Seidah Ashshaheed will soon leave her principal position at King George County’s King George Middle School to become principal of Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School in Falls Church City. Ashshaheed was officially appointed tonight with a vote by the Falls Church City School Board.

“Seidah Ashshaheed brings a record of enthusiasm, high energy and great accomplishment to Mary Ellen Henderson,” Superintendent Lois Berlin said. “In addition, her experience working with all age groups is a great benefit for FCCPS.”

Her tenure as a King George County educator dates back to 2004, when she was hired as assistant principal of Washington District Elementary School. The following year she moved over to King George Middle School and became principal in 2006.

She is popular in the King George community for creating innovative programs to bolster learning. For the past three years Ashshaheed has promised to do something outrageous if eighth graders scored at least a 90-percent pass rate on their SOL tests. After 92% achieved a passing score this year, she kissed ‘Lemac’ a camel from a local farm. “It’s my way of adding fun to the testing season,” Ashshaheed said. “It makes it less stressful.”

King George Middle School also won the FBI’s Safe OnLine Surfing (SOS) Internet Challenge 8th grader National Championship this year. Students produced the top cumulative results in the nation.

Ashshaheed earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Illinois, and her master’s degree in educational leadership from George Mason University. She is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Virginia Tech.

Ashshaheed’s appointment to Mary Ellen Henderson ends a 2-month search for the school’s new leader. Dr. Ann McCarty resigned in May to accept a position as principal of Williamsburg Middle School in Arlington.