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The administration team supports the dual language immersion academic program by providing support to teachers, students, and families.
Dr. Liza Burrell-Aldana, Principal || Directora
liza.aldana@apsva.us
Dr. Burrell-Aldana, a native of Colombia, earned her bachelor’s degree in foreign languages from Universidad del Valle in Cali. She was awarded a prestigious scholarship from the School for International Training in Vermont, where she completed her Master of Arts in Teaching. She later pursued a Master’s in Education Leadership from George Mason University. Additionally, Dr. Burrell-Aldana holds a professional certificate in Program Assessment and Evaluation from Georgetown University and a Doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech. In 2023, she was named the Washington Post Principal of the Year. She received the School Bell Award from the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP) and the George Mason University Education Leadership Distinguished Alumna Award.
Dr. Burrell-Aldana is a dual-language educator who started her career as a public school educator in APS in 2009. She became an Assistant Principal in 2014, a School Principal in 2017, and returned to Claremont as the head Papagayo in 2023.
Erin Wales-Smith, Assistant Principal || Sub Directora
Erin Wales-Smith is a seasoned educator with over 25 years of dedicated service in the field of education. She began her career with Arlington Public Schools as a Special Education Teacher at Patrick Henry Elementary School. Ms. Wales-Smith then transitioned to the role of Assistant Principal at both Patrick Henry and Oakridge Elementary Schools. Her career then led her into the Department of Human Resources, where she served as the Recruitment Coordinator and later as the Director of Talent Acquisition and Management. Ms. Wales-Smith’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Special Education, a Master of Arts in Elementary Education with an emphasis in literacy, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, all from George Mason University.
In 2022, Ms. Wales-Smith returned to her passion for direct school engagement and joined the Claremont Immersion School staff as the Assistant Principal.