FCPS CARES - June 2023

To recognize an employee with an FCPS Cares, please visit our submission page.

To view past submissions, please visit our previous submissions page. 

FCPS CARES of the Month Recipients

Central Office

Celine Sinclair-Peebles, Transition Support Resource Center, Alexandria - View the celebration

"Mrs. Peebles has helped me with my NOVA, Medical Diagnostics Classes to take in regard to pre-med and technical radiologists plus forensic studies and their various classes and places to learn all about forensic science. She created a folder with all the information needed plus the various government grants programs, and scholarships available to students who don't have support. Mrs. Peebles helps both ISAEP students and TSRC Alexandria students who require various college support and study programs including many trade studies and various job opportunities for students within the community. She even organized “Food for Others” to deliver food every two weeks for all students in ISAEP South Grants Program and TSRC Alexandria students to take home. She even surprised all graduates with a special lunch prior to graduation day!"

-  a Transition Support Resource Center- Alexandria student

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Region 1 

Dianne Stansbery, Saida Bouzaher, and G. Garoni, Cedar Lane School - View the celebration

"Despite my son's ups and downs, the teachers were there for him. My son graduated last Friday; he still talks about his great teachers. They took care of my son who has huge anxiety, autism, and ADHD. He has been in FCPS since he was 3 years old. My son said his best school time was when he was in Cedar Lane school. He confessed he's been with truly wonderful teachers, Ms. Stansbery, Ms. Bouzaher and Ms. Garoni that have supported him and helped him out every which way. Thank you so much all you did for my son!"

- a Cedar Lane School parent

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Region 2

James Wears and Michael Davis, McLean HS - View the celebration

"Saw a lot of compassion, kindness, and empowering of a special needs student at McLean HS. SRO Davis and Security Assistant Mr. Wears showed a lot of respect to this young man. They let him handle a lot of fire drill duties, including using radios and keys. This was beyond what words can express, but am grateful for gents like this, who lift up and empower this student and others."

- Michael Ross, Gatehouse Admin Center

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Region 3

Sarah Bracken Payne, Key Center - View the celebration

"I wanted to take the time to highlight one of your staff members, Ms. Sarah Bracken Payne. It is so often emails are sent for complaints. However, this is not the case. I want to let you know of a priceless diamond you have on your staff. I am a homebound teacher and I interact with lots of different teachers and schools. Ms. Bracken Payne is phenomenal! My student has some severe challenges but that does not impact instruction. She designs lessons that are so interactive and interesting. Both the student and I look forward to seeing what is coming next. We have virtually traveled the world, played fun learning games, and learned about so many different cultures. She has a way of incorporating the student in a very interactive manner. Every lesson is carefully thought out and planned to be engaging. I have even had lessons at the doctor’s office because the student did not want to miss a lesson. I can honestly say that Ms. Bracken Payne has made teaching fun again and learning exciting. I have often shared with other schools and my staff on how this educator teachers towards the student and not to the disability. I am always bragging about your school and Ms. Bracken Payne. The purpose of this email is to spotlight an amazing teacher you have at your school. I wish more teachers were like her."

-  a Key Center parent

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Region 4

Rachel Acosta and Maggie Murphy, West Springfield ES - view the celebration

"Ms. Acosta and Ms. Murphy are the epitome of the team/co-teaching model and experience. Their professional dynamic is unmatched. You know you have a power team when there is no telling who is the "primary" teacher, vs. special education teacher. They are a model for how this teaching should be done. While my student may not specifically require specialized instruction, I am so thankful for the support he received from both Ms. Acosta and Ms. Murphy, every child in that class benefitted from their collaboration and expertise. Their weekly communication left no question as to what our children were engaging with on any given day. Their care for, connection with, and love of our kids was felt all year. If only every classroom in FCPS could provide this level of support for our students! Their enthusiasm for teaching was prevalent all year. My son felt like a valued member of their classroom community, and this is created and modeled by our teachers first. I cannot thank them enough for the incredible school year!" 

- a West Springfield ES parent

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Region 5

Elizabeth Goodfriend, Eagle View ES (pictured) - view the celebration

"I wish to bring to your attention the professionalism of one of your teachers, Mrs. Elizabeth Goodfriend. She has handled the welcoming of my son with wonderful amiability. She possesses such a courteous and warm demeanor yet maintains a stern command presence. This uncommon personality balance supported my son’s development greatly when he was going through this challenging transition of a new school. Mrs. Goodfriend correctly acknowledged his past traumas while not enabling him the excuses for poor behavior. Being he was a new student arriving late in the school year she showed such patience when he needed it. Her actions and handling of him has left such a profound mark on his life. I am truly grateful that fortune placed her into our lives. Being honest with you I had some concerns when enrolling him into school. Concerns based on current educational mainstream talking points. All those fears were eliminated by Mrs. Goodfriend. She aided me in my new responsibilities with informative emails and introduced great parent teacher feedback. She showed true professionalism when I bombarded her with questions and provided me with courses of action. Mrs. Goodfriend is an example for schools on what it looks like when someone spends the extra time to hone their craft. From my sons’ stories of school, she clearly shows traits of learning from past failures. Then introduces those life experiences into the education of her students while adhering to the school’s lesson plan. Teaching not by force but through example. I want you to know that it was a welcomed relief working with someone who had the patience to earn my trust versus an individual that expects me to just give it. My newly revealed life stressors as a single father were mitigated because of her. My son gained confidence and life lessons because of her actions. Because of her I will be returning to Eagle View next year. Please consider spending the time to recognize her. She is an example you can build a foundation of excellence on. Words will never describe the appreciation both me and my son have for the actions of your school and the caring acts of Mrs. Goodfriend."

- an Eagle View ES parent

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Other FCPS Cares of the Month Recipients

Matt Watson, Wilton Woods Center

"Matt worked with me two days in a row to ensure I had the tools I needed to be effective in my new role. He was quick to set up Zoom calls, twice, and followed up with email in case my issue wasn’t resolved. While fixing my account, he dove deeper to uncover the root of the problem than others before him had. He listened patiently and made sure he understood what I perceived to be the problem. I appreciated his opinions when deciding between two solutions and guiding me through both and testing them with me, too. His support was invaluable, and his delivery is authentic. I think he is an excellent example of an ideal member of the FCPS IT support staff team."

