About Us

Mission

Our Mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering our families and our community to advocate for all children. Join the FCEPTA and become a member for the 2025-26 year. We look forward to meeting you!

Meet the Board 

President - Kelly Harris Hudes

I am excited about the opportunity to serve on the Board this year as the President of the FCEPTA. Falls Church City is a special community that is made stronger by the scores of people that volunteer their time and resources, a driving force behind our move from Arlington just three years ago.

 

Primarily, I am the chief chaos coordinator for our family- Ella, a 6th grader at Henderson; Alex, a 3rd grader at Oak Street; Hannah, a Kindergartner at Mount Daniel; and Adam, an attorney. On any given day, you can find us lacing up ballet shoes at the community center, cheering on ABR baseball games, participating in numerous Rec sports, or supporting Pack 657. Prior to making the decision to stay home with our young family, I earned an MBA with a background in marketing and business development from the University of Maryland and a BA from the University of Virginia (Go Hoos!). This fall, you can find me working in the front office at Oak Street as the new Finance Administrator! I look forward to giving back to both our elementary school community and The Little City in these important roles. Say "hi" when you see me around town or in our schools!

 

 

President Elect - Emily Lehman

I am excited to join the amazing 2025-2026 FCEPTA team as President-Elect! Falls Church City holds a special place in my heart, as I grew up here and am a FCCPS alum. I dragged my husband Chris back to our Little City so our kids could enjoy the small-town community feel and amazing schools (although with more traffic and tall buildings than back in the day!). Chris and I have three boys, David is a 3rd grader at Oak Street, Christopher is a 1st grader at Mount Daniel and Peter is in his last year of preschool at the Falls Church Episcopal Day School and can’t wait to join his brother at Mount Daniel next year!

Professionally I am a Mental Health Therapist (LPC) with my own private practice, but that has taken a backseat as a very part-time endeavor over the past 8 years as I have enjoyed being a Stay-at-Home-Mom and focused on the ever present jobs of feeding, wrangling and sideline sitting (of all the sports) as a proud Boy Mom. For fun, I love perusing cookbooks and cooking new recipes, cozying up with a good book, antiquing and thrifting, pickleball, and trying to become not terrible at golf so my 8 year old doesn’t beat me. I’m looking forward to giving back to our community, forging new relationships, and keeping connections strong between our schools, our parents and our community at large.

 

 

VP Communications - Kathryn Allan

 

I am excited to serve the 2024-25 FCEPTA as VP of Communications! I'll do my best to keep our community up-to-date on all of the many events and opportunities across our school system. My husband and I both grew up in Falls Church City and we love that our children get to experience this same special community. Our family includes a 4th grader, a 2nd grader, and a toddler (who definitely thinks he's also in elementary school). Prior to my most recent stint as a stay-at-home parent I was in the financial services industry for 10 years. You can usually find me cheering on my children at sporting events, perusing the best of the MRS Library stacks, or enjoying dinners at Little City restaurants. I look forward to working with the PTA board this year!

 

 

VP Social Media - Bizzy Bracken

I’m very excited to be serving as the FCEPTA VP of Social Media this year. My husband, Michael, and I have lived in Falls Church since 2012, and we have three children enrolled in FCCPS: Annie (6th), Johnny (4th), and Bear (2nd).

I have a B.A. from the University of Virginia (wahoowa!), and spent many joyful and chaotic years as a stay-at-home mom before earning my Master’s in Library Science from the University of Tennessee. I now work in the children’s department at our amazing Mary Riley Styles Public Library - feel free to say hi whenever you stop by!

When I’m not at the library, helping with school activities, or hanging with my family, you can usually find me reading, cooking, or tackling a puzzle (jigsaw or crossword!).

I’m looking forward to a great year of supporting our schools and connecting with this wonderful community!

VP Fundraising - Tory Allara

 
It has been a great opportunity the last few years to support the PTA Board running the HTG games and an honor to extend that role with more opportunity to connect the community resources throughout the year.  This community goes beyond the normal relationship with business and our community supporters, most of us share the Falls Church City experience.  I will be working to ensure any of our local businesses, leaders and community projects can get the benefit from our community parent powers.  If a meal night at a local partner restaurant, large scale events like HTG games or connection to our elementary schools programming I am excited to help the Board grow our community sponsorship relationships.
 
