The Region 5 Leadership Team is pleased to announce that Ms. Susan Mullen has been named the new principal of Daniels Run Elementary School.

Ms. Mullen has served as the principal of John W. Tolbert Jr. Elementary School in Loudoun County since 2016.  In this role, she led initiatives that significantly improved student outcomes and community engagement. She brings extensive leadership experience, a strong commitment to educational excellence, and a comprehensive understanding of the needs of serving students and families.  

At Tolbert ES, Ms. Mullen developed and implemented a comprehensive multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) framework integrating student behavior with social-emotional learning, core instruction, universal screening, targeted interventions, and progress monitoring. Under her guidance, Collaborative Learning Teams systematically collected, analyzed, and utilized data to identify student needs, leading to high levels of student learning and growth. She implemented instructional program monitoring through data meetings, targeted walk-throughs, thoughtful lesson planning, and providing meaningful and timely feedback to teachers to support continuous improvement.  To personalize teacher professional development, Ms. Mullen introduced a portfolio-based system that facilitated individualized growth and skill enhancement for teachers.   She also led the school Leadership Team in data-driven analysis to set clear goals and strategies in the School Improvement Plan, enhancing both instructional quality and the learning environment. 

Ms. Mullen strengthened community relations and collaboration with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) through proactive communication, including home visits.  She believes in creating meaningful family involvement and engagement opportunities in the educational process.

Ms. Mullen is a dedicated and accomplished educational leader with a proven track record of fostering student success, promoting employee retention, and creating a positive, inclusive, and welcoming school climate. She is compassionate, driven, and deeply committed to prioritizing students' needs.

Ms. Mullen, originally from Dana Point, CA, now resides in Alexandria, Virginia. Outside of work, she enjoys family life with her fiancé and two soon-to-be stepsons. Susan is a devoted mother to three grown daughters who live across Colorado, California, and Virginia, and she loves spending time with her four grandchildren.  Susan also enjoys biking, hiking, and pilates. Her leisure time is filled with reading, attending concerts, eating out, spending time with friends, and supporting her favorite sports teams—the Nationals and the Capitals. 

Ms. Mullen earned her Bachelor of Business Administration at George Washington University, Master of Arts in Educational Curriculum and Instruction at Chapman University, and Master of Education Leadership at George Mason University.