- Debbie Phillips, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Michael Elion, Sprague Technology Center

"I had a time-sensitive issue I needed resolved with processing tickets. Michael assisted me with my issue and had it resolved super quick so I could complete my project on time. His efforts are much appreciated!"

- Melissa York, Sprague Technology Center

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Philip Harsh, Bret Phillips, and Mike Hanpeter, Poe MS

"I started summer clinic on Monday, June 26, in a new place without tools usually needed in a work environment. This excellent team at Poe MS were able to set up my environment, technology, and phone needs within 24 hours. I am so appreciative for their help! They made my life easy in this new place. THANK YOU!!"

- Judith Turcott, Poe MS

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Kaitlin Sanchez, Powell ES 

"Mrs. Sanchez exudes positivity and enthusiasm. She takes time to get to know her students and encourage their interests. She makes learning engaging all the way through the last day of school with challenging projects and fun surprises. I am particularly grateful to Mrs. Sanchez for proactively reaching out to me about potential issues with my child’s individual needs. She suggested helpful solutions and was always open to other ideas. She responded quickly to my concerns and provided very detailed observations about my child’s progress in order to help determine the best program to meet my child’s needs. Mrs. Sanchez truly teaches from the heart, building a strong foundation for her second graders. It was a joy to hear my child speak so fondly about her class, and her proactive communication made it a great year."

- a Powell ES parent

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Dave Jagels, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Mr. Jagels’ outstanding customer service, individualized support, and compassion have left a positive impact on our student and family. He helped us navigate a difficult middle school special education issue and served as a sincere advocate for student needs. He supported our family until the issue was resolved and follows up often. He voluntarily attended key meetings where he provided assistance to help the meeting run smoothly, including responding to parent requests for support/clarification. He ensured my parent voice was heard. Mr. Jagels’ involvement helped communication go smoothly by maintaining balance and fairness between parent and school staff, and oriented toward student needs. He followed up on communication items and e-mails with expediency and priority. I am very appreciative of Mr. Jagels’ professionalism, which was present from the first time I reached out to him in early 2022. He represents excellent leadership. Thank you!"

- a West Springfield HS parent

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Anice Denton, Fox Mill ES 

"On Monday night the two pools in our neighborhood had a swim meet and everyone was so excited to see Miss Denton cheering for both teams! She is a gem of Fox Mill!"

-a Fox Mill ES parent

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William Bushey, Fairview Park

"What a breath of fresh air it was to have my ERFC issue handled by William. He was knowledgeable and kind. He offered me a couple of options for dealing with my issue and patiently walked me through the one I preferred. Such a relief, can't thank him enough."

- Sharon Chase, Gunston ES 

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Leigh Burden, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Leigh Burden has been an incredible resource for me on a variety of things. Most recently, she helped us work through an issue in finding support for our Finance Tech who is currently out. Leigh was responsive in a timely manner and thoughtful in her suggestions. She helped us come to a resolution that quite literally shifted the ability for us to operate the building here at Westfield. Leigh is a fantastic person and Westfield is in a better place because of her support."

- Tony DiBari, Westfield HS

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Sher Nasir, Wilton Woods Center

"Sher always goes above and beyond to help resolve issues! On Wednesday the 21st, users were experiencing issues accessing data that is used by some of our workbooks but Sher went out of his way to find and quickly correct the issue. We're all deeply grateful for his assistance and we feel very lucky to have him as a colleague!"

- Kristine Baden, Wilton Woods Center

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Lori Foarce, South County MS 

"Working in a different location for the AAP Summer Institute can be daunting. Lori took the time out of her busy schedule to show me around the building and make sure that I had access to the rooms we had scheduled to use during our time at SCMS. She introduced me Belinda the building supervisor and made sure we had all we needed to make the institute a success. Thank you!"

- Lori Bedsole,  Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Greg Pickett, Sprague Technology Center

"On June 22 and June 23, the AAP Summer Institute was held at South County Middle School. During this time, Greg was extremely helpful to the AAP staff and those attending the institute. He problem solved the tech needs, located resources for the staff, and liaised with Sprague Events and our office. His professionalism and friendly positive attitude were key to helping the institute run smoothly. Thank you!"

- Lori Bedsole,  Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Belinda Martinez, South County MS 

"The AAP Summer Institute is hosted by South County Middle School. Belinda is the building supervisor. She was absolutely amazing. She was professional and courteous. She helped us problem solve changes in rooms with a positive attitude. Her care impacted our staff and the teachers who attended the institute. Thank you!" 

- Lori Bedsole,  Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Javier Molina, Davis Career Center

"Javier is the true backbone of DCC. He always ensures that the students, families, and staff needs are being meet. He always goes beyond the call of duty to establish a strong foundation between all parties. Javier accomplishes many duties throughout the day, including but definitely not limited to: ensuring that attendance is taken accordingly; buses are being called at the right time; fixing any technology issues; reports are being filed correctly; assisting in translating; and being the first smiley face when one enters DCC (just naming a few). Javier, I could not perform my job without your: patience, gratitude, guidance, assistance. Thank you for everything you have done for all the DCC students, families, and staff. This year has, like always, been a successful one, thanks to you!"

- Brianna Graves, Davis Career Center

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Ana Mejia, Sideburn Support Center

"I would like to recognize Ana Mejia for the caring culture she delivers during her work assignment at Stonecroft Transportation Facility. Ana has a very quiet personality, but her work is very profound. She is focused on completing her duties and she leaves no stone unturned. Her work is professional, high level and very thorough. She smiles when greeted and is a genuine good person. Thank you for sharing such a superior employee with us. I would love for our facility to be her permanent placement. She is a sweet person to have on our team."

- Francine Furby, Lorton Tranportation Center

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Polly Huh and Carli McIntosh, Davis Career Center

"Polly and Carli have been absolutely amazing at organizing, running and implementing IEP addendums for our whole center! The staff has been so fortunate to have had their help, support, and leadership through completing the OCR addendums. They were incredibly organized and understanding and helped make the process extremely smooth. We are so lucky to have them!"

