Dear Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Students and Families,

With great excitement, I welcome you to the 2024-25 school year.  Along with the Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School (VACDES) faculty and staff, I am committed to helping each student reach his or her maximum potential academically, socially, emotionally, and physically during this school year. The VACDES learning environment will focus on high-quality, child-centered instruction, academic excellence, community and global involvement, and preparing students for local leadership now and global leadership in the future.

I look forward to working with you to provide a quality educational experience for every child at VACDES.  

I am honored to serve as your principal, and I am excited about our future together.  If you would ever like the opportunity to discuss the school’s programming, community partnerships, or questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the office staff for assistance.

All the best,

Dr. Lisa Pluska
Principal
540-665-6330

Dr. Pluska has worked in PK-12 and Higher Education for over 20 years, most recently in Winchester Public Schools as Assistant Principal at Daniel Morgan Intermediate School and Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School.

Dr. Pluska moved to Winchester several years ago to start teaching Leadership Studies at Shenandoah University.  Missing the PK-12 world, she came to Winchester Public Schools as the Assistant Principal of VACDES in 2018, followed by her role as an Assistant Principal at Daniel Morgan Intermediate School.

Before coming to Winchester, Dr. Pluska taught music and all classroom subjects for 9 years in Southwest Virginia. She then moved into several administrative roles, including Assistant Principal, Instructional Coordinator, and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction.  She received her Bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in Music Education, a Master's degree from Hollins University in Elementary Education PK-6, Professional Certificate from Radford University in Administration and Supervision PK-12, and a Doctorate from Virginia Tech in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.