Employee News for the Week of 5/23/22

Check out the May 2022 Issue of the Audit Buzz

May 26, 2022

In this issue of Audit Buzz, the Office of Auditor General (OAG) summarizes the status of current engagements, spotlights a fraud scheme, bid rigging, in the Knowledge Hive, and highlights a recent peer review (i.e. "auditing the auditors") performed by Auditor General, Esther Ko. Stay up to date with OAG's current and future work by subscribing to Audit Buzz. 

For more information, contact Chris Migliaccio at [email protected] or 571-423-1326. 

Second Virtual Cybersecurity Fundamentals Training to Be Held on July 29

May 26, 2022

Due to popular demand, the Department of Information Technology-Office of Cybersecurity Services and the Office of the Auditor General are offering a second virtual Cybersecurity Fundamentals training on July 29 from 9 a.m. to noon. The training content will be the same as the July 15 offering. The training is appropriate for all staff—whether you want to pursue a career in cybersecurity or be better informed about cybersecurity topics.

The course covers:

• Basic cybersecurity concepts.
• Emerging and evolving cyber threats.
• Valuable tips to keep ourselves safe.
• An overview of FCPS cybersecurity guidelines.

After this training, participants will become more familiar with basic cybersecurity concepts and will also better understand the need and value of actions that can be taken to protect yourself and FCPS from cyber threats. For more information, contact Heidi Flanagan at 571-423-1320 or [email protected]. 

Register for the training in MyPDE.

Congratulations to the April FCPS CARES of the Month Winners

May 25, 2022

The following employees were recognized as April FCPS CARES of the Month winners. Read about why these employees are being honored and recognize a colleague who goes above and beyond.

• Central Office: Candace Davis, Lorton Center, Department of Facilities and Transportation. “Upon arriving at school, it was noticed that a student with a device to support hearing did not have it on. Thankfully the device was found on the bus after a thorough search and Ms. Davis made sure to communicate this and get it to the family. This was a stressful situation that Ms. Davis handled calmly, proactively, and effectively.” 
• Region 1: Jay O’Rourke, Langley High School. “Mr. O’Rourke has changed the math for my daughter. His amazing sense of humor and open and inviting demeanor draws her in each day. We hear story after story of how he uses math jokes, puns, or even Tik Tok trends to engage his students with the incredibly challenging curriculum he presents.”  
• Region 2: Ariel Miller, Justice High School. “Ariel Miller has gone out of her way throughout the months of February and March, coming to school on Saturdays, so students can work through their chemical internal assessments (IA). Due to her work, the first students at Justice High School got a 7 on their chemical IA, so it's clear she brings value to the school and passion to her work."
• Region 3: Stephanie Seadeek, Fort Hunt Elementary School. “Stephanie Seadeek is an incredible force for awesomeness at Fort Hunt Elementary School. There is NOTHING at our school that hasn’t benefited from her personal touch: community outreach and engagement, summer reading program, after-school enrichment programs, reading buddies, staff social committee, PTA fundraisers, Care and Share, and on and on and on.”
• Region 4: Jenna McCabe, Lake Braddock Secondary School. “Jenna is truly the most genuine and caring teacher I have witnessed when interacting with students. She is tough on them because she has high expectations and goals for them, but is also incredibly understanding and able to make true connections with them.” 
• Region 5: Kevin Deans, Katherine Johnson Middle School. “We’ve had 3 kids attend FCPS and have never experienced a teacher as dedicated to student success as Mr. Kevin Deans. We were first introduced to him over the summer of 2021 when he personally called me to push for my daughter to enter his higher-level math class. … I am thrilled to say that she has not only excelled in his classroom but has become a much more positive person.”

Summer Professional Development Opportunities

5/23/22

Registration Open for Summer Academy Courses

FCPS is committed to continuous, sustained professional development through the summer Academy Course Program. Courses include a variety of virtual offerings based on teacher feedback and FCPS priorities. 

To promote equitable access and to minimize potential summer program conflicts, most of the Academy courses will be offered from late June until early August and will start at 3:30 p.m. or later. 

Details including course syllabus, outcomes, and assignments are available in MyPDE. 

Visit the Academy Hub page for more information or email [email protected] for questions.
 

Register for the 2022 Summer Equity Symposium 

The 2022 Summer Equity Symposium, Equity Reimagined: Pursuing Transformative Change, will take place on Tuesday, July 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Lewis High School. 

The event will promote growth, reflection, and continuous improvement as we seek a culture of inclusivity, equity, diversity, and belonging. This professional learning experience will include speakers and deeper learning sessions to increase participants' awareness and understanding of equitable and culturally responsive practices.

Registration is open in MyPDE through July 1.