School History

Kings Glen Elementary School opened in September 1969. The history of Kings Glen is entwined with that of our sister school, Kings Park Elementary School. Kings Park opened in 1964 and rapidly became overcrowded as the school-age population in our area grew much faster than initially projected. Kings Glen was constructed to relieve the overcrowded conditions and from the very beginning the community was adamant that the neighborhood not be split between two separate schools. A compromise was reached to house grades 4-6 at Kings Glen and the younger grades at Kings Park, an arrangement under which our schools still operate today.

Black and white photograph of Kings Glen Elementary School's first principal, Mary Musick, circa 1978
Mary M. Musick, Principal of Kings Park / Kings Glen School Complex (1969-1980)

From 1969-1980, Kings Glen and Kings Park operated as one school complex called Kings Park / Kings Glen Elementary School. Both buildings were jointly administered by one principal, Mary M. Musick, but each building had its own separate assistant principal. The assistant principals from Kings Park / Kings Glen were often selected for principalships after one or two years. As the school grew, however, the frequent turnover of assistant principals created what Principal Musick considered to be a detrimental effect to the school. In the late 1970s, she proposed, and the school system accepted, a plan to form two schools, each with its own full-time principal. In 1980, Bernice Howard was appointed principal of Kings Glen Elementary School and Irene Nassor was assigned as her assistant principal. Mary Musick remained principal at Kings Park Elementary School, and the PTA remained as one to serve the entire Kings Park / Kings Glen community.

Kings Glen Elementary School Entrance, circa 1979, with safety patrol student standing on the sidwalk.
Kings Glen Elementary School, Circa 1979
Kings Glen yearbook covers from 1978, 1984, and 1990. All are very different in style. 1978 is black with alternating colored text that says classbook. 1984 is a green cover with a black and white photograph of the school and the heading Gator Country. 1990 is a silver cover with a blue cartoon alligator holding up a Go Gators pennant.
Our school yearbooks have changed quite a bit since we opened in 1969. On the left is the earliest yearbook in our collection, from the 1977-78 school year. The photograph below is from one of our yearbooks that was printed in the mid-1980s.  

What’s in a Name?

Have you ever wondered how Kings Glen Elementary School got its name? Find out in this video produced for the Fairfax County Public Schools cable television channel Red Apple 21.

Kings Glen Elementary School, exterior, possibly mid-1980s
Kings Glen Elementary School, Mid-1980s

Rosie Gordon Memorial Courtyard

Our courtyard is named in memory of a former Kings Glen Elementary School student who passed away in July 1989. During the naming dedication ceremony the following October, students were given a pink program booklet imprinted with a poem written by Rosie called "Fall."

The leaves are yellow, red and brown,
A shower sprinkles softly down,
The air is fragrant, crisp and cool
And once again I’m stuck in school.

From Above

Explore the evolution of Kings Glen Elementary School in this series of aerial photographs courtesy of the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Our Principals

1969 – 1980: Mary N. Musick
1980 – 1983: Bernice Howard
1983 – 1991: Franklin D. Freeman
1991 – 1999: J. Martin Marinoff, Jr.
1999 – 2005: James Baldwin
2005 – 2021: Samuel L. Elson
2021 – Present: Dr. Christine A. Ritter