Manassas, VA — Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS) has named Dr. Laura Goldzung as the next Director of Instruction, effective July 1. She was selected after a comprehensive, intentional, and thorough process to ensure strong alignment with the division’s instructional priorities.
Under the Deputy Superintendent's leadership, the Director of Instruction collaborates with division personnel, school administrators, and teachers to guide the development and continuous improvement of the division’s instructional program.
Dr. Goldzung brings 25 years of experience in public education and a strong record of instructional leadership to the role. She currently serves as principal of Haydon Elementary School, where she has led efforts to strengthen instructional practices and student outcomes. Under her leadership, Haydon has demonstrated measurable academic growth, with reading scores increasing by 14 points and math scores rising by 31 points between the 2021–2022 and 2024–2025 school years.
Dr. Goldzung’s career spans a wide range of roles, including instructional assistant, literacy tutor, special education teacher, and school-based administrator. Since transitioning into school administration in 2012, she has demonstrated visionary leadership in strengthening instructional practices, building collaborative school cultures, and driving systems-level improvement.
She believes that strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills are critical to long-term student success and is a champion of interdisciplinary, inquiry-driven instruction that engages students in meaningful problem-solving experiences.
She first joined MCPS as an assistant principal in 2013. From 2016 to 2021, Dr. Goldzung served as principal of Baldwin Elementary School, where she led the implementation of Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Launch for all K–4 students. Under her leadership, Baldwin was named a PLTW Distinguished School in consecutive years, and she was recognized nationally as the 2021–2022 PLTW Administrator of the Year. She was also honored as the Washington Post Principal of the Year for MCPS in 2024.
Dr. Goldzung also brings valuable division-level experience, having previously served as Director of Assessment and Accountability and Director of Instruction for MCPS. In these roles, she oversaw instructional programming across content areas, led the development of division-wide curriculum resources, coordinated the Virginia Assessment Program, and contributed to the creation of the MCPS Strategic Plan.
She earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. Her research focuses on fostering teacher leadership as a driving force for school improvement—an approach that continues to shape her work in developing strong professional learning communities and empowering educators to lead instructional change.
“Dr. Goldzung’s leadership is defined by a clear vision, a deep commitment to students, and an ability to bring people together around meaningful work. She leads with both purpose and ensures that decisions remain focused on what matters most, which is student success,” said Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman.
As Director of Instruction, Dr. Goldzung will continue to support educators across the division, strengthen instructional systems, and ensure all students have access to high-quality learning opportunities that prepare them for future success.