Rebecca Baenig
Fairfax,VA
Summary
Educational leader with 27 years of progressive experience driving transformative change in diverse school communities. Expert in systemic reform, stakeholder engagement, and equity-focused leadership. Proven track record in advancing student achievement, fostering inclusive practices, and leading data-driven instructional improvement.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Region Assistant Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
01.2018 - Current
- Provide executive leadership for Region 5 (43 schools, 38,328 students) as a member of the Superintendent’s Senior Leadership Team, driving division-wide initiatives to advance academic excellence, equity, and access.
- Set goal focus and support program implementation to ensure students are reading on grade-level by the end of third grade (Region 5-72%, Division-71%); successfully complete Algebra by 8th grade (Region 5-81.3%, Division-74.5%); and enroll and successfully complete advanced coursework (Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Career and Technical Education (CTE), exceeding division targets in all areas.
- Serve as Co-Champion for the Division’s Strategic Plan Goal 3:Reading, conducting action research, identifying promising practices, establishing clear systemwide expectations, and developing a tiered support model for schools, advancing organizational coherence and accelerating literacy outcomes.
- Leverage data analytics (academic, attendance, behavior, SEL) to identify areas for improvement, direct resources strategically, and maintain full accreditation across all schools.
- Led a region-wide focus on accelerating progress for multilingual learners, resulting in Region 5 outperforming the division average on the 2025 WIDA assessment (59.2% growth in Region 5 compared to 57.1% division-wide), with stronger progress across all proficiency levels, including multilingual learners with disabilities in both resource and self-contained settings, aligning closely with the division’s Strategic Plan target of 59.23%.
- Drove sustained Professional Learning Community capacity-building for school leaders and teacher teams, strengthening alignment from the conference room to the classroom. Developed and implemented the Guiding Coalition Integration Assessment and the From We to Me visual to help schools monitor progress and ensure students can clearly articulate what they are learning, why, and where they are in their learning journey.
- Led a multiyear, region-wide initiative to design and facilitate targeted professional development on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for academics and behavior aligned with Taking Action: A Handbook for RTI at Work and Behavior Solutions: Teaching Academic and Social Skills Through RTI at Work, resulting in a 12% reduction in Out-of-School Suspensions, 9% decrease in In-School Suspensions, 13% decrease in AIA incidents, and a 50% increase in proactive parent notifications over three years, demonstrating the impact of sustained focus and disciplined implementation across all Region 5 schools.
- Lead the hiring, selection, and onboarding of all principals and school-based administrators in the region, cultivating a diverse leadership pipeline that reflects the community and aligns with division priorities.
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of innovative programs and communication strategies to address racial slurs and hate speech in schools, incorporating Power of Words lessons and community meetings, and fostering positive, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environments.
- Deliver ongoing, data-driven feedback and coaching to principals through purposeful instructional walkthroughs focused on Region 5 priority areas and aligned to strategic plan goals, conducting debriefs at the end of each school visit with written follow-up, resulting in empowered staff, improved student outcomes, and a culture of inclusivity and belonging.
- Provide guidance and support to parents, principals, staff, and School Board members in resolving complex student issues related to behavior, discipline, and academic performance, while shaping policy and sustaining community trust.
- Collaborate on capital planning, new school construction, facility utilization, instructional program expansion, and renovation strategies to meet both short- and long-term growth needs across Region 5, including support for six major school renovations and the successful opening of a new school.
- Oversee regional budget, enrollment forecasting, staffing allocations, and the facilitation of staff administrative transfers, ensuring equitable resources and a highly qualified teacher in every classroom.
- Collaborate with the City of Fairfax Superintendent and staff under the Student Services Agreement to lead and support four City of Fairfax schools, two elementary, one middle, and one high school, including delivering an annual State of the Schools presentation to the City of Fairfax School Board.
Lead Region Assistant Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
03.2020 - 06.2023
- Served as a key liaison, bridging communication and collaboration between the Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent’s Office, diverse FCPS stakeholders, School Board, and the region offices.
- Supported Deputy Superintendent in strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation. Functioned as a trusted advisor, resolving school/parental issues.
- Developed agendas for and facilitated all Region Assistant Superintendent and Executive Principal meetings/retreats (team of 17) to promote alignment, consistency of practice, and leadership across the division.
Executive Principal for School Improvement
Fairfax County Public Schools
07.2014 - 06.2018
- Led Region 5 (34,000 students, thirty-two schools) as instructional leader, manager, and advocate.
- Leveraged data and stakeholder feedback to drive continuous improvement, achieving and sustaining 100% school accreditation.
- Recruited, selected, and mentored principals, fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and instructional leadership.
- Boosted student achievement through initiatives like “Ignite” that addressed achievement gaps and implemented innovative teaching strategies.
- Championed professional growth by designing and leading leadership development programs (Teacher Leadership Course, Principal Fellowship) and providing career counseling for emerging administrators.
- Strengthened partnerships with the City of Fairfax Schools, brokered central office resources, and maximized learning from partnerships (University of Washington).
- Established principal networks for cross-region learning.
- Led development of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework and implemented Project Aware in alignment with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to address academic and social-emotional needs.
- Expanded Advanced Academic services, ensuring every elementary school in the region provided access to Level IV services.
Principal
Fairfax County Public Schools
06.2007 - 06.2014
Assistant Principal
Fairfax County Public Schools
07.2003 - 06.2007
LEAD Fairfax Administrative Intern
Fairfax County Public Schools
08.2002 - 06.2003
Education
Master of Arts - Educational Leadership And Administration
George Washington University
Washington, District of Columbia, DC05-2003
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education And Psychology
Saint Michael's College
Winooski, VT05-1998
Timeline
Lead Region Assistant Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
03.2020 - 06.2023
Region Assistant Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools
01.2018 - Current
Executive Principal for School Improvement
Fairfax County Public Schools
07.2014 - 06.2018
Principal
Fairfax County Public Schools
06.2007 - 06.2014
Assistant Principal
Fairfax County Public Schools
07.2003 - 06.2007
LEAD Fairfax Administrative Intern
Fairfax County Public Schools
08.2002 - 06.2003
Master of Arts - Educational Leadership And Administration
George Washington University
Bachelor of Arts - Elementary Education And Psychology
Saint Michael's College