By Michael Hoover (November 3, 2003)

Dr. Nancy Sprague, longtime City resident and a pillar of the Falls Church City School system for 20 years from 1970 to 1990, died peacefully in her sleep Friday night at her home in Falls Church.

Her husband Stephen Sprague said that his wife had come home from work feeling fine Friday and had greeted neighborhood children who were trick or treating before she went to bed to read. He found her after midnight. 
 

Sprague, 59, was recently appointed to the position of Chief Academic Officer of Fairfax County Public Schools and her death will leave a large void in that school system’s administrative affairs according to school system officials.  "Nancy’s contribution to our school system is inestimable," said Fairfax County School Board Chair Isis Castro in a press release. "She knew more about instruction than any person I have ever known. But the most important thing about Nancy is that she listened. In everything she did, she worked with parents and the community. And she didn’t just listen, she followed up. She did something. We will miss her dreadfully." Sprague’s immediate superior, Fairfax Schools Superintendent Daniel Domenech said in the release, "She was my right hand. Nancy exerted strong and innovative leadership in our school community. She was a visionary. She was respected and admired by everyone in the system and by educators around the world."

Dr. Nancy Sprague 1944-2003

While Sprague served the last 13 years of her career in the Fairfax County School District, one of the nation’s largest, it was in the small Falls Church School District that she also made an indelible mark.

Coming to the City’s schools in September of 1970 as a social studies teacher, Sprague’s intellectual prowess and extraordinary gift for organization quickly had her moving up the educational ladder. In her two decades with the Falls Church School system, Sprague held a variety of positions including assistant high school principal, middle school principal, K-12 director of instruction, assistant to the superintendent and clerk of the School Board. She was the first recipient of the Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award for Falls Church City Schools.

Former superintendent of Falls Church Schools, Dr. Warren Pace, said, "Soon after I became superintendent in 1971, I recognized Nancy’s great abilities. She was an excellent teacher and administrator and she served with distinction in every position she held. Not only was she a superb educator, but she was a wonderful person. She was admired and respected by teachers, students, parents and coworkers. The loss of Nancy Sprague has been a tremendous shock to me and it is a great loss to our educational community"

In spite of her demanding career, Sprague always found time for her family and community. She coached her son Rob and daughter Beth in little league baseball, and was very active in activities at the Dulin United Methodist Church where she was Chair of the Education Committee, and Chair of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee. She also taught Sunday school. "She just couldn’t let go of teaching," said her husband.

In 2000, Nancy and Stephen Sprague suffered the death of their beloved daughter Elizabeth, 21, who also died in her sleep, while a student at West Virginia University. Their son Robert, 27, is co-founder of a Chicago trading fund.

Sprague earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s in public administration and a Ph.D. in social science education from the University of Michigan. She served as an adjunct professor with the University of Virginia and as a lecturer at the George Mason University, University of Maryland and Florida State University schools of education. She was past chairman of the committee on communication for the National Association of Secondary School Principals as well as past chairman of the publications board for the National Council for Social Studies.

Viewing will be at Murphy’s Falls Church Funeral Home, 1102 W. Broad St., Falls Church, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, and from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wed., Nov. 5. 

Due to renovations at Dulin United Methodist Church, the funeral will be held at Columbia Baptist Church, 103 West Columbia Street, Falls Church, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6.

The family asks that anyone who would like to make a donation in Nancy’s memory, to please make a contribution to the George Mason High School Scholarship Fund that is already established in honor of their daughter Elizabeth. Donations may be sent to The Elizabeth and Nancy Sprague Scholarship Fund, care of George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043.