Congratulations to the two PWCS principals chosen to participate in the Distinguished Cahn Fellowship

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) is proud to announce that two principals, Anna Houseworth from Ashland Elementary School and Danna Johnson from Mary Williams Elementary School, have been selected to participate in the prestigious Cahn Distinguished Principals Fellowship for 2026-27. They are among 50 principals chosen nationwide.

The Cahn Fellowship program is a prestigious, year-long professional development program designed to support and elevate school leaders. The program focuses on enhancing leadership skills, improving student outcomes, and increasing retention.

This program empowers both Fellows and their Allies—emerging leaders selected by the principals—to identify a leadership challenge and establish both qualitative and quantitative benchmarks to monitor their progress throughout the year. At the conclusion of the year, Fellows and Allies will present their findings at the annual leadership conference.

To be eligible for the Cahn Fellowship Program, candidates are nominated by the school division’s supervisory administrators and have completed five years as a principal. Candidates must demonstrate success in the following areas:

• A strong personal commitment to providing an excellent education to all public-school students.
• Evidence of effective leadership as demonstrated by growth or consistently high levels of student achievement.
• Strong leadership qualities, including intellectual curiosity, resourcefulness, collaboration, mentoring, creativity, and self-awareness.
• A history of professional accomplishments and contributions to the field of education and/or district or network.

Following the nomination process, the Cahn Fellowship program staff conducts a comprehensive screening process to determine the recipients of being accepted as a Cahn Distinguished Principal. 

The following profiles highlight the PWCS principals selected for this distinction.

Anna Houseworth

Anna Houseworth, principal of Ashland Elementary School, has dedicated 20 years to Prince William County Public Schools, including the past five years as principal of Ashland Elementary. During her tenure, her leadership impact has been felt across the school, from strengthening academic performance, such as reading and math achievement, to improving staff retention and providing coaching and mentoring to staff.

At Ashland, she has prioritized cultivating a strong, supportive school community while also fostering meaningful family and community engagement. As a Virginia Purple Star School, she is committed to supporting military-connected students and families from nearby Quantico and Fort Belvoir.

One of Houseworth’s recommenders shared: “Anna Houseworth demonstrates a deep commitment to delivering an excellent public education for all students and has a sustained record of improving student achievement. She exemplifies high impact instructional leadership by using data informed and collaborative approaches to strengthen teaching, learning, and school culture while advancing equity and inclusion.”

Her distinguished career in public education began in the classroom as a teacher before transitioning into leadership roles, serving as an administrative intern, assistant principal, and now principal.

Her selection as a Cahn Fellow reflects her deep dedication to educational excellence and community engagement and the broader impact of her leadership. In addition, Houseworth has been selected to serve as principal of Belmont Elementary School in the upcoming school year, continuing her leadership in PWCS.

Danna Johnson

Danna Johnson, principal of Mary Williams Elementary School, has dedicated nearly three decades to the field of education, including the past eight years leading Mary Williams Elementary as principal.

During her tenure, the school has experienced notable academic growth, including gains in reading and mathematics proficiency. English learner math proficiency improved by 13 percentage points in a single year, alongside reductions in chronic absenteeism across the student body. Johnson has worked to promote a positive student and staff culture. One of her recommenders said the following:

“Principal Johnson has demonstrated exceptional leadership over time, fostering a school climate and culture that contributes to positive outcomes for students. She is highly respected by her colleagues and consistently supports the vision and mission of Prince William County Schools. Mary Williams Elementary provides a warm and nurturing learning environment for students, staff and families.”

She began her career as an elementary teacher and has since served as an administrative intern and assistant principal before becoming principal in the division.

Her selection as a Cahn Fellow reflects her passion for advancing student achievement and fostering a supportive school community for students, staff, and families.