in 7th grade history class at Irving Middle School and became friends after being assigned seats next to each other. Thanks Mrs. Brown! After 4 years of being in the same friend group, we decided to start dating at the beginning of 11th grade. We graduated West Springfield High School in 2019, and after almost 6 years of long distance for college, we are about to start our lives together. From the history classroom to Germany!
Peter MacDonald & Sara Clayton: James Madison High School, Class of 2016
We actually met in middle school at Thoreau Middle School. We were in the same orchestra class in eighth grade (shout-out to Ms. Yacovisi for inspiring excellence in music), and we were distant acquaintances, though our friend groups started to merge around then. In freshman year of high school the group solidified and I was one of the three boys and she was one of the three girls. It started as a recognition of mutual compatibility, first as friends.
Read morePaige (Jefferson) Weber & Andrew Weber: Westfield High School, Class of 2020
Andrew and I met in high school through mutual friends and started dating our senior year. We would meet up during our "bulldog block" (free period), we would get in trouble in our government class for whispering to each other too much, and he would walk me to every one of my classes (even when it made him late). Unfortunately, covid cut our senior year short, but we spent all of quarantine together. This included having our own little prom. Andrew went to Virginia Tech and I went to Liberty University, but, even with the distance, we stayed together all through college. Last spring, he proposed to me and we got married this past fall after 5 years of dating! We are now living in Huntsville, AL. I am a nurse and he is a computer engineer. We are so grateful for all the memories that Westfield brought us and we love sharing our story as "high school sweethearts!"
Madeline (Harbin) James & Andrew James: Falls Church High School, Class of 2016
In the summer of 2010, Andrew and I attended "Locker Day" at Luther Jackson Middle School. Little did I know that not only would I be learning all of the steps to becoming a middle schooler, I would also become acquaintances with my future husband. Andrew and I officially met in our 7th grade science class. Later we would find out that each of us had a crush on one another, but at that time I referred to him as "the distracting boy who annoys me." In 8th grade we were no longer on the same team and we seemingly forgot about each others existence, as most middle school crushes come and go.
Read moreCeli Johnson & Colton Sorrells: Westfield High School, Class of 2016 & 2018
Colton and I (Celi) met on the track team at Westfield High School. I was a sophomore, he was a senior. In high school, we were just friendly, chatting during workouts and at track parties/grad parties but neither pursuing anything. Colton went to JMU, and two years later I went to Georgia Tech. We lost contact with each other when Colton went to college, considering we had only been surface level friends. After college, Colton took a job in clean energy in Boulder, Colorado, and has been there ever since.
Read moreYannos Misitzis & Ashley (Vines) Misitzis: McLean High School, Class of 2000
Yannos and Ashley met in 7th grade at Longfellow Middle School. He says she hated him. She says she doesn't remember him. During their high school years at McLean HS, they had classes together and became close friends despite having different friend groups and participating in different activities. Yannos regularly came up with reasons why he needed a ride home from Ashley and she realized she had a lot more fun with him than other people. They started dating in college despite being states apart and got married in 2007. Yannos is now a teacher in FCPS and Ashley is a Physical Therapist. They have two kids, an 8th grader and a 6th grader who hear regularly, "You never know who you will meet in school!"
Lindsay D’Adamo DePeralta & Victor DePeralta: Justice High School, Class of 2005 & 2003
We met at band camp… yep, that one time. Victor was a senior and played the drums, I was a sophomore and played percussion in the “pit.” The band was a close-knit group and spent a lot of time together after school at practice, at Friday night football games, and at competitions on the weekends. After a few months of flirting and passed notes between classes, Victor asked me out to a movie. He asked me to his senior prom and I took him to both my junior and senior year proms. We stayed (mostly) together through our college years. After graduation I moved abroad to teach in France and Victor followed with a marriage proposal on a trip to Italy. We were married in 2012 and now have 3 beautiful children. We live in Fairfax County where our kids attend school in FCPS. I work for FCPS as an Educational Specialist and Vic works as a detective in DC (and still drums in their honor guard band!). We were, and still are, totally in love, just a little busier these days. ❤️
Norman Stavridis & Aja Nguyen: Chantilly High School, Class of 2019 & 2020
Our friend invited us to their graduation party. He was having a panic attack and I asked my friend if he was doing alright. She immediately brought him over for us to talk although that wasn't my intent, but we hit it off. He knew our friend in his theater class at Chantilly High School. Without her help introducing us together we wouldn't be here today. Most of our close friends are from CHS and we all attended the University of Mary Washington together coincidentally. Small world right? I am forever grateful for Norman introducing me to his friends as we are all still close till this day. We have a very strong relationship focused on communication and respect. I am working as a nurse while he's working in accounting. It's been 5 and a half years, and we are planning on getting engaged in the next two years.
Jacob Greeno & Lauren (Smith) Glenn GreenoL Westfield High School, Class of 2014
My husband, Jacob, and I met at Ormond Stone Middle School when a friend introduced us during an assembly. However, it wasn’t until high school at Westfield that we truly connected. Our mutual friends often paired us together to organize group hangouts, and we bonded over planning activities like laser tag, movie nights, and group outings to places like Cici's Pizza and Genghis Grill.
