Barbara J. Gernat,
Fairfax County Public Schools, is the principal of Mountain View Alternative High School. Ms. Gernat began her career in education in 1969 as an art teacher at Wilbur Wright High School in Dayton, Ohio where she remained for two years. From 1971 to 1973, she pursued her graduate degree at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. In 1973, Ms. Gernat returned to education to teach art and was also special projects teacher at Groveton High School in Alexandria, Va., where she remained for seven years. In 1980, she joined the Fairfax County Public School system as assistant principal at Langley High School in McLean, Va. In 1987, she was a subschool principal at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Va., where she remained for five years. From 1992 to 1997, Ms. Gernat was assistant principal at Falls Church High School in Falls Church, Va. In 1997, she was the assistant hearing officer of Area II for Fairfax County Public Schools until she assumed her current position in 1998. Ms. Gernat holds a BS degree and an MEd degree in art education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.