Superintendent's Weekly Reflections

As I sit down to share my thoughts this evening, I invite you to consider with me the amazing gifts we each have to be thankful for this winter season.  It is so easy at times to fuss about things that pale in comparison to the challenges others around our dear world face.  This evening, I wish for each of you that you are able to be wholly present for the beauty and joy of this winter season and that you find those peaceful and meaningful moments of reflection and contemplation.  With the clamor of our daily lives, it is often refreshing to pause and find the quiet.  "It is in the stillness that we save and transform the world." -- Eckhart Tolle  

The classrooms are clean, and our hallways are quiet as schools take a much-anticipated two-week break. Whatever this time away means to you, please know that you are appreciated for all that you bring to FCPS every day. 

Last Monday I had the fabulous experience of attending the Mosaic Elementary School winter concert.  It was a sing-along of sorts as the theme of “Traveling Home for the Holidays” highlighted a number of festive songs.  I appreciated the hard work and dedication of the band, orchestra, and choirs.  It was nice to spend the evening with so many young musicians, their dedicated staff, and the Mosaic community families.

I was able to sneak in one last school visit this week to Glen Forest Elementary School in the Justice High School Pyramid. A lively and committed group of parents was in attendance for the Family Literacy Program. The Family Literacy Program helps families develop literacy skills and build a sense of community for themselves and their children. At Glen Forest, the program is led by Jaclyn Falcon and Rosa Saavedra Saavedra. The parents participated in review stations of letter sounds, family writing, health vocabulary words, and school speaking. We had a fascinating conversation about the commonalities and differences between the German, Arabic, and English languages. We also talked about the differences between education systems around the world. We know that student success depends on parents working with school staff to create a strong network that lifts up our children. Together, great things are possible! To learn more about the program or if you know someone who might benefit, visit the Family Literacy Program page on our website.

During my visit, I met Timothy Himes, a devoted teacher who has been with FCPS for 25 years and retired this past Friday. Timothy has cycled to work for the past 13 years, logging 43,000 miles! I applaud Timothy for his commitment to the environment and to a healthy commute! Timothy shared the following quote from John Howard, US cyclist, with me; “The bicycle is a curious vehicle.  It’s passenger is its engine.”  Hats off (or helmets ;>) to all of our FCPS staffers who are able to choose this method of travel each day.  So many inspiring stories…

Our commitment to building communities is a key a component of our strategic planning process. I am excited to share that all of the dates and locations for our community conversations are posted on the FCPS website. Please invite your neighbors and friends to attend. All voices matter! Our recent strategic planning student surveys have elicited responses from over 100,000 of our students!!  We’ve also finished principal-led focus groups with students. We have 4,500 responses from students about what matters most to them in their school experience, and the one promise they would like adults in their life to commit to regarding their education. This feedback, plus the responses to the Strategic Plan student survey, is currently being analyzed as we look forward to reviewing and reflecting in the coming year.  These critical insights will help us develop a strategic plan that guides us to ensuring a mountaintop educational experience for each and every one of our students.

Tuesday evening I had the opportunity to join our Board of Supervisors as they hosted the Fairfax County 2023 General Assembly Legislative Work Session.  It was a great opportunity to learn more about the Board’s Legislative Program and additional information about the County.  This work session is so important as we collaboratively share our best thinking on what best supports our students, staff and families in the County moving forward.  We have so many opportunities to re-imagine our community as we shape the future fast upon us. 

Our community was also invited this week to attend a conversation around how ESSER III funds are being used to support our students. It was another great opportunity to connect with our community.  Following a brief presentation, participants shared ideas on how this funding could best be used. Many comments focused on mental health and wellness as well as academic supports, for both students and school staff. During last night’s School Board Academic Matters segment, I shared updates about our ESSER III spending. It is important that our community understands how the funds are being spent, and the value that this work has had in supporting our students both academically and in their social-emotional health. Without students feeling safe and supported in school, they cannot succeed academically.

I shared the slide below with our School Board to highlight just a few of the ways the funds are being used.

Overall, approximately $102.8 million of ESSER III funding has been allocated for student academic and wellness support. In the summer of 2021, FCPS served 34,000 students with robust, tuition-free summer programming. In 2022, we served 32,000 students. We are being thoughtful and targeted in how we disperse these funds and overall, it is working.  Thank you one and all for all that you do each and every day to support our students; it matters.

The slide below shows that the rate of FCPS academic recovery is outpacing Virginia as a whole. The reading performance is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels after just one year. Math performance is progressing towards the pre-pandemic baseline. Thank you to our hard-working educators in all roles from our school administrators, teachers, instructional assistants, specialists, to our central office support teams. Thank you also to our school support staff including food and nutrition services for making sure kids are ready to learn, and to our custodians and maintenance staff members and school security staff, who keep our buildings a healthy and safe place. ESSER III plans for individual schools can be found on each school’s website.  For more information on FCPS ESSER III funding allocations, or to view a recording of the ESSER III community event, visit the ESSER webpage.

Congratulations to Abhinav, Ishaan, Zach, Ayush, Riya, and Isha from the Floris First Lego League team for competing against 200+ teams in the Virginia+DC Regional Lego League Championship and taking the top spot! The theme for the competition was Super Powered (energy generation), where teams were required to design a robot, execute robot missions, and create an innovation project. Floris’ First Lego League team moves on to the national competition. These students embody the FIRST® LEGO ® League Challenge experience by fully embracing the core values while achieving excellence and innovation in Robot Design, Robot Performance and Innovation Project. Soar, Eagles!

Now for Fairfax Inspires! This past week, I received a note from an employee who wanted to give a shout out to Cindy Fitzgerald, a benefits specialist here in FCPS. Cindy assisted this employee during a difficult time. The employee described Cindy as “amazing” and “an all-around lifesaver.”  Thank you Cindy for strengthening Our House by embodying our caring culture.  In FCPS, we care just a little bit more!!

I want to thank all of you for being flexible this week as we had our first winter weather schedule adjusted day.  With the winter weather advisory that was upon us for icy weather and roads, I want to thank all of you for being so gracious and making the day an amazing, albeit shorter day for each and every one of our students.  I especially want to thank our bus drivers and building custodial and maintenance staff who kept us safe during these challenging conditions.  We have so many who give so much to keep our work mission focused; together all things are possible.    

Friday evening, I had the opportunity to attend the boys’ basketball game at Madison HS.  It was a great game that featured many athletic moments. As Principal Liz Calvert called it, the game was played brilliantly, especially the second half as the game came down to the last second with the buzzer ending an incredible basketball contest.  Next time, I am sure the 3-point shot will fall.  Go Warhawks!! 

As I wrap up my last weekly reflections before the new year, I want to give shout outs to students, staff, and community members, who have shared their experience(s) and success with me. It brings me great joy, and I believe both inspires and strengthens Our House, when we remember there is much good happening in our community every day.  We have so many reasons to be grateful…

Finally, there are so many examples of our students and staff going above and beyond to support those less fortunate in our community this winter season. This speaks so highly of the character and grace abundant in our great school division; a real FCPS family feel to be sure.  Many have noted the following; “This is my wish for you: peace of mind, prosperity through the year, happiness that multiplies, health for you and yours, fun around every corner, energy to chase your dreams, joy to fill your holidays!”  What a joyful wish to come true for each of you…

Warmest wishes for an abundantly joyful winter holiday season, 

Michelle Reid, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools