Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) has announced that Dr. Lynmara Colón, the director of student opportunity and multilingual services, has been awarded the 2025–26 ALAS National Central Office Administrator of the Year award.
According to PWCS, this accolade is given to district-level leaders who have significantly impacted policy, instruction, and student outcomes across multiple schools. Dr. Stephanie Soliven, associate superintendent for teaching and learning, said that Dr. Colón combines expertise with “authenticity, and passion,” highlighting her dedication to improving results for students learning new languages and describing her as an “invaluable” member of the community.
The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to developing leadership among school and district leaders serving Latino youth and other historically underserved populations. ALAS aims to build capacity, promote best practices, and transform educational institutions to meet all students’ needs. PWCS reports that Dr. Colón will be formally recognized at the ALAS 22nd Annual National Summit on Education in October.
Dr. Colón expressed gratitude towards PWCS for entrusting her with this role, stating it is more than just a job but a calling. She emphasized her commitment to ensuring every multilingual learner feels valued within their schools. “Winning the ALAS Central Office Administrator of the Year award is a milestone in a journey that began with a dream—to uplift every student, especially those whose voices are often unheard,” she said.
PWCS is noted as the second-largest school division in Virginia and ranks 32nd nationwide, serving over 90,000 students across various educational programs. The division offers diverse academic specialty programs including two Governor’s Schools, dual enrollment opportunities, Advanced Placement courses, Cambridge Programme options, International Baccalaureate courses, career and technology certifications, robotics education, and instruction in ten world languages. It places emphasis on sustainability and family engagement while supporting 174 languages through partnerships with businesses and community organizations. Under Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade’s leadership, PWCS boasts a 94.3% on-time graduation rate and over $123 million in scholarships for the class of 2024.