Read moreJennifer Pearson & Anderson Moya-Martinez: Thomas A. Edison High School, Class of 2018
We met in science class at Mark Twain Middle School when our teacher assigned the seating. Since “Martinez” and “Pearson” are close in the alphabet, we ended up sitting at the same table. We immediately became friends and were interested in being more than friends eventually. Freshman year of high school at Thomas A. Edison High School we started officially dating, but broke up later that year. After graduation, we went our separate ways for some time and reunited and started dating each other again, during the college years. In 2023, we got engaged and got married in 2024! We are now expecting a baby in May of 2025! If we had never had any classes together throughout middle or high school we maybe would have never met.
Mikayla Huffman (Marshall HS) & Mason Liddell (Langley HS): Class of 2018
Mason and I met in seventh grade at Longfellow Middle School. We were friends throughout middle school, and were in English, Spanish, and Gym class together. When I came home on the first day of class, I told my Mom excitedly "Mom, I met a boy!!" We started dating in tenth grade. I knew he liked me, so I just told him "hey, I'm just going to assume we're dating." We've been together since! We're celebrating our tenth anniversary in September. We went to William & Mary together, and are now at the University of Colorado, Boulder, where Mason is about to graduate with his law degree, and I am working on my Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences Ph.D.
Seamus O'Connor & Kirstin (née Kerr) O'Connor: TJ High School, Class of 2003
The very first class of our first day of high school was band. Kirstin sat down in the tenor saxophone section and looked at the other tenor sax players: me, and two other dudes. She raised her hand and announced she was switching to baritone.
Flash forward three years, and we ended up in marching band together. Kirstin was my section leader. It turned out that we got along well as long as she was in charge. Twenty-two years later, we still do.
Grace Cooper & Josh McCoy: WT Woodson and Edison, Class of 2018
Josh and I met our freshman year of High school and just hit ten years together. I went to Woodson and Josh went to Edison but that did not keep us apart it just doubled the fun. We attended each others school dances, Joshes lacrosse games, and all of Graces Precisionettes performances. We even competed for both schools twice in the science fair and won at States both years! We both committed to continuing our education after high school and attended Miami University together. We got engaged our senior year and married shortly after. We now both reside in Tucson Arizona and are about to celebrate two years of marriage. We are so grateful to FCPS for setting us up for success in our education and careers, and for bringing us together!
Annika Terrell & Taylor Brown: Chantilly High School, Class of 2019
Taylor and Annika met through a mix of mutual friends and marching band in 2017, Taylor was a percussionist and Annika was on Colorguard. Over the years, they have gone on many adventures including doing drum corps international (Jersey Surf) in 2018. Annika had a firm rule that she did not want to be engaged until she was done with college, so Taylor waited patiently for 4 years and promptly proposed the week after Annika graduated from her Masters Degree. They got engaged on a camping trip in West Virginia which includes a rocky top picnic, a run in with a snake, and Taylor almost falling off a mountain with the ring in his hand. They had a small wedding on April 21st of 2024 near Nashville, TN on Taylors family farm. Annika is now the Digital Marketing and Operations Manager at Roof Fanatics and Taylor is going back to school to pursue a new path. They now live in Chattanooga, TN loving the little life they have made and they are excited to see what the future holds.
Alexandra Gosser & David Ward: Woodson High School, Class of 2020
We met junior year of high school because David was on a dance team with my ex. Then, senior year when I walked into my government class, David was in there. I was really excited because I thought he was cute. Fast forward a couple days and we got sat next to each other by chance by Mr. Rosebrock and we became fast friends. I joined his astronomy class as well. I invited him to homecoming with my friends, and the next day we started dating. We stayed together long distance while I was in college, and 5 years later we live in Minnesota. I work for TSA and he is in school to become an auto mechanic. He helps run my parents’ escape room business, and we have two dogs and two cats that we love.
Jasmine Flores & Kenny Flores: John R. Lewis (Robert E Lee) Highscool, Class of 2016
Our love story began in the hallways of Fairfax Public Schools, where fate had a little fun in store for us. Kenny and I first crossed paths in middle school (Key MS), though we were just classmates at first. Kenny and I were complete opposites, He was big on sport and I was big on books. We started to bond over, mutual friends and discovered we lived only one block away from each other. Little did we know, those simple moments would lay the foundation for something extraordinary.
Read moreAndrew Lefcourt & Courtney Young: WT Woodson, Class of 2019
We met at Frost in Middle School where our relationship began as we went to 8th grade formal together. We then continued to go to every dance together throughout high school. We each went to different colleges while still staying together. Once graduated, we moved to Vermont to live our lives.
Arianna Gundlach & Caiman Campbell: Fairfax High School, Class of 2019
Arianna and Caiman met junior year in Ms. Bathke's Geosystems class at Fairfax High School, but they were properly introduced later that year by a mutual friend. They bonded over broken hearts, playing cards, and trying new things together. While a lot of people said it wouldn't work, as Arianna is more of a book girl and Caiman is more of a gamer guy, somehow it did. Caiman snuck out of class to see Arianna during her lunch period (not that they condone this). Arianna asked Caiman to senior prom with a Gilmore Girls inspired sign (he still has it). Despite knowing they'd be in different states after graduation, they made a commitment to long distance. And it stuck.
Gavin Mozingo & Fatima (Martinez) Mozingo: Westfield High School, Class of 2019
We met in Geosystems and begin dating early senior year. Ever since then we became inseparable and after four years of dating we got married. We now live a happy life outside the country and enjoying every moment. We live in Japan living our lives and happy that we got to meet each other in high school.