May 15, 2024 - The School Board of the City of Manassas has appointed Craig Gfeller as the Deputy Superintendent of Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS). The approval was made during the school board’s meeting on May 14. Gfeller will begin his new assignment on July 1.
Gfeller has more than 21 years of experience in education, having worked in Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and most recently, MCPS.
Since 2021, Gfeller has been serving as the Executive Director of Student Achievement for the division. In this role, he has supported schools in implementing division-wide initiatives, such as A Cycle that Works, the MCPS model for Professional Learning Communities. He is helping the division meet the goals outlined in the MCPS Strategic Plan by leading the efforts to enhance instruction in all schools. In the first year of implementing A Cycle That Works, early literacy results improved significantly, as measured by growth on the PALS assessments from fall 2022 to spring 2023 in grades K-2.
“Mr. Gfeller plays a vital role in developing and implementing systems to enhance instruction being provided throughout MCPS,” said Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman. “The improvements in the PALS scores are just the beginning of the student achievement increases that will result from Mr. Gfeller’s leadership and the implementation of A Cycle That Works. As Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Gfeller will continue his focus on continuous improvement for all schools and departments in support of the MCPS Strategic Plan.”
Prior to his time at MCPS, Gfeller served as the associate superintendent for eastern elementary schools for PWCS. In this role, he supervised 16 schools and focused on assisting school leaders in organizing learning and embedding best practices to increase student achievement. He guided the lowest-performing schools, leading to significant academic progress.
Gfeller's strong track record of improving student achievement demonstrates his leadership and dedication. As a principal, he played a crucial role in transforming West Gate Elementary (PWCS) and Camelot Elementary (FCPS) into Professional Learning Communities, resulting in significant gains in student achievement.
Before serving as an elementary school principal in both Fairfax and Prince William counties, Gfeller was an elementary assistant principal at Wolftrap Elementary School and a science teacher at Edison High School and Liberty Middle School. These experiences have given him a deep understanding of the educational landscape and a proven ability to drive positive change.
Gfeller graduated with honors from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, then pursued his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Virginia Tech. He furthered his education with an education specialist degree and certification in administration and supervision from the University of Virginia. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Gfeller also holds licensing as a Virginia superintendent.
The appointment of Gfeller as Deputy Superintendent is part of MCPS’ organizational restructuring, which will take effect on July 1, 2024. These changes aim to reduce the central office budget and the number of Executive Cabinet members and streamline instructional focus and work by consolidating responsibilities under one umbrella.
As Deputy Superintendent, Gfeller will oversee the consolidated student achievement and student service departments and operational functions, including school nutrition services, facilities, transportation, and security services. The overall Executive Cabinet will be reduced from seven members to five. In addition to the Deputy Superintendent, the new structure will include two executive directors instead of the current four: Dr. Jennifer Cassata, Executive Director of Accountability and Finance, and Billie Kay Wingfield, Executive Director of Human Resources. Additionally, there will be two directors, Almeta Radford, Director of Communications and Community Relations, and Bobby Barrett, Director of Information Technology Services. This restructuring is a step towards a more efficient and effective MCPS, ensuring a brighter future for our students.