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Custodian Juan Cuazitl Cielo rearranges furniture in the Rolling Valley Elementary School cafeteria.
🏆 Nine Schools Receive FCPS School Communicator Awards
Nine schools received awards for outstanding school communications at the Office of Communications’ third annual School Communicators Conference held January 29.
The awards celebrate the creation of excellent websites, newsletters, and social media content that inform and engage readers. The winners are examples of the substantial talent that exists among the community of FCPS school communicators. Read about the winners.
✨ Building trusting partnerships with our families — which includes transparent, authentic communication — is Pillar B of FCPS’ Strategic Plan.
Black History Month Kickoff Celebration
FCPS’ Chief Equity Office invites the community to an Inaugural Black History Month Kickoff Celebration on Wednesday, February 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.
The event begins with a light reception, followed by a formal program, From the Threads of Our Past to the Fabric of Our Future. The program will honor the enduring contributions of Black history and culture while envisioning a future rooted in equity and excellence. It will include inspiring performances, personal stories, reflections, and opportunities to connect and celebrate. The event is open to the entire community.
For more information, contact Nina Thomas, senior manager for Professional Learning and Cultural Responsiveness.
Great Beginnings Facilitator Pool Applications Opening
Applications open next week for Great Beginnings Summer Institute facilitators. These facilitators lead the summer cohorts of new-to-FCPS educators. Facilitators receive recertification points and are paid for planning, facilitation, and professional development. Applicants must have at least five years of teaching experience, with at least three of those in FCPS (by the conclusion of the current school year).
Applicants must be available for full-day, in-person commitments Wednesday, July 30, through Friday, August 1, and Monday, August 4, through Wednesday, August 6.
In addition to summer facilitation, there will be opportunities for after-school programming. The application window will be open Monday, February 10, through Monday, February 24. Interested individuals must submit their application and a current resume, as well as request a recommendation from their supervisor. For more information, email [email protected].
Important Changes to the Eligibility for National Board Stipend
In early 2024, the Virginia legislature expanded the eligibility for the state stipend to all public school staff members who hold an active National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). In response, the Virginia Department of Education has opened an additional data collection window to capture all those not previously reported in FCPS who have maintained active certification with NBPTS to determine eligibility for a stipend.
Previously, the stipend was only available to those who could verify that 50% of the employee’s time was spent in direct instruction of students. The expanded eligibility may include, but is not limited to NBCTs in administrative, central office, resource, or other roles for potential stipend funding. Active employment as of September 30, 2024, is required and funding is not guaranteed.
If you are in the expanded eligibility group, please complete the certification form by Friday, February 7, to be considered for this potential stipend.
For more information or questions, please contact Sara Royer or Mary Beth Anderson.
💙 At Glasgow, Every Student Can Find the Perfect Mentor
Glasgow Middle School is the largest middle school in Fairfax County, with more than 1,800 students. Its mentoring program goes above and beyond to make the large campus feel more like a close-knit community. There are more than 60 mentors at Glasgow, and the number is growing as even more staff members and community volunteers step up to mentor.
Mentors and mentees usually meet once or twice a week, but it varies depending on the students' needs. Read more about the mentoring program at Glasgow.
Looking to Work More Closely With Students?
Learn more about MentorWorks online or contact Martha Macdonald to learn more about becoming a mentor in an FCPS school.
We ❤️ FCPS Families. Tell Us About Yours!
Valentine’s Day is around the corner, which seems like a great time to celebrate our FCPS families. Whether your parent, child, spouse, or sibling works with FCPS, we’d love to hear from you!
FCPS’ Lonnett family includes brothers Ray (left) and Jeff (right), and Jeff’s wife Cori (center). Learn more about the Lonnetts and what they love about FCPS.
Share your story and photos with us by emailing [email protected].
FCPS Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Progress
The Fairfax County School Board reviewed the FY 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session today. They discussed additional details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education.
Breaking Down the Budget
More than 85% of the budget is dedicated to instruction and reflects the needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Budget priorities include providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7% salary increase for all staff. The majority of the budget increase is dedicated to that proposed 7% pay increase.
We must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students.
The proposed 7% salary increase would likely move FCPS to the highest starting salary for teachers with a master's degree among our neighboring counties and greatly improve our recruitment efforts amidst an ongoing teacher shortage.
