Dr. Warren Pace passed away on Sunday, October 18 (1928-2020).
He served as FCCPS Superintendent for 20 years, from 1971 to 1991. He is pictured above with former superintendents Mary Ellen Shaw left and Lois Berlin at a 2013 event at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School.
"Dr. Pace was one of the biggest of giants that helped FCCPS become the amazing system it is. His memory and legacy will live on for years to come in our Little City and in the City of Falls Church Schools," current superintendent Peter Noonan said on learning of his passing.
During his tenure, the Falls Church City school system gained recognition as one of the nation's finest. George Mason HS was recognized as the top-ranked high school in the country, introducing the International Baccalaureate curriculum in the early 1980s. Dr. Pace was honored as the National School Administrator of the Year in 1983. The advancement and development of Falls Church City Public Schools stand among his proudest accomplishments.
His wife, Mary, was a teacher for many years, some at Thomas Jefferson Elementary. On her passing, friends started The Mary and Warren Pace Future Educators Scholarship Fund through the Falls Church Education Foundation. It is awarded annually to a high school senior planning to study education.
In 2013, Dr. Pace was interviewed for a video about the history of the International Baccalaureate Programme in FCCPS.
His section in the video starts at :56 seconds.