Board President – Annette Porter

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Annette is a recently retired Special Education teacher and School Administrator from Fairfax County Public Schools.  For 32 Annette’s focus was on inclusion programs of children with special needs in community preschools and working with students with severe developmental delays. She has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Virginia in Special Education and Severe and Profound Handicapping Conditions and a continued doctoral level degree in Supervision and Administration from George Washington University.

Annette has three sons, ages 26, 24, and 23, all recently graduated from college. Annette has been a widow now for 23 years.  With retirement, she now finds that she has more time to enjoy different avenues of her life, spend more time with friends, volunteer, and even travel a bit. She likes biking and loves historical towns, craft fairs, wine tastings, the beach, and any sport! The outdoors is where she’d rather be, and she particularly enjoys gardening and visiting places like the Outer Banks, Hilton Head, Deep Creek, and Cape Cod. She is active in community organizations and many aspects of her church.  Music of all styles is an important relaxation for her. She sings in a community group of 90 singers (The Reston Chorale) and in the past several years has had the opportunity to sing with the Dvorzak Symphony in Prague, the Balleilakka Society, and recently in a benefit concert for S.O.M.E. at the Basilica Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in D.C.

Upon an invitation to a Christmas Open House at Merica House, Annette reconnected with Betty and Sean Wawrzaszek (she had been Sean’s babysitter when he was 11 years old!) and her volunteerism with the APD and Merica House was hooked.  She looks forward to developing and expanding the program at Merica House to the enjoyment of the residents who live there.