✨ A diverse, adaptive, and supported workforce is Pillar C of FCPS’ Strategic Plan.
Next Step
The School Board will hold a public hearing on the FY 2026 Proposed Budget tonight at 6 p.m.
Meetings can be viewed live on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11), the FCPS YouTube Channel, and FCPS website.
💕 Thank You to Our School Counselors!
February 3-7 is National School Counseling Week, highlighting the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve academic success and planning for a career.
School counselors work with students in many ways, such as classroom lessons, group sessions, and individual counseling. Read this Employee Blog to learn more about two of our school counselors.
✨ FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered focuses on building school communities where student health and well-being are prioritized and student voice is centered.
Mental Health Resources
In light of the recent events affecting our FCPS community, we want to remind you of the support and resources you have access to.
All employees and their dependents can access six free counseling sessions through Guidance Resources, our Employee Assistance Program:
Additionally, those with Cigna can call the Behavioral Health Benefits line at 1-800-433-5768 (available 24/7). Kaiser Permanente members can call the Behavioral Access call center at 1-866-530-8778. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached at any time by calling or texting 988 (TTY 711).
♥️ Share the Love, Donate Blood
Sideburn Support Center is hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, February 12, from 6-10 a.m. Donors will receive a free breakfast. Register for a time to donate. For more information, contact Jackie Roseman.
Preparing Students for the Future
In her Weekly Reflections, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid explores the new 3E Ready for Life measures of the state's School Performance and Support Framework. “3E” represents experiences that foster student readiness for college Enrollment, meaningful Employment, and military Enlistment after graduation. Read more about how these will be factored into high school accountability measures.
✨ FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence features a similar focus on monitoring our students’ successful completion of advanced coursework. Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation, focuses on the availability of work-based learning opportunities and successful transitions to postsecondary opportunities.
📍 Comprehensive Boundary Review Updates
The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee met last night at Gatehouse Administration Center. Please visit FCPS’ website to access key takeaways, the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received. Learn about the comprehensive boundary review process.
Virtual Community Boundary Review Meeting
The final virtual Community Boundary Review meeting will take place Monday, February 10, 6:30-8 p.m. (Click the date to register.) Participants will follow the same format as the previous in-person meetings and have access to the same information.
Each registrant will receive a unique Zoom link. Language interpretation will be available.
Learn about FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Your Benefits in the New Year
The Office of Benefit Services would like to share some benefits reminders that went into effect on January 1, 2025:
- New Cigna cost-sharing amounts: Beginning January 1, your Cigna health insurance plan will include changes in deductibles, co-pays, out-of-pocket maximums, and out-of-network coinsurance rates. Please see the 2024/2025 Plan Comparison for more details.
- Pharmacy copays and coinsurance limits change starting January 1st. Employees enrolled in CVS Caremark will see an increase in the copayments and maximum coinsurance limits for generic and brand-name drugs.
- Formulary updates for 2025: As a reminder, the formulary list for CVS Caremark and Kaiser are set to update quarterly. Please review the updated list to make sure your medication is covered.
- Voya replaces MissionSquare for VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan Members, effective January 2025. You will receive a Voya notification in early January directing you to set up your online account. You can contact Voya at 1-VRS-DC-Plan1 (1-877-327-5261) or visit their website for additional information. Members who have an existing online account are not required to re-register. Current members will use their account information to log in. Note: You will have access to your historical Plan information on the MissionSquare Retirement website through June 30, 2025.
Visit the Employee Hub for more benefits information.
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Presidents Day (Holiday)
All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, for the Presidents Day holiday. See the complete school year calendar or employee calendar.
Religious Leave for Employees
FCPS allows employees to request leave as a religious accommodation. Employees should notify their manager or principal at least 30 days in advance of requesting leave, due to the possible number of requests and potential impact on the workplace. For more information, refer to Regulation 4817.7.
School Board Meeting Thursday, February 6, at 7 p.m.
The School Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, February 6, at 7 p.m. Topics on the agenda include:
- Virginia High School League and Academic Team Recognitions
- Proposed Fiscal Year 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program
- Strategic Plan Update
View the complete agenda. Find out how to watch and participate in School Board meetings.
Staff Staples
Note: Some links in this email require a connection to the FCPS network. If you have any questions, please visit the FCPS Tech Support Portal to search for self help articles or submit a ticket.
Submit an Employee News request. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Thank you!
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