Jane Linda Carl
August 21, 1941 ~ December 9, 2022
Jane Linda Carl (Age 81), legendary high school teacher of Social Studies and English to hundreds of students, died Friday, December 9, 2022 at INOVA Fairfax Hospital of an ischemic stroke. Born in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania in 1941, she was the only child of the late Chick C. Mellott and D. Hazel Mellott. Jane received her bachelor’s degree from the Shippensburg University in 1962 and later completed her masters in political science from Penn State. She married her high school sweetheart, Lester W. Carl, now CAPT. USN (RET), in September 1963 and began her Navy wife adventure at Pensacola, Florida. Jane first taught at Esperanza Middle School at Patuxent River, MD in 1965, and later taught in San Jose, CA before moving to Fairfax County in 1974.
Jane Carl was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She raised two sons, Dennis and Kevin Carl, while balancing the demands of a navy wife with those of a high school social studies career teacher. She served mostly in Fairfax County’s Hayfield High School, where she taught from 1981, until retiring in 2005 as Chairman of the Social Studies Department. She was a consummate professional and an exceptional teacher who loved teaching U.S government. For most of her adult life, she was in the classroom, teaching concepts, sharing ideas and motivating her students. She taught many subjects, including English, reading, history and government. She taught all level of students, including AP (Advanced Placement), and was able not only to present facts but to encourage students to learn, grow and improve their academic skills. Jane strove to make the study of United States government come alive in her classroom, through field trips, primary sources readings, lively discussions and debates, always encouraging her students to participate. One assignment that Jane created was the letter writing project. Her students were assigned to write to a government official, either local, state, or national, and discuss their ideas or ask questions. This seemed like an excellent project until the principal of Hayfield High School became upset when some of the Fairfax School administrators wanted to know why students at his school were sending letters of complaint. Jane was called to his office, but he soon realized that Jane’s letter assignment was a very creative one that helped students think and understand the process of government. This was a step in encouraging them, not just to learn but to become involved as future citizens.
In addition, Jane was a mentor to many teachers, who learned from her and were often in her classroom benefitting from her creative teaching methods. As the Chair of the Social Studies Department at Hayfield, Jane was a leader and a bridge between her department and the administrators. After retirement, Jane continued to teach and motivate students as a substitute teacher both at Madison High School and other local High Schools, until 2018. Jane Carl was a model teacher. She had a soft spot for the law and especially enjoyed teaching the U.S. court system as a sponsor of the Model Judiciary Program at her school. She enriched the lives of hundreds of students during her career and proudly followed their life’s accomplishments after graduation. She was nominated as Fairfax County’s Teacher of the Year for 2002.
Jane Carl was a civic minded and willing volunteer outside of school, serving as a Boy Scout counselor and cub master; community association board member, president, and neighborhood watch coordinator; deacon and elder in her church; and she was a supporter of many civic and environmental causes. She was also a wonderful “Navy Wife,” providing friendship, assistance, advice and wise counsel to peer spouses of any command members. She was especially valuable as a family support advocate for navy wives facing the challenges of their navy husband’s deployments. Jane was always willing to help.
Her favorite and most cherished title is that of “GRANDMA.” She had an enduring concern and love for her three granddaughters, Shelby, Lauren and Kirsten. She was so very proud of their achievements both in and out of school, and she doted over their awards, academic grades and personal accomplishments.
In retirement, she loved gardening, traveling, reading, attending Esther Circle and Book Club at church, and family activities. Jane’s biggest challenge arrived in 2020 when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which advanced rapidly, impacting many aspects of her life. She fought valiantly with prescribed physical, speech, and occupational therapies but was confined to a transport chair by mid-2022. Her stroke on December 5th in the middle of the night was devastating, and she could not recover from it. She leaves behind her husband, Lester, of 59 years; two sons, Dennis and Kevin; three granddaughters, Shelby, Lauren and Kirsten; two sisters-in-law Doris Holtry (Jerry) and Mary Kitzmiller (Johnny, deceased); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial services with partial interment will be held at Fairfax Presbyterian Church, 10723 Main St., Fairfax, VA, on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM. The Reverend Henry Brinton will officiate. Visitation begins at 1:00pm, with refreshments available afterwards. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Jane Carl was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She raised two sons, Dennis and Kevin Carl, while balancing the demands of a navy wife with those of a high school social studies career teacher. She served mostly in Fairfax County’s Hayfield High School, where she taught from 1981, until retiring in 2005 as Chairman of the Social Studies Department. She was a consummate professional and an exceptional teacher who loved teaching U.S government. For most of her adult life, she was in the classroom, teaching concepts, sharing ideas and motivating her students. She taught many subjects, including English, reading, history and government. She taught all level of students, including AP (Advanced Placement), and was able not only to present facts but to encourage students to learn, grow and improve their academic skills. Jane strove to make the study of United States government come alive in her classroom, through field trips, primary sources readings, lively discussions and debates, always encouraging her students to participate. One assignment that Jane created was the letter writing project. Her students were assigned to write to a government official, either local, state, or national, and discuss their ideas or ask questions. This seemed like an excellent project until the principal of Hayfield High School became upset when some of the Fairfax School administrators wanted to know why students at his school were sending letters of complaint. Jane was called to his office, but he soon realized that Jane’s letter assignment was a very creative one that helped students think and understand the process of government. This was a step in encouraging them, not just to learn but to become involved as future citizens.
In addition, Jane was a mentor to many teachers, who learned from her and were often in her classroom benefitting from her creative teaching methods. As the Chair of the Social Studies Department at Hayfield, Jane was a leader and a bridge between her department and the administrators. After retirement, Jane continued to teach and motivate students as a substitute teacher both at Madison High School and other local High Schools, until 2018. Jane Carl was a model teacher. She had a soft spot for the law and especially enjoyed teaching the U.S. court system as a sponsor of the Model Judiciary Program at her school. She enriched the lives of hundreds of students during her career and proudly followed their life’s accomplishments after graduation. She was nominated as Fairfax County’s Teacher of the Year for 2002.
Jane Carl was a civic minded and willing volunteer outside of school, serving as a Boy Scout counselor and cub master; community association board member, president, and neighborhood watch coordinator; deacon and elder in her church; and she was a supporter of many civic and environmental causes. She was also a wonderful “Navy Wife,” providing friendship, assistance, advice and wise counsel to peer spouses of any command members. She was especially valuable as a family support advocate for navy wives facing the challenges of their navy husband’s deployments. Jane was always willing to help.
Her favorite and most cherished title is that of “GRANDMA.” She had an enduring concern and love for her three granddaughters, Shelby, Lauren and Kirsten. She was so very proud of their achievements both in and out of school, and she doted over their awards, academic grades and personal accomplishments.
In retirement, she loved gardening, traveling, reading, attending Esther Circle and Book Club at church, and family activities. Jane’s biggest challenge arrived in 2020 when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which advanced rapidly, impacting many aspects of her life. She fought valiantly with prescribed physical, speech, and occupational therapies but was confined to a transport chair by mid-2022. Her stroke on December 5th in the middle of the night was devastating, and she could not recover from it. She leaves behind her husband, Lester, of 59 years; two sons, Dennis and Kevin; three granddaughters, Shelby, Lauren and Kirsten; two sisters-in-law Doris Holtry (Jerry) and Mary Kitzmiller (Johnny, deceased); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial services with partial interment will be held at Fairfax Presbyterian Church, 10723 Main St., Fairfax, VA, on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM. The Reverend Henry Brinton will officiate. Visitation begins at 1:00pm, with refreshments available afterwards. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
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