Oran Dowd is a first-year teacher beginning his journey as a Physical Education Teacher. Oran has a Bachelor's Degree in Health and Physical Education from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Oran also minored in Adapted Physical Education and loves teaching all students. He looks forward to his journey as an educator and his future at Graham Road Elementary! Read more about Graham Road's Physical Education Program.

Jake Harkins has been proud to serve as the General Music Specialist for the past eleven years at Graham Road Elementary School. Jake has a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and a Master of Music in Music Education from Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He serves as Level 2 Faculty for in-person summer SongWorks Certification Courses, and Level 3 Faculty for a virtual practicum year-long mentorship. Since 2021, Jake has served GRES as Lead Mentor, overseeing the Mentor Program that supports first-year educators, new-to-county educators, and their respective mentors. Jake is the sitting President of the SongWorks Educators Association. As a Responsive Classroom Certified Educator, Jake believes music study fosters critical thinking, creativity, expressive communication, and confidence. Read about the Music Program at Graham Road.

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Amanda Lockhart is a 12th-year special education teacher beginning her journey as a first-year Adapted Physical Education Itinerant Teacher supporting students with disabilities at multiple nearby schools, but whose base school is Graham Road Elementary. Amanda has a bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Special Education, and a master’s in Special Education from George Mason University. She has worked with middle and elementary school students of all abilities and fell in love with teaching PE as a Unified Special Olympics Coach. She is excited to collaborate with Mr. Dowd and Mr. Navia to provide engaging instruction for students at Graham Road Elementary! Read more about FCPS' Adapted PE Program.

Taryn McCormick has been teaching at Graham Road Elementary School since the start of her teaching career in 2022. Taryn graduated from Shenandoah University’s Conservatory with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, specializing in string instruments, and a certificate in Violin performance. In addition to teaching elementary orchestra at four schools, she is also a performer in the local Northern Virginia Community Orchestra. After years of college and some time in the classroom, Taryn believes that learning an instrument is pivotal in the physical, social, and emotional development of all children. Read more about Graham Road's Strings Program.

Leonardo Navia Izquierdo has a degree in Physical Education from the National Pedagogical University of Colombia. After moving to the US, he taught gymnastics recreationally and competitively for 17 years. Leo joined Graham Road in August 2023 as a PE teacher, where he loves to teach and motivate students for a healthy and bright future. Read more about Graham Road's Physical Education Program.

Art lessons are taught around a main idea for each of the grade levels which help our students achieve their sense of place in the world. Lessons are also connected to classroom curriculum to reinforce learning in all areas. The lessons introduce children to different materials that are used to create works of art. Throughout the school year, students will create art based on the following categories: drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, collage, sculpture, ceramics, and digital media. In 6th grade, students will be administered the FCPS Fine Arts Assessment to allow them to demonstrate skills they have learned at the elementary level.