I am an accounting/finance leader for a national property management and Development/Construction company by day.  I balance this as a father of three: Elise is a 4th Grader at Oak Street, Andrew and Bonnie are Pre-K that are already excited to be Mt. Daniel Hippos in the next few years as they continue in a Pre-K programs.  All of this would not be possible without my Wife Michelle who works at The Washington Center in DC and helps in the life coordination of soccer, basketball, swimming and keeping me organized to support all aspects of the family and FCEPTA. 
 
Over the years I am excited to work in this role on the board to help give back to the FCEPTA and the City of Falls Church.  It will be great to work to take the support from our community and businesses and work to build a formal sponsorship and community relations program.

 

VP Room Parent Relations - Amy Schroeder

 

I’m happily anticipating supporting our parents and schools on the PTA board this year. My husband Andrew and I have been part of the Little City since 2013, where we started our family’s story. We have three fun-loving girls, 4th grader Vanessa, 2nd grader Juliet, and Kindergartener Gabrielle, and they are all into a zillion activities, including dance classes, gymnastics, soccer, and swimming. I have a BFA from JMU (Go Dukes!) and let out my creativity while working on pottery pieces. My husband and I are often seen working out in our garage gym, or even toting weights up and down the sidewalk! When we’re not working hard, we enjoy all the restaurants that Falls Church has to offer, and mostly love that everything is walkable in our town. I’m looking forward to a great school year!

 

  

 

 

 

VP Teacher Appreciation (Oak Street) - Emma Beyer

 

I’m looking forward to serving on the board this year as VP - Teacher Appreciation.  I’ve spent years working with the PTA to bring extra joy to our most valued gems - our school’s teachers! - through the Sunshine Committee.  I’m an FCCPS alum and my husband DJ and I love living in Falls Church City with our four kids.  My oldest, Sage, will be a sophomore at Meridian this year, Skylar will be in 8th grade at MEH, Derrick will be in 3rd grade at Oak Street, and Bryson is our 4 year old who can’t wait to be a Hippo next year.

 

In my free time you’ll find me walking our dogs, baking, drinking coffee, and spending quality time with my kids.

 

Please reach out to me (teachers, parents, and staff alike!) with any ideas and goals you may have for me to best perform in this role!

    

VP Teacher Appreciation (Mount Daniel/Jessie Thackrey) - Caitlin Yerkes

 

I’m excited to be a part of FCEPTA in service of the teachers and staff who work with our children every day. My husband, Thomas, and I have a 3rd grader at Oak Street, a 1st grader and kindergartener at Mount Daniel, and a 2-year-old who can’t wait to join them. I work as a nurse and enjoy swimming, reading, thrifting for treasures, and creating with textiles. I believe in the power of community and look forward to supporting our students, families, and staff throughout the school year.

 

 

Treasurer - Kristin Higgins

  

I am looking forward to serving on the FCEPTA board this year as the Treasurer after previously serving in the roles of President Elect and President. I grew up in the Northern Virginia area and understand the importance of our schools. The strength of that in Falls Church City is what makes this city so special.

 

I am a boy-mom to Brendan, a fifth grader at Oak Street and Corbin, a third grader at Oak Street. When I’m not spending time with my boys, often on the sidelines of a sporting event, I’m in search of the perfect cup of coffee or hole-in-the-wall restaurant. Professionally, I am a CPA. I’m looking forward to a great year and getting to know all of you and seeing so many familiar faces!

 

 

Secretary - Lindsay Barnette

 

I am looking forward to supporting our amazing FCCPS elementary schools as part of the PTA board for the 2025-2026 year! I am an Army Brat but consider Virginia home, having lived here on and off for most of my life. My family, which includes husband Jason, 8th grader Aimee, and 5th grader Nathan, moved to Falls Church City in 2020 and we have quickly come to appreciate all the Little City has to offer. When not spending time shuttling my kids to/from various activities and or hanging out with family and friends, I work in health policy. 

 

After a stint on the Sunshine Committee and other volunteering opportunities, I am happy to have the chance to play a more formal role on the FCEPTA Board and to help make this a great year for all the teachers, administrators, and, of course, the kids.