Mrs. Chelsea Northman

Greetings Riverside High School! I am Chelsea Northman and I am delighted to be joining you as an Assistant Principal this year.

In my journey to Riverside, I have learned many things that I am excited to share and I am equally energized by the opportunities I will have to learn from this dynamic community. It is like what one of my mentors always said, “No matter where you go or who you meet, you will always receive a lesson to grow from.”

I was born and raised in Mount Clemens, Michigan. I have my undergraduate degree from Michigan State University (Go Green!) and my Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction (with a concentration in Transformative Teaching) from George Mason University.

I have taught high school social studies in the heartland of America (Salina, Kansas) and in the heart of our nation’s capital. I have had the privilege to facilitate a range of subjects, from Advanced Placement courses to formative language classes for our newest multilanguage learners in the same high school. For the last four years, I have been working with secondary teachers and administrators in Prince William County to strengthen the Division’s capacity to meet the diverse needs of a growing English Learner population. Through each of these experiences, empathy, equity, and respect have become the cornerstones of my educational philosophy. 

I am a self-professed education nerd. I cannot consume enough books, listen to enough podcasts, or gab enough about educational trends, needs, and best practices. When it comes to the possibilities I see for our students, I dream big and I dare to do things differently because ALL students deserve the best educational experiences. After all, our students are going to change the world!

When I am not living in a Disney state of mind or checking again for my letter to Hogwarts, I call Woodbridge home with my husband and two dogs. 

I am honored to be joining the Riverside team and I cannot wait to see what comes next!