• Melissa Maestle, Principal 

    Melissa Maestle
    Principal
    540-662-7656

Principal's Message

  • At FDES, our mission is to prepare students for success in an ever-changing world. Our global theme—Growing Global Leaders in Language and Literacy—provides a meaningful context for learning, helping students build connections with diverse cultures, environments, and communities around the world. We offer rigorous, engaging instruction that meets the needs of every learner, from hands-on science and math activities to our dual language immersion program. Our classrooms are designed to ignite a passion for learning and support every student on their individual journey.

    In our dual language immersion classes, students naturally acquire a second language through daily conversations and content instruction. Each day, students spend 50% of their time learning in Spanish and the other 50% in English. This balanced approach fosters bilingual fluency and encourages respectful, supportive cross-cultural relationships.

    Currently, our dual language program serves students in Pre-K through fourth grade, led by a team of dedicated educators, including 10 international teachers who provide high-quality Spanish instruction.

    We are confident you and your child will find FDES to be a welcoming, nurturing environment. We encourage you to stay involved and connected.  At FDES, we believe that staff, families, and the community working together make our school an extraordinary place.


    Melissa Maestle
    Principal

Education & Experience

  • Ms. Melissa Maestle grew up in a small rural town in Northern Pennsylvania that is known for drawing in tourists who like to ski and snowmobile.  She graduated from Mansfield University in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.    

    In the summer of 2007, Ms. Maestle was hired to teach Kindergarten in Culpeper County, where she taught for the next 7 years.  During that time, she also spent time teaching third and fourth grade.  After earning her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Mary Washington University, Ms. Maestle was hired as Lead Teacher at Frederick Douglass Elementary school and began her job here in July of 2014.

    During her free time, Ms. Maestle enjoys doing anything outdoors.  Skiing, hiking, and riding horses are among her favorite activities.  She travels to Pennsylvania several times a year in order to visit her family and catch up with high school friends.