Shawn DeRose is an accomplished educator and school leader with over 20 years of experience in educational administration. Currently serving as Principal of Annandale High School, he is a dedicated and innovative educator committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-achieving school environment.

Under his leadership, Annandale has seen significant gains in student achievement, surpassing district and state averages, and has earned recognition as a "Model PLC at Work School" and a recipient of the Virginia Department of Education’s "Continuous Improvement Exemplar Award." Shawn has been instrumental in promoting equity and inclusion, implementing strategies that reduce achievement gaps and ensure growth for all students.

Prior to joining Annandale, Shawn served as principal of Glasgow Middle School, where he led the school to become a "Model PLC at Work School" and a "National Demonstration Site" for Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). He also has extensive experience as an administrator at Justice High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, two nationally recognized institutions.

Shawn has presented at numerous national and state conferences, including the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) conventions, where he shared insights on systems thinking, instructional transformation, and effective leadership. He has been recognized for his leadership with awards such as the 2024 and 2019 Fairfax County Public Schools Region-Level Outstanding Principal and was named Assistant Principal of the Year by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals in 2014. 

Shawn holds a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Education from Ohio University. His commitment to professional growth and dedication to educational leadership is further demonstrated through his membership in the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, where he currently serves as President. 

To learn more about Shawn’s work, follow him on X (formally Twitter), Instagram and LinkedIn.