Her Story
About Caitlyn
Caitlyn Dombrowski is an accomplished educational leader and Assistant Principal at Edison High School in Fairfax County Public Schools, where she oversees the Mathematics Department, the Multilingual Learner (ML) Department, and schoolwide Safety and Security operations. With over 15 years of experience in public education, Caitlyn has dedicated her career to building equitable, inclusive, and academically rigorous environments where all students can thrive. Her leadership expertise spans instructional design, professional development, ML programming, project management, and daily school operations.
Caitlyn's passion for multilingual education was sparked by her upbringing in a military family, including six years living in Germany. From attending a German speaking kindergarten and years later attending an American high school abroad, her lived experience as a language learner fostered a lifelong appreciation for cultural diversity and language acquisition.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Human Growth and Development from Virginia Tech, a master's in ESOL from Marymount University, a master's in Literacy from Western Michigan University, and a post-master's certificate in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University. Before stepping into school-based administration, Caitlyn served as Fairfax County's High School ESOL Specialist, where she supported the design and implementation of a transformative four-year graduation pathway for English learners that continues to guide district outcomes today.
Known for her collaborative, service-driven approach, Caitlyn believes deeply in education’s power to change lives. She credits influential mentors, including Pamela Brumfield and Karen Kleiber, with shaping her commitment to clear communication, continuous growth, and empathetic leadership. An executive member of her local educators' union, Caitlyn actively advocates for students, staff, and strong family-school partnerships. Supported by her husband, a fellow educational leader and athletic director, she remains dedicated to empowering teachers, elevating school culture, and preparing every student for future success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Caitlyn
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success is deeply rooted in the people surrounding me. It started at home with my mom, dad, brother, and sister, who have always been my bedrock.
Professionally, I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by strong, capable female leaders at every step of my career. My foundation was shaped by extraordinary mentors like Pamela Brumfield and Karen Kleiber, who modeled what effective educational leadership looks like. Today, I am privileged to work alongside powerhouse female administrators: Ellen Hagan-Bowerman, Mary Beth Starkey, Dr. Kendria Boyd, Monica Bentley, and Deborah Guillen, whose daily collaboration, expertise, and dedication drive our school forward. I am equally grateful for my trusted educator friends, Heather Brueggen, Heather Browne, and Kristi Layman, who provide invaluable peer coaching and a constant sounding board.
Anchoring me is my home life. I am grateful for my husband, Greg, who as an athletic director, shares the unique world of school leadership, and our teenagers, Cole and Kyle. As high schoolers, they keep me humble, grounded, and constantly connected to the student perspective. The three of them make me want to be better and do better every day.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received? Be authentic to yourself as a leader, and never forget to eat. A hungry AP is not an effective AP! Leadership requires authenticity, energy, and prioritizing your own well-being so you can show up at your best for others.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, know that education is one of the most rewarding and dynamic careers you could choose as it’s the one profession that makes every other profession possible.
Second, give yourself permission to find harmony between your work and your personal life. In education, the work is never truly 'done,' so you have to learn to define your boundaries, lean on your support network, and protect time for your own well-being. Modeling healthy balance isn't just good for you, it shows the next generation of educators that a fulfilling, long-term career in leadership is sustainable.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
To me, the biggest challenge right now comes down to well-being and sustainability, for both students and staff. On the student side, we are addressing complex social-emotional needs, mental health, and reconnecting kids after years of disrupted learning. On the staff side, we are fighting educator fatigue and working hard to build school cultures where teachers feel genuinely supported, heard, and valued.
As administrators, our job isn't just managing operations or programs; it’s about creating a safe, human-centered environment where people want to be every day. If we don't take care of the people inside the building, no curriculum initiative or policy is going to succeed.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Service, inclusion, lifelong learning, and opening doors for others are the values that define my professional career. But outside of work, my life is grounded in authenticity, connection, and balance. I place the highest value on family, creating a welcoming home where people feel loved and fed, maintaining a good sense of humor, and making intentional time to recharge. Cultivating that warmth and balance at home is what fuels me to show up as my best self every day, both for my family and for my school community.
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