Governor’s School @ Innovation Park to be led by new director starting July 1

W. Jason Calhoun, Ph.D., curriculum supervisor of science and family life education for Prince William County Schools and former science department chairman at Gar-Field High School, will be the new director of the Governor’s School @ Innovation Park July 1.

He replaces Karen Dalfrey, Ph.D., who will become science department chair and teacher at the new Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School in Manassas when it opens in August.

Calhoun received his doctorate in education from George Mason University where he has been an adjunct professor in the College of Education and Human Development since 2013. He is also a member of the adjunct faculty, College of Education, at the University of Mary Washington.

In both universities, he teaches courses in science curriculum development and methodology for teaching elementary and secondary science.

He earned his master’s degree in organic chemistry from Cornell University and bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Morehouse College.

He has published numerous papers in scientific and education journals and has presented at state and national conferences on curriculum and science education.

During his post-secondary years, Calhoun was a summer intern conducting research with the National Institutes of Health and DuPont Merck Pharmaceutical Company on organic synthesis research.

Calhoun joined PWCS in 1999 as science teacher at Gar-Field High School and became department chair in 2006. He was appointed as PWCS curriculum supervisor of science in 2008. Since then he has been directing science curriculum development and assessment for grades K-12 and has been science liaison with schools and businesses, government entities, and colleges.

The Governor’s School @ Innovation Park is a collaborative venture of the Manassas City, Manassas Park City, and Prince William County Public School Divisions in cooperation with George Mason University.

Selected juniors and seniors take an advanced and intensive program in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Students attend classes at George Mason University’s Science and Technology campus each morning, then return to their base high schools each afternoon to complete other requirements for graduation.