- Lauren Forshay, Davis Career Center

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Mary Swanton, West Springfield ES

"There are not enough words to summarize the hard work and dedication Ms. Swanton gave to her 2nd grade students this year. Not only did she make a big move from 5th grade down to 2nd grade, but she was also tasked with a classroom that included 14 eight/nine-year-old BOYS. Any parent, teacher, educator, administrator knows the dynamic this creates for a classroom. Ms. Swanton provided every student the most high-quality learning experiences. Her weekly communication was exemplary, and there was never a question as to what our kids were learning. The work that came home always had clear feedback and demonstrated ample opportunities for demonstration and mastery of hands-on learning. She reached out to parents openly to support communication and collaboration. And through all of that, she also ensured our kids felt loved and cared for every day. She finished the school year with a personalized note for every student with the 5 things she loved about each of them and included an envelope and paper for the kids to write to her over the summer. Ms. Swanton is the definition of everything FCPS prioritizes for our student's academic and personal growth. We are so thankful our son was a part of her community this year. She has more than earned a summer break from the energy level of 14 little boys, she so gracefully walked into every day for the love of our kids. We can't thank you enough, Ms. Swanton. Our son misses you already and can't wait to walk by your classroom next year and help you unstack your chairs."

- a West Springfield ES parent

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Tim Hilkert, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Tim has a very busy schedule, but he absolutely cares about the teachers and staff with whom he is assigned to work. When I was on short term disability (today's my last day being on disability, thankfully), Tim patiently answered all of my questions, whether it be through email or phone call. Tim reassured me and supported me, which was very important to me, being on short term disability. If Tim is your TAM, never hesitate to contact him. He is amazing at what he does! And he wants to help you, always remember that!"

- Lynn Marsh, Lewis HS

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Sylvia Orellana, South County HS 

"Ms. Orellana went above and beyond on a daily basis supporting my son throughout his 4 yrs. at SOCO. He had severe school anxiety and challenges. When others seemed to be obstacles, Ms. Orellana remained supportive and resourceful and thought outside the box to support him and be the conduit to the teachers and administrators. We need more people like her. We will forever be grateful."

- a South County HS parent

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Bettye Stewart Payne, Lisa Williams, Shane Mills, and Douglas Entwisle

"I want to thank Ms. Stewart-Payne, Ms. William’s, Mr. Mills and Mr. Entwisle for being amazing teachers for my son this year. He loved going to school everyday because of all of you. Thank you again for everything all of you did to help him. He looks up to all of you a lot."

- a Pulley Career Center parent

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Allen Dickens, Sprague Technology Center

"In my efforts to migrate my years of FCPS calendar items to my personal calendar as I leave the county, Allen was a TREMENDOUS source of tech support. He was knowledgeable, patient, thorough and helpful. He epitomizes what customer care should be." 

- Lee Kaiser, Centreville ES

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Stephanie Curb, Hunt Valley ESD 

"Thank you so much for helping our son so much this year and making his first year a success! All the extra help you gave him was instrumental to him getting as far as he did. He loves going to your room for extra help and says the best thing about it is the break he gets once he completes all his work. Which I think he really needs! I really feel like small groups are better for him and we appreciate it so much. You are awesome and I wanted you to know how much we appreciate you!"

- a Hunt Valley ES parent

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Rama Majeti, Hunt Valley ES 

"Thank you so much Ms. Rama for everything you did this year! My child always has awesome things to say about you and you are instrumental to everything that happens in class. It takes a village with that many kids and I want you to know how much we appreciate you and all that you have done to make my student's first year of school amazing. P.S. you rock at dismissal!!"

-  a Hunt Valley ES parent

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Richard Mey, Woodson HS 

"Mr. Mey, has been very supportive of our program by keeping us up to date on all security matters, answering our questions and keeping an overall safe climate. Thank you for all you do!!"

- Ann Gary, Woodson HS 

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Jenni Pak, Hunt Valley ES 

"Where do I begin!? Jenni has made my sons first year of school wonderful. I feel so lucky to have such a hardworking and exceptional teacher for my son. We loved all the Sunshine news and it really helped to know what was going on week to week. Thank you so much for everything this year!"

- a Hunt Valley ES parent

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Gu Guang Zhu, Woodson HS

"Gu Zhu was extremely kind, patient and efficient when it came to our unique situation of getting our GED students meals. We really appreciate all she and her staff did for us each day!"

- Ann Gary, Transition Support Resource Center - Alexandria

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Erika Emling, West Springfield ES

"Ms. Emling strongly supported my child this year to significantly improve in my daughter's reading. She made learning, a difficult thing, fun for my child and we are blown away by how much my daughter's abilities have grown these past few months. Thank you, Ms. Emling!"

- a West Springfield ES parent

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Kristin McDaniel, West Springfield ES

"Ms. McDaniel helped my child significantly improve in reading. She was struggling with her confidence and Ms. McDaniel consistently and strongly encouraged my child and lifted her up. I deeply appreciate that she took the time to give my child this personalized help."

- a West Springfield ES parent

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Meredyth Marcey, Navy ES 

"Throughout the year, Ms. Marcey has demonstrated an abundance of care for her students and their educational Experience. There have been countless times my child has come home sharing the creative and sometimes silly, classroom activities. Ms. Marcey goes out of her way to get to know each students interests, strengths, and unique personalities. This week, during the business of the last week of school, Ms.Marcey took it upon herself to attend the Franklin Farm Froggers B meet to cheer her students on! It was a wonderful surprise and a great opportunity to end the year. Thank you Ms. Marcey for all the heart you brought with you each day to school."

- a Navy ES parent

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Jenni Pak, Hunt Vallet ES 

"Had an IEP meeting with Ms. Pak, she was great and reassuring to us during the meeting. Will never forget it. Amazing teacher for Hunt Valley."

- a Hunt Valley ES parent--

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Elizabeth Wahl, West Springfield HS 

"From the moment Ms. Wahl became my child's counselor, we were treated with amazing professionalism and respect. She dealt with an ongoing issue within a day of receiving my email. Thank you for your positivity and all your hard work during a very trying year. FCPS is a great School system because of people like you who go above and beyond."

