Shaping Policy, Changing Classrooms
For Jihane Mrad, education policy isn’t just theory—it’s personal.
A 2023 graduate of George Mason University’s Graduate Certificate in Education Policy program through the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), Mrad has turned her passion for child development into tangible progress for Virginia’s public schools. This fall, her advocacy efforts will help launch Fairfax County Public Schools’ first-ever public Montessori program at Bucknell Elementary School.
Her journey into education reform began in 2014 when she became a parent and discovered Montessori. The century-old learning model—which emphasizes child-led, hands-on exploration—transformed how she viewed education. “It changed the way I parent and the way I view children,” she says. “It was perplexing that this evidence-based pedagogy was rare in public schools, and that we were still grouping children by age, and not based on their developmental needs."
After the COVID-19 pandemic exposed educational inequities and systemic challenges, Mrad saw an opportunity to act. In 2021, she joined the board of the Virginia Montessori Association and began advocating for public Montessori programs in Virginia school districts beyond Arlington.
She enrolled in CEHD’s Education Policy graduate certificate program to deepen her understanding of how educational change happens. “The certificate was built for someone like me—working full time and parenting young children—yet I was still able to take courses alongside doctoral and master’s students,” she says. “It gave me the policy language and tools I needed to advocate effectively.”
She credits the program's outstanding faculty as a major influence. “Professor Anne Holton's Higher Education Policy class and Dr. David Houston's P-12 Policy Challenges class were incredibly thoughtful and impactful,” Mrad notes. “I carry that learning with me in every conversation.”
Through consistent and strategic outreach, Mrad built relationships with other Montessori advocates and eventually secured a meeting with Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid—a Montessori parent herself. What started as a grassroots idea quickly gained momentum. By late 2024, plans were in place for a pilot Montessori program at Bucknell Elementary, set to welcome students in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Now working with Trust for Learning, Mrad continues supporting the expansion of whole-child, developmental approaches to education—including public Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia models. Her work focuses on making these approaches more accessible to public school students and communities.
Her advice for CEHD students and alumni who want to influence education systems? “Start where you are. Join policy groups. Show up to meetings. Be persistent and courteous,” she says. “And know that leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest voice. Most of this work is collaborative—shared across teams, partners, and communities.”
When she’s not championing policy reform, Mrad enjoys tending to her garden, celebrating each Persian cucumber harvest with enthusiasm. Her work may be rooted in systems change, but her passion remains grounded in the joy of growth—both in children and the communities that support them.