Alexandra Javna, Ed.D., LCSW

Statewide leader for attendance, school social work, behavioral health supports, and community schools.

Statewide Attendance & Engagement Leadership

• Lead Virginia’s statewide strategy to increase regular attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism, providing TA to all 132 divisions.
• Develop evidence-based guidance, technical assistance, and data tools to strengthen division capacity.
• Align attendance work with VTSS, graduation/dropout prevention, alternative education, and Special Education processes.

Community Schools & Wraparound Services

• Manage the Community Schools Fund for 14 school divisions; oversee budgets, grantee support, outcomes, and reporting.
• Lead TA and statewide learning networks for Community School Coordinators, resulting in increased attendance, engagement, and access to services.
• Coordinate the Virginia Community Schools Task Force and the development of the statewide Community School Designation Process.
• Strengthen collaboration with VDSS, DBHDS, VDH, DCJS, DJJ, and others to improve services to targeted student populations.

Statewide Mental Health, Safety & Behavioral Supports

• Provide policy guidance and professional learning on trauma-informed care, threat assessments, student support plans, behavioral interventions, and school mental-health best practices.
• Respond to division inquiries on bullying, safety concerns, and IDEA-related behavioral requirements (FBA/BIP/MD).

Technical Assistance & Workforce Capacity Building

• Design and implement a comprehensive TA infrastructure for school social workers and specialized instructional support personnel.
• Facilitate statewide PLCs, provide policy communication, and guide divisions on complex regulatory issues related to attendance, mental health, child welfare, and Special Education.

• Teach courses in School Social Work Practice and Human Behavior.
• Co-created the M.S.W. Course: 'Social Work Interventions in Substance Abuse.'
• Mentor emerging social workers, shaping workforce pipelines for Virginia’s K–12 system.

• Led division-wide implementation of Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports.
• Trained staff in social-emotional learning curriculum, trauma-responsive instruction, and behavior intervention processes.
• Conducted social histories and supported eligibility decisions for students with disabilities.
• Counseled students, engaged families, and guided school teams in behavior and academic planning.

• Led program development initiatives to enhance student engagement and financial literacy.
• Built partnerships with schools and community agencies to expand career readiness programming.
• Recruited and led 800 volunteers to support youth participating in JA Finance Park experiential learning.

• Increased student proficiency on the Science 8 CST by 64%.
• Designed engaging, standards-aligned instruction; analyzed student data; and built strong relationships with families.