- a West Springfield HS 

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Valeria Reyes-Chian, Mantua ES 

"There is simply no way that my words can adequately express my gratitude for Ms. Valeria. My son was lucky enough to have Ms. Valeria in his 1st grade after spending some time with her in K last year. She treats each student with the uttermost kindness, patience, and compassion even in the most challenging situations. When I asked my son last year who is this new "helper" in the classroom, and what she does, he explained that "Ms. Valeria is just so so so good". Today, when my son got sad after messing up his craft, Ms. Valeria was very kind to him and pointed out the uniqueness of it. It was very touching to see the interaction between her and my son.Thanks for IAs like Ms. Valeria, making such a positive impact on the lives of our young learners and being such an asset to the classrooms!"

- a Mantua ES parent 

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Asnake Habtemariam, Lorton Transportation Center

"A HUGE thank you and commendation for Mr. Asnake, the wonderful driver of bus #0437 (Holmes Middle School route 7, and Belvedere Elementary School route 7). He drives both of my kids to school and is the kindest and most thoughtful bus driver they've had (and we've had several!). Every day, he greets all the kids when they get on the bus and wishes them well when he drops them off at school or at the end-of-the-day bus stop. He is super patient and understanding when they are running a bit late to the stop and has a sense of humor and optimism with the early-morning pick-ups for those middle-schoolers. He always asks about my kids when they've been sick or haven't taken the bus for some reason, and my 5th grader loves working with him as a bus patrol. The way the kids start their morning has such an impact on the rest of their day, so I want to acknowledge Mr. Asnake for being not only a safe and conscientious driver, but also just a really positive presence in their day."

- a FCPS parent

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Thomas Whitsed, Robinson SS

"Throughout the entire school year, Mr. Whitsed has been the most patient and kind case manager for my son with an IEP. Mr. Whitsed was quick to recognize strengths in my son that had been overlooked by others in the past (different school system). This enabled him to form a relationship of respect and trust with my child. Because of this relationship, my son had the most successful (for him) academic year in a long time. My son feels connected to his school, connected to Mr. Whitsed, and is enjoying school again. I cannot thank Mr. Whitsed enough for his time and dedication to not only my son, but to all the students he interacts with daily. I am grateful to Mr. Whitsed for taking the time to make a connection with my son and set him up for success. I am very hopeful that he will now have an amazing high school experience."

- a Robinson SS parent

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Sandy Donlon, Liberty MS 

"Sandy Donlon goes above and beyond to serve the students and staff at Liberty MS. She is the after-school coordinator who truly loves her community and people she serves. Sandy has taken on several roles this year which required collaborating, planning, organizing, and putting plans in action. She led the 20th anniversary celebration this spring to celebrate Liberty's 20th birthday. It was a huge success! Sandy has taken on more roles that can be listed here. She is someone who shows up early and stays late on weekends to make it happen. I appreciate her and I know the Liberty staff appreciates and loves her!!! You ROCK Sandy!!!"

- Greg Hall, Liberty MS 

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Leslie Kendall, Bull Run Early Childhood Center

"My son was in pre-k special class with Miss Leslie Kendall. She is wonderful. We immediately start seeing a change on my son ( He had a speech delay). He wouldn’t be where he is right now if it wasn’t for her and also Miss Christina Deer. You can tell they love what they do. They are amazing."

- a Bull Run Early Childhood parent

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Corinne Mazzotta, McLean HS 

"Before the school year began, I was nervous to come to high school. Now, nearing the end of the school year, I can safely say that this school year was my best yet! In part, this is due to Ms. Mazzotta, who made history enjoyable for everyone. Coming to her class, I always knew that I could expect an informative and easy to understand lecture. Since I love history, there were many occasions when I had questions about the taught material and wanted to learn more. Ms. Mazzotta was always very helpful in answering my questions. I really appreciate everything Ms. Mazzotta did for us this year!"

- a McLean HS student

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Taylor Gebauer and Hannah Rocke, Orange Hunt ES 

"Ms. Gebauer and Ms. Rocke were very attentive and caring for our daughter throughout this school year. They invested in her wellbeing and did everything with her best interest in mind. They regularly went above and beyond to support her academic, emotional, and social growth. We appreciate their efforts to make sure our daughter had a great school year! Thank you for everything!"

- an Orange Hunt ES parent 

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Jennifer Swientoniowski, Westfield HS

"Mrs. "Swient" (as her students refer to her) made a life-changing impact on my son's life. My son has been in the AVID program since he was a sophomore. This year as a Senior, Mrs. Swientoniowski was his AVID teacher. In April, as college decision day was fast approaching, my son became overwhelmed by his choices and almost gave in to indecision. Mrs. Swientoniowski spent extra time 1:1 with my son to advise him and coach him on this major life decision. Thanks to her, my son has chosen a wonderful university to attend next fall and he is truly excited about his future. I don't think he would be here if it weren't for the time, she spent guiding him. We are grateful!"

- a Westfield HS parent 

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Kevin Morris, Westfield HS 

"Towards the end of her freshman year (2022-23) my daughter hit a wall and felt like she just couldn't keep going academically. She was burned out and overwhelmed. Mr. Morris has been an outstanding teacher all year and my daughter has maintained an A in his class. When her A began to slip, he was patient, understanding, and treated her with compassion. Because of Mr. Morris' ability to connect with his students on a genuine level, she was motivated to push through and do the work to maintain her A in the class. What a great teacher, Mr. Morris!"

- a Westfield HS parent 

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Steven Tom, Westfield HS

"Mr. Tom became my daughter's Honors Biology teacher mid-year after an extended period with long-term substitute teachers. My daughter was feeling hopeless and disengaged from not having a full-time teacher. Mr. Tom turned everything around! He related well to the students, gained their trust, and inspired them to not lose hope despite the rough first half of the year. I honestly believe if it weren't for Mr. Tom my daughter may have failed this class. I will be forever grateful to his positive attitude, patience, and energy in the classroom. Mr. Tom is an outstanding educator!"

- a Westfield HS parent 

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Preeti Tembe and Bethany Peck, Willow Springs ES 

"Ms. Tembe and Ms. Peck have done a wonderful job with their Kindergarten class this year. Ms. Tembe came in after the first couple months of school and was instrumental in continuing the wonderful classroom environment and expectations that were established. Meanwhile, Ms. Peck's relationship building along with her support and instruction were vital in creating a smooth transition. We're very lucky have had such a great duo of instructors for our son's first year of school."

