Meet the Principal
Julie Vanidestine
Both Mr. Vanidestine and I committed to graduate from Hampden Academy
in Hampden, Maine in 1983! Go Broncos! I played clarinet in our band,
was on the Honor Roll, in the French Club and National Honor Society. I
loved going to our football games (we usually lost) and basketball
games (we usually won). Have you heard of the author Stephen King?
He used to teach at Hampden Academy! I was lucky to receive a
scholarship from him to go to college where...
I committed to graduate from the University of Maine with a degree in
elementary education! Go Black Bears! College is hard work – but
fun! I especially liked going to UMaine hockey games!
After college we moved to Norfolk where I taught first grade, third
grade and at a gifted school. While I was teaching, I committed to
graduate from Old Dominion University with a masters degree in
Educational Administration and Supervision. I wanted to be a
principal! First I was an assistant principal and then a principal in
Norfolk. When we lived in Norfolk, both of our daughters committed to
graduate from Granby High School!
Now we live in Christiansburg and I love being principal at Falling
Branch Elementary! We are very proud that our daughters committed to
graduate from college: Allie graduated from William and Mary; Valerie
graduated from George Mason University. We are super proud to be grandparents to our sweet grandchildren, Lily, Stephen, Layla and Abbie!
We are huge Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and New England Patriots
fans! We live with our golden retrievers, Sadie and Doug, who both committed to
graduate from puppy school :)