Bull Run Elementary principal credits Charger STRONG program as chronic absenteeism falls to 6.0 percent

James Marotta, principal of Bull Run Elementary School, said the school’s Charger STRONG behavior framework and partnerships with families helped reduce chronic absenteeism to 6.0 percent, down from 13 percent in 2024 and 11 percent the following year.

Marotta told the audience that when he arrived at Bull Run two years earlier he saw an “urgent need to rebuild a culture of accountability,” and that the school built systems to create “clarity, consistency, and shared ownership.” “We didn't create a system simply to manage behavior or monitor performance; we created it to establish clarity, consistency, and shared ownership,” he said.

He described Charger STRONG as a positive behavior framework that teaches students to lead with Safety, Thoughtfulness, Respect, Ownership of words and actions, and to be Neat and Generous. Students earn "Charger Bucks" for demonstrating those behaviors; Marotta said the Bucks can be redeemed in classrooms for small incentives or in the office for experiences such as serving as a school helper, attending Lunch Bunches with an administrator, or selecting a brand-new book from a vending machine.

Marotta attributed the attendance gains to what he called “intentional systems, dedicated staff, supportive families, and students who are learning the value of consistency and commitment.” He framed the improvements as the result of sustained work rather than chance, and linked the school’s approach to the Fairfax County Public Schools Strategic Plan’s emphasis on equity, excellence and accountability.

Marotta closed his remarks by invoking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” He said the school remains focused on continuous improvement and that “the best is still ahead.”