- a Willow Springs ES parent

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Felipe Pleitez Marroquin, Lorton Transportation Center

"Thank you to Mr. Pleitez for coming to support his students that invited him to the strings concert. The students really appreciated seeing their bus driver come out and see their performance. He is always very responsible, supporting and caring."

- Cynthia Youssef, Hunt Valley ES 

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Jovan Rogers, Mount Vernon HS 

"I am delighted to nominate Mrs. Rogers, for the FCPS Cares award for her remarkable act of compassion and dedication. In a heartwarming incident, Mrs. Rogers received distressing news at 6:00 PM on the eve of graduation: one of her students had been hospitalized and would sadly miss the graduation ceremony, requiring an extended stay in the hospital. Upon learning about the deep disappointment felt by both the student and their parents, Mrs. Rogers swiftly offered a solution. Displaying unwavering kindness and empathy, Mrs. Rogers made a decision that touched the hearts of the parents. Without hesitation, she pledged to personally deliver the student's diploma to the hospital on the same day as the graduation ceremony. Although the event had to be postponed her selfless action was not unnoticed, by the family. She continued to track the students' progress throughout the hospital stay. Mrs. Rogers not only demonstrated the power of compassion but Mrs. Rogers' unwavering dedication to her craft is truly remarkable. Her ability to find innovative and meaningful solutions, even in challenging circumstances, is a testament to her outstanding leadership as a principal. Her extraordinary act of going above and beyond her responsibilities highlights her exceptional commitment to her students' well-being and the betterment of her school community."

- Anonymous

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Tracey Beaver, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Tracey has such a high stress job, but is always willing to help. I have called her multiple times with crazy questions, and she always quickly provides help in a calm manner. I am also so grateful for the amount of work she has taken off the plates of schools to support FERPA and FOIA requests. We are so lucky to have Tracey in FCPS!"

- Meg Gollinger, Irving MS

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Rod Harbin, West Springfield ES 

"West Springfield Elementary School, 6th Grade Teacher Mr. Harbin is my son's Math teacher. This year Mr. Harbin has gone above and beyond to help my son stay engaged with math and increase his aptitude. He has arranged opportunities for him to obtain extra help from classmates, he has stayed late on multiple occasions to assist him and his classmates with additional instruction, and he has even provided snacks and drinks during these times. Moreover, he has provided a caring attitude and a safe environment this school year. He has also been an excellent role model. I just wanted to take a minute to acknowledge my appreciation for Mr. Harbin!"

- a West Springfield ES parent

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Gloria Gharib, Lorton Transportation Center

"Ms. Gharib is a truly caring person. She drives the morning route (#34) for Hayfield Secondary School, and also runs sports teams to events in the afternoon/evening. Every morning she asks me how I am doing (I check in the buses every morning, before teaching), or how my weekend was. Most importantly, she is a caring role model for our students, picking them up every morning, and taking them home every afternoon, rain, or shine. Driving a bus on Telegraph Rd every morning and afternoon is a truly a challenging and sometimes hazardous job. That she can complete this duty everyday, with the care she exhibits, is truly inspiring."

- James Mercer, Hayfield SS

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Etta Bowden, Hennalaurie Endicott, Hope Esposito, Ebony McDonald, Rosa Lopez,Cynthia Allen, Jessica Fuentes, Stacia Todd, Jae Lemensky, Brenda Womack, Musfira Rana, Sandburg MS

"The CAT B Team is an extraordinary team that has helped my daughter who has significant special needs. Each member of this team brings skill, professionalism, care, attention, understanding and love to the students they serve. They are a model of what a dynamic and synergistic team should be to ensure the top level of education is provided each student. Their ability to work together as a team and individually has helped my daughter be safe, healthy and fully participate and enjoy her school day. We are so grateful for these dedicated and highly skilled professionals that truly make our special students feel included, valued and celebrated!"

- a Sandburg MS parent

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Theresa Levan, Greenbriar East ES 

"Ms. Levan has created an inviting, inclusive learning environment. She has empowered my daughter to take ownership of her leaning and to challenge herself daily in the classroom. My daughter comes home from school excited to share what she has learned and fun activities she has engaged in. Mrs. Levan knows how to maintain classroom management and yet let the kids have fun."

- a Greenbriar East ES parent

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Andrew Dilworth, Rocky Run MS

"Mr. Dilworth went out if his way to ensure that my daughter was able to make up work that she missed due to a prolonged absence after being sick. He went out of his way to make sure that she was comfortable with the curriculum she missed. He made sure the class was engaging and created a positive learning environment."

- a Rocky Run MS parent 

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Mark Woods, Robinson SS 

"Mr. Woods is my daughter's 8th grade algebra I teacher. He has made such a difference in her understanding of the coursework this year. My daughter says that Mr. Woods explains math concepts better than any teacher she has ever had and wishes that he could always be her math teacher because he is so good at helping her to understand her assignments. Despite her "A" grades, my daughter doesn't feel overly confident in her math ability, and she feels that she has to work hard to maintain her grade. Because of Mr. Woods she has done very well in math this year and takes a lot of pride in this achievement. It has also provided a nice boost to her confidence in her own abilities. Mr. Woods has always been willing to answer questions and work with our child. He has provided an excellent foundation for our daughter's future success in math. We are so happy that he was our daughter's teacher this year."

-  a Robinson SS parent

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Sue Shepard, Robinson SS

"Ms. Shepard is my son's 9th grade geometry teacher. She has made such a difference in his understanding of the coursework this year. She is encouraging and engaging and has made geometry my child's favorite class. Over the course of this school year, his math grade has risen steadily and he has been so proud of his achievements. It has been a joy to see him come from home school and report the results of his latest assignment or test, knowing that his confidence in himself is growing because of these good results. My son is not a child who typically feels a lot of self confidence so we really appreciate this change in his outlook. Ms. Shephard has always been willing to answer questions and work with our child to ensure he understands his assignments. She has provided an excellent foundation for our son's future success in math. She is his favorite teacher and I know she has made a profound difference in his school career and in his life. We are so happy that she was our son's teacher this year."

- a Robinson SS parent

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Kelsey Coffin, Saratoga ES 

"Kelsey has made my child's transition into Kindergarten such a joy. She has made sure that my child feels safe and loved even when he is often hard to deal with behaviorally. Ms. Coffin is my child's safe spot at SES and I could never thank her enough for that."

