Leadership Team

Dr. Liza Burrell-Aldana

Principal

Dr. Liza Burrell-Aldana Rodriguez was appointed principal of Mount Vernon Community in 2017, after serving as an assistant principal for three years. Burrell-Aldana brings close to 30 years of experience as an educator, 13 of which have been spent as a teacher and instructional leader in dual language programs.

Dr. Burrell-Aldana was born in Colombia and graduated from Universidad del Valle in Cali with a bachelor's degree in foreign languages. She later was awarded a scholarship from the School for International Training in Vermont in order to complete a Master of Arts in teaching and went on to pursue a master's in education leadership from George Mason University. Dr. Burrell-Aldana also holds a professional certificate in Education Policy and Program Assessment from Georgetown University and a Doctoral degree in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech University. Dr. Burrell-Aldana is currently serving in the Virginia Advisory Committee for the Education of the Gifted and the Virginia Literacy Advisory Group.

Dr. Burrell-Aldana is a passionate, bilingual educator with a strong commitment to academic achievement, whole child development, teacher growth, and effective home-school communication. She believes in a collaborative vision of education and in putting students first in school decision-making.

Dr. Burrell-Aldana is a fitness enthusiast and dog lover. She enjoys working out, healthy eating, and spending time with her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Linda Ricks

Assistant Principal K–2

Ms. Ricks joins MVCS with 25 years of experience as an educator. Ms. Ricks has taught a variety of grades including kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd and 5th.  She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and an endorsement in Administration and Supervision.  Ms. Ricks has a love for children and is passionate about ensuring high levels of academic achievement for all of our students.  

Email: linda.ricks@acps.k12.va.us

Jessica Salvador

Assistant Principal Grades 3–5

Ms. Salvador comes to MVCS with 10 years of experience. She is an example of growing from within in Alexandria City Public Schools. She started her career at GW Middle School as a a Parent Liaison. She fulfilled this role for 1 year; moved on to become an administrative assistant for 1 year; then, served as a Spanish teacher at the same Middle School for 6 years. In 2020, Ms. Salvador completed her Administration and Supervision degree at George Mason University and served as the Dean of Students at GW. As an instructional leader, she is an advocate for dual language instruction and strives to support teachers in their implementation of effective and student-centered instructional strategies.

Email: jessica.salvador@acps.k12.va.us

Julanne Keil

Assistant Principal Specialized Education/English Language Learners

Julanne Keil is excited to be a part of the leadership team at Mount Vernon Community School (MVCS). This will be year 13 at MVCS and year 14 in education. She graduated with a degree in Elementary and Special Education from The University of South Dakota and has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from George Mason University. During her time at Mt. Vernon, she has held the roles of Assistant Principal, Instructional Coordinator, and Special Education Teacher. Mrs. Keil is passionate about the progress and success of all students. She understands what it is like to be a language learner from her year of living in Berlin, Germany, and values this experience from a professional and personal perspective. She looks forward to supporting students, families, and staff in the third, fourth and fifth grades. In her free time, Mrs. Keil enjoys running, music, and spending time with family and friends.

Email: julanne.keil@acps.k12.va.us