Leah Puhlick

Leah Puhlick has been a part of Virginia Science Olympiad since the very beginning. When the program launched in Virginia in 2001 as a single state tournament administered by Fairfax County Public Schools science supervisors, she jumped in immediately - founding and coaching the Science Olympiad team at Langley High School. When FCPS stepped back from running tournaments, Ms. Puhlick helped establish VASO and has served on the board ever since.

A high school chemistry teacher since 1993, Ms. Puhlick spent nearly three decades at Langley High School in Fairfax County before retiring in 2025. Throughout her teaching career she coached the Langley Science Olympiad team and continues in retirement to contribute to VASO as a tournament director, event group leader (EGL) coordinator, chemistry event liaison, event supervisor, and a myriad of other supporting roles behind-the-scenes at tournaments.

Ms. Puhlick earned her B.A. in Chemistry and her Master of Teaching from the University of Virginia.