- a Saratoga ES parent

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Peter Waiss, Lake Braddock SS 

"I would like to express my profound gratitude to Mr. Waiss and take this opportunity to recognize him for all the exceptional and selfless support he provided throughout this academic year. Chemistry is not an easy subject for my daughter and Mr. Waiss went above and beyond normal expectations to ensure that she understood the material. He selflessly stayed after school countless times when she was struggling to assist and support her. This not only had an impact academically, but it also tremendously helped with her confidence and self-esteem. Mr. Waiss is one of the best teachers at LBSS and should be recognized as so. We will be forever thankful for his support!"

- a Lake Braddock SS parent

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Alexia Small, Robinsion SS 

"Ms. Small was the PERFECT geometry teacher for my daughter. She started out the year a little nervous about the subject matter but, thanks to Ms. Small, it is her favorite class! She appreciates how organized Ms. Small is and how clearly she outlines everything in class. Thank you, Ms. Small for taking difficult concepts, breaking them down in easy to understand chunks, and making math fun for my daughter. She hopes she has you again in a few years for IB!"

- a Robinson SS parent

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Katherine Birnbaum, Fairview ES 

"We have been so lucky to have Mrs. Birnbaum for 6th grade this year. She has done an amazing job of balancing both treating the students like middle schoolers while also supporting them in learning how to act like a middle schooler! My daughter had a hard year for 5th and Mrs. Birnbaum made her excited to come to school again. It takes a very special person to teach this age group well and Mrs. Birnbaum certainly has done that!! My older daughter had her for 5th/6th grade as well and was so well prepared for Robinson. Having her for their last year of elementary was the perfect end for them."

- a Fairview ES parent

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Arshia Muneer, Herndon ES 

"Ms. Muneer is a very very very kind teacher. She is also very funny. She pushes us past our limits into twice our grade level! She sets due dates and other stuff like that and it helps us because in the future we will learn to do that stuff in our work. She also does fun activities with us and gives us advice on how to be better people."

- a Herndon ES student

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Julia Stark, Herndon HS 

"I cannot thank Mrs. Stark enough for supporting my daughter throughout her Senior year at Herndon HS. Her kindness and encouragement were such bright spots during a stressful year. She truly had a positive impact on my daughter. Some say "It takes a village" to raise children, and I am so thankful that Mrs. Stark was a part of our village this school year."

- a Herndon HS parent

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Brenda Womack, Sandburg MS 

"Ms. Womack is an outstanding individual. She has developed a relationship with my daughter who has significant special needs that has helped my daughter thrive at Sandburg Middle. Her special care and attention to my daughter has helped her be safe, healthy and fully enjoy her school day. We are so grateful that Ms. Womack came out of retirement!"

- a Sandburg MS parent

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Frances Reyes Rubio, Lorton Transportation Center

"Frances Reyes Rubio is an extraordinary employee who has helped my daughter who has significant special needs. She has helped my daughter on and off the bus while monitoring her physical condition closely with skill, professionalism, and flexibility to changing conditions. My daughter has an epilepsy condition that posed certain challenges. Frances dealt professionally with these situations while working closely with FCPS transportation, her parents and on occasion with Fairfax County EMT Staff in resolving these medical occurrences swiftly and safely. Her care and attention has helped my daughter be safe and enjoy her bus ride each day. We are so grateful for this dedicated and skilled employee."

-  a Sandburg MS parent

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Mirna Perla, Lorton Transportation Center

"Mirna Perla is an extraordinary employee who has helped my daughter who has significant special needs. She has run her bus with skill, professionalism, and flexibility to changing conditions. My daughter has an epilepsy condition that posed certain challenges. Mirna dealt professionally with these situations while working closely with FCPS transportation, her parents and on occasion with Fairfax County EMT Staff in resolving these medical occurrences swiftly and safely. Her care and attention have helped my daughter be safe and enjoy her bus ride each day. We are so grateful for this dedicated and skilled employee."

- a Sandburg MS parent

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Lauretta Garrett, Mountain View HS 

"They say the quickest route to a man's heart is through his stomach. True to the saying Mrs. Lauretta has touched many hearts here at Mountain View via her delicious fresh baked bread. Mrs. Lauretta serves not only as security but doubles as our school's baker. Weekly she shares her passion for baking with students and staff. She goes above and beyond to make our students feel comfortable at school and contributes to the positive school culture.  Who can be sad with a mouth full of delicious banana bread, lemon bread or cinnamon bread. Thank you for your time and efforts Mrs. Lauretta. We appreciate you."

- LaToya Prescod, Mountain View HS

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Timothy McElroy and Becca Ferrick, Mountain View HS 

"This was my first year at Mountain View. I was enamored with the way in which my new teams were open to collaboration. This was also the first year of honors EPF at Mountain View, I wanted to ensure my students had rigor, quality research skills and the ability to communicate their life plans in written form. Mrs.  Ferrick worked with my classes weekly for the first 3 quarters helping students develop their research and inquiry skills. Then in the second 2 quarters Mr. McElory jumped in and collaborated on a career and lifestyle research paper. He provided rubrics, revisions, and feedback to my students. None of these collaborations were required but made such a difference in our students' quality of education, and for this I am very grateful. Thank you, guys, for working with me in spite of all my shortcomings. It was a learning year,  and I am better for the collaboration. Thank you for your time and consideration."

- LaToya Prescod, Mountain View HS

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Aimee Gervacio, Amy Wheeler, Matt Carlock, Brian Bishop, Laura Pendleton, Abigail Musser, Nathan Bush, Megan Greer, and Marcus Johnson, West Potomac HS

"These 9 teachers formed a cross-curricular 9th grade team that incorporated 144 9th graders (EL 10, Honors, and "tier 2" grade, attendance, and behavior students). End of year data in grades, engagement, behavior, and attendance shows "the Network 9" ensured a positive and welcoming experience for 9th graders compared to their cohorts. They planned cross-curricular units and activities that incorporated all five core subjects (English 9, World 1, Algebra, Geometry, Physical Education, Biology), developed their own mini-MTSS system, and supported one another and their students personally and professionally.  The team is made up of a mix of both veteran and relatively new teachers, and they all are excited about being part of the Network 9 again next year. I am extremely proud of their efforts to mimic middle school teaming at the high school level and have allowed administration to dare to dream about developing a "school within a school" to directly and strategically cut into our largest inequitable data set (at 9th grade). Their creative instruction and support for our students and fellow teachers embodied and personified FCPS's messaging and trainings with a school years’ worth of action."

