Jennifer Chapman To Become New Principal At Osbourn High School In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA — Osbourn High School in Manassas will be welcoming a new principal for the new school year.

On Tuesday, the Manassas City School Board appointed Jennifer Chapman as principal, effective July 15. The appointment comes after former Principal Mike Pflugrath retired after five years in the position, Potomac Local News reported.

Chapman has worked at Prince William County Public Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools, serving in teaching and leadership positions. She will now take the top position at the City of Manassas' only public high school, which has a diverse student body, with approximately 67 percent being economically disadvantaged students.

"We are excited to welcome Dr. Chapman to Manassas City Public Schools," said Superintendent Kevin Newman. "Her extensive experience, innovative approach, and unwavering commitment to student success make her a great leader for Osbourn High School. We look forward to her positive impact on our school community."

As assistant principal overseeing Gifted, Math and Instructional Technology programs at Prince William County's Forest Park High School, Chapman is credited with helping reduce chronic absenteeism and expanding the Information Technology specialty program. She also helped special education and economically disadvantaged students have double-digit grade improvements in Algebra I and developed an advisory program for a student-adult mentor program and freshmen-peer mentor opportunities.

Chapman was also an assistant principal and dean of students at Fairfax County's Lewis High School, where she started a school-wide advisory program, worked with parent liaisons to help at-risk students graduate on time, and reduced unexcused tardiness by 33 percent. She was nominated as "Lewis High School Leader of the Year." Chapman previously worked as an assessment coach at South County High School, coordinating school-wide testing programs and guiding instructional teams with data to improve student outcomes.

Chapman has dual bachelor’s degrees in secondary education (mathematics) and film and video from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a doctorate in organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California. Her doctoral dissertation specialized in school interventions for chronically-absent students.

Osbourn High School will schedule a meet-and-greet with the new principal at a later time.