Mukai isn’t the only one changing things up at WS this year. Shannon Matheny is officially our new Junior Class and Special Education Assistant Principal.
Matheny was hired in the beginning of October after meeting with a panel of teachers, staff, parents and a student; attending a second interview, and then finally having her name submitted to the Regional Assistant Superintendent. Although a number of applications were submitted, in the end, Matheny was the right person for the job.
Matheny has worked at WS previously as a teacher, head coach and Assistant Director of Student Activities. This experience, along with other roles, including serving as Assistant Principal of the Davis Center, make up the background that will help her excel in her new role at WS.
“She [is] one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met,” said Mukai. “Being a teacher and a head coach is already a challenge, and she was handling all of our clubs but she did it masterfully.”
In addition to her familiarity with WS, Matheny is a local. Raised in Fairfax County, she graduated from West Potomac. She has been a part of this community all of her life, and continues to be an active member of it to this day.
“Being a product of Fairfax County, growing up in this area, I believe this is best school system in the country,” said Matheny. “I have a good understanding, I’ve lived the changes [and] I can connect the dots. It’s shaped me to where I’m proud to be in Fairfax County Public Schools. You couldn’t ask to get a better education.”
Matheny’s commitment to FCPS and WS in particular is seen through her connections with the students. While working as the field hockey head coach and a teacher, she created a reputation for herself as a person who not only had high standards for students and players but also as one who would work to help them achieve those goals.
“She had high expectations for us on the team [but] she made those expectations very clear and gave us something to work toward,” said former JV and Varsity field hockey player Erika McKellop, a member of the Class of 2008.
Not one to set standards without being willing to do them herself, Matheny is well known for going with the players on the field hockey team’s long runs.
“She would go on all of our long distance runs, even JV,” said McKellop. “It was a unique experience that she was so invested with the freshmen even though she was the Varsity coach.”

Even though coaching high school sports isn’t on her agenda, Matheny gets that gratification from staying involved in community activities with her children such as WS Little League. Even though she is no longer involved in high school sports, she said she applies that same hard work and commitment into her current job.
With the experience to support her, the community knowledge to assist her, and the love for education to guide her, Matheny took the job at WS. Joining the staff after the year is already underway is not typical, and it adds an additional challenge to the job.
“I wasn’t going to go to any school to be assistant principal,” said Matheny. “It’s not an ideal time, but it’s an opportunity I had to take, because I knew this was a place I wanted to be.”
And now that she’s here, she can’t wait to get started.
“I’m excited to hit the ground running. I’m glad to be back, and I’m looking forward to working with the junior class [in] getting them to their end goal, and that’s across the stage.”