- Mike Henrich, West Potomac HS

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Zinah Raoof, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Ms. Raoof has been a fantastic help trying to navigate questions I have returning from work from maternity leave, notably clarifying information regarding pay and disability leave. As a new mom in a time trying to balance a new home life, work life, end of the school year fun and all the unnamed and unseen responsibilities and hidden needs that come with such a life changing event I am so grateful for the kindness, extra time and kind words. Thank you, Zinah, for all you do! You are so greatly appreciated."

- Manda Tirado, Union Mill ES

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Diana Fuentes, Fairview Park

"A couple of weeks ago, I decided to retire from teaching effective July 1, 2023. Diana Fuentes was assigned as my ERFC counselor. I met with Ms. Fuentes in person on Friday, June 9. I showed up a tad nervous with most of my forms mostly complete. As Ms. Fuentes reviewed each form she remained professional, calm, organized, efficient, and knowledgeable. Most notably, Ms. Fuentes was kind. Retirement comes with all kinds of emotions! Although ‘kindness’ may not be part of her official job description it’s an invaluable trait."

- Linda Ysewyn, Jackson MS 

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Fred Allard, Robinson SS 

"Fred Allard is a High School Special Ed teacher at Robinson Secondary. This is a sensitive position since each one of his charges requires devoted, individual attention. Fred’s impact on any given student tends to elevate that student’s performance and improve his attitude about school in particular. I’ve observed Mr. Allard closely on several, extended occasions. He deserves accolades for his untiring effort."

- John Hebbe, Robinson SS 

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John Winterstine, Pulley Career Center

"I want to thank Mr. Winterstine for coming to my son’s baseball game today. He was very happy you were there, and said Mr. Winterstine made his day."

- a Pulley Career Center parent

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Donna Jones and Young Joo Lee, Stonecroft Transportation Center

"We just wanted to take a minute to talk about how wonderful Donna Jones and Young Joo Lee have been with our special needs daughter this school year on the Bus. Both the bus Driver and aid met our daughter every morning with a warm and welcoming greeting. Young each morning would meet our daughter at the bottom of the stairs and carefully assists her up the stairs and then Donna would often give our daughter a huge hug as she-make her way to her seat. Our daughter loved getting on the bus each morning and would smile and show excitement when she said the bus coming. In years past with others aids and drivers we would often get negative reports of our daughter's behavior on the bus which upset us because we know that with our daughter being nonverbal may grab or pinch others BUT that it is not intended to hurt or harm them but in fact our daughters way of expressing herself and to express to others she needs something, like possibly a second before she is ready to 'stand up' to get off the bus.... or a little extra time before she can 'focus' enough to walk down the aisle of the bus. Being nonverbal, she can’t verbalize these needs but somehow instinctually Donna and Young Joo Lee were able to understand our daughter, so she had limited to no negative behaviors. They are an amazing team, and we really just want them to be recognized for being so wonderful with our daughter. We really wanted them to get some recognition for going above and beyond to make our daughter feel loved and secure on her way to and from school each day. Also, we would really love for them to continue helping our daughter with her transport back and forth to school in her future years at Marshall High School."

- a Marshall HS parent

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Jason Decroo, Powell ES 

"Mr. DeCroo has been a positive influence as a mentor to our son. Our second grader looks forward to his lunches and classroom breaks with him and had such a positive experience. Thank you for Mr. DeCroo for support our son this year!"

- a Powell ES parent

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Rachel Son, Powell ES 

"Ms. Son is empathetic and compassionate. When our son was exhibiting behaviors that were challenging, she took the time to read the resources we provided and immediately wanted to make his school experience positive. She asked for a meeting to make sure the ideas she had were suitable for our son. She is amazing and we are so grateful to her for her taking the time to understand our child."

- a Powell ES parent

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Rachel Lindholm, Powell ES 

"Mrs. Lindholm has gone above and beyond to support our son this year. She has worked tirelessly to find ways to make him feel cared about and he really enjoys their lunches together.  She partnered him with an incredible staff mentor who has been the best fit for our second grader. Her love and care for my baby and all students at CPES is insurmountable. Our family can't thank her enough for supporting our son through this challenging year."

- a Powell ES parent

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Kevin Nunez, Herndon MS 

"Our son has been blessed with several wonderful teachers, but none have sparked his curiosity as much as Kevin Nunez has in seventh grade history. Our son’s engagement, attention, and interest in history class have been remarkable. He even will enlighten us at home, unprompted, with interesting nuggets from the day’s topic. It’s clear that Mr. Nunez utilizes multiple approaches and diversified activities to keep his students interested and to engage all learning styles and needs. Not only are we grateful for Mr. Nunez’s awesome teaching, but our son is too!"

-  a Herndon MS parent

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Isra Ibrahim, Mantua ES 

"I would like to take a moment to recognize Ms. Isra Ibrahim, a bus driver on MU10. Ms. Isra always welcomes students and parents on the bus stop with a wide smile and cheerful demeanor. She makes the students feel safe and included. When dealing with challenging situations on the bus, she presents coolness, calmness, respect for all and support. You can tell she cares for children and loves her job. We are all lucky to have Ms. Isra as our bus driver. We hope to see her next school year on our bus stop!"

- a Mantua ES parent

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Heidi Bajpai, Dranesville ES 

"Mrs. Bajpai is such an amazing teacher! It was my daughter's first year at Dranesville after we moved to the area and she was nervous about starting school with kids she didn't know. Mrs. Bajpai made her feel very welcome. Halfway through the school year, Mrs. Bajpai reached out to me about putting my daughter in the AAP program, which is amazing, as I had no idea my daughter was advanced in certain areas. I was able to get her into the program for next year due to her recommendation. I am so grateful that Haley got to have Mrs. Bajpai as her teacher!"

- a Dranesville ES parent

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Jennifer Krempasky, Robinson SS 

"As Senior Class of 2023 administrator, Ms. Krempasky was instrumental in supporting my new-to-Robinson Senior this year from transitioning to a new school all the way through graduation day. My son has Autism, and big events like graduation can be very challenging. Ms. Krempasky worked with the team supporting graduation and came up with a few simple supports that made my son's graduation experience all smiles. They shared what to expect in advance, and connected with my family to come up with a plan. Thank you for taking the time to include and support all the students at Robinson."

- a Robinson SS parent

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Peggi Miller, Robinson SS

"Ms. Miller has been my son's IEP case manager this year. She has exhibited caring, kindness, and truly has made a difference. Since my child has Autism, big events like graduation could be difficult. Ms. Miller worked with the team on graduation and provided extra support so that the event was a positive experience.  It was all smiles last night at Eagle Arena! Thank you Ms. Miller for creating a welcoming, supportive space for your students."

- a Robinson SS parent

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Elizabeth Campbell, Robinson SS 

"My son just graduated last night from Robinson. He has Autism, and a big, loud event like this can be tough for him. Ms. Campbell sat next to my son and her support made his graduation experience positive. Grateful for the wonderful staff at Robinson and for making a student new to Robinson as a Senior feel welcome and included all the way through the final graduation ceremony."

- a Robinson SS parent

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Scott Reeder, Canterbury Woods ES 

"Scott was instrumental in helping us get a bus stop for our boys. For the last 7 months, numerous emails and phone calls was getting us nowhere. During our medical child’s IEP, we shared all we had been trying to do to get support, and he provided a suggestion, also being the first person to not just brush us off and laugh. It worked! In 3 days we had a stop and a bus approved for our medical child. A week later for the sibling. Scott helped every step of the way, making sure we filled out the forms correctly, sending it to the appropriate people, and following up so it was expedited. We could not be more grateful to know our child now has the support he needs for the remainder of his time at CWES. Couldn’t ask for a better Assistant Principal!"

- a Canterbury Woods ES parent

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Lisa Davis, Stonecroft Transportation Center

"Lisa has been an invaluable resource this entire school year for the school bus driver training center. She has assisted us with training all year. She took on any assignment we requested help with and always did so with a smile. Lisa goes over and beyond when training drivers and attendants. We could not have held so many trainings without her. Thank you Lisa for always being there for us!"

- Tammy Fox, Forte Transportation Training Ctr

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Tiffany Crump, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Tiffany has helped me through all the paperwork for my retirement and has emailed me many times. She has also done a face to face with me several times because I was having trouble with Social Security. I can’t say enough good things about her. It has been a very hard year for me, and Tiffany was about to help me through all me emotional times. She is a very valuable employee and I'm very fortunate she was the person I was contacted the first time I call. Thank you Tiffany."

- Linda Richards, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Anneliese Daggett, McLean HS 

"Miss Daggett is an amazing teacher. She is extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and approachable. Miss Daggett displays a genuine dedication to the success of her students. Throughout the school year, Miss Daggett provided me with a lot of feedback on my assignments, which helped me improve. I appreciate the effort she makes to try to get to know each student in our class and to encourage participation. Miss Daggett was successful in creating a positive environment in our history classroom. She was always extremely helpful and patient in answering my questions. Thank you for all you do, Miss Daggett!"

- a McLean HS student

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Ashley Hastings, McLean HS

"Mrs. Hastings is an exceptional teacher. Throughout the entire school year, she has demonstrated patience, professionalism, and responsiveness. Her lectures are always interesting and clear. Going into the school year, I thought I would hate biology, as the topic had always bored and confused me. Nevertheless, Mrs. Hasting’s superior teaching skills helped me develop a genuine passion and curiosity for biology as a subject and a field. Oftentimes, Mrs. Hastings shared new studies and research on relevant topics with the class, which helped foster my interest in biology. Whenever I had questions, Mrs. Hastings was always extremely helpful. Thank you for all you do, Mrs. Hastings!"

- a McLean HS student

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Allison Dreon, McLean HS

"Mrs. Dreon is a fantastic teacher! She is kind, patient, and extremely encouraging. Mrs. Dreon always encourages us to try our best and to grow as artists. Over the course of the year, Mrs. Dreon has helped me improve my artistic abilities through a variety of fun and creative projects. I really appreciate that even if I submit a project that does not look great, Mrs. Dreon will still acknowledge the effort that I put into making it. In her class, I am not afraid to make mistakes. Thank you for all you do, Mrs. Dreon!"

- a McLean HS student

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Joelle Tshimuanga, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Joelle is truly the unsung hero of School Social Work Services. She is the sole support person for over 200 employees, some of whom are based at Willow Oaks and the rest are spread across the county at every FCPS school/program. She is always efficient, professional and thorough, no matter how odd the request! I don't know what the department would do without her. Our small office is within the larger department, and we find her help to be invaluable. Computer issue? Ask Joelle and she knows the answer. Supply issue? Ask Joelle and she knows the answer. Obscure question of any kind? Joelle knows the answer or knows who to ask! Joelle is the kind of behind-the-scenes employee that FCPS counts on to get the work done. We would love for her to get some recognition for all she does to support staff, families and students all across FCPS. I remember a specific case earlier this year when a Spanish-speaking parent called Joelle for help. I don't know how the parent found Joelle's direct line but she reached the right person! Joelle spoke to her in a little Spanish (Joelle speaks several languages) and realized that this was a case I should handle. She transferred the call to me, and I was able to help a mother and child in crisis and in need of immediate assistance. Because of this initial quick response by Joelle, this student and mother were able to get into safe shelter, continue in school without interruption, and get access to necessary resources like food, clothing and counseling."

- Liz Rivera, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Matthew Kulikosky, Marshall HS

"Mr. K is an incredible teacher and an even better friend. Throughout the year, he's built an amazing relationship with his students. Mr. K helps myself and my fellow students expand our knowledge of Spanish beyond our wildest imaginations through connections to the real world and engagement through great conversation. He makes connections with his students through topics such as sports and music."

- a Marshall HS student

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Matthew Kulikosky, Marshall HS

"Matthew Kulikosky is an inspiring teacher and friend who works hard in both subjects that he teaches. Matthew Kulikosky cares about bringing the subject matter alive whether it be in teaching guitar or teaching Spanish."

- a Marshall HS student

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Matthew Kulikosky, Marshall HS

"Mr