Meet the Teachers
DR. PAT MITCHELL
Hayfield High School Theatre Director
psmitchell@fcps.edu
Pat Mitchell has been the High School Theatre Arts Director at Hayfield Secondary School since the 2015-16 school year. He previously taught at Yorktown High School, H-B Woodlawn Secondary, and Holmes Middle School. He attended George Mason University for his BA in Theatre, the University of Virginia for his M.Ed. and completed his Ph.D. in Education Leadership at George Mason University in the fall of 2018. He has worked professionally with the Keegan Theatre in Washington D.C., and Synetic Theatre in Arlington. He is a proud graduate of Fairfax County Public Schools and passionately believes in the importance and positive impact that theatre education can have on students. He is an avid fan of the Washington Capitals, Disney World, Christmas Lights, and Coffee.
MRS. SHERRY ADAMS JOHNSON
Hayfield Middle School Theatre Director sajohnson1@fcps.edu
Raised in a military family, Mrs. Adams Johnson (A.J.) grew up moving all over the country and the world! Moving can be challenging, but participating in theatre was a sure fire way to make creative, kind, and inclusive friends. Graduating from Lake Braddock Secondary, Mrs. A.J. then double majored in Theatre and English at William and Mary where she started their improv group. During her college summers, she worked as a puppeteer for Fairfax County–traveling to all of their summer programs and sites to perform. When she graduated, she was offered a full time job as a Performing and Fine Arts Specialist, supervising their children’s theatre, dance company, and art shows. Continuing her love of improv, she also performed with a professional company downtown and also directed shows at local children’s theatres. Mrs. A.J. received her Masters in Education from George Mason University and began her teaching career as the middle school theatre teacher at Hayfield! She continued to serve in this role until asked to open the high school theatre program at South County. Looking for more “mom” time, she eventually returned to Hayfield and has been the middle school English department chair for several years. During that time, she has done some “pinch” hitting–directing and assisting with shows and theatre sports as needed.
Mrs. A.J. is married to former choir teacher and local conductor, Ernest Johnson and has one son, Grant, who graduated from Hayfield in 2019 and is currently a senior at Virginia Tech.
She is super excited to return to her roots and to work with Dr. Mitchell and our awesome Hayfield Dramahawk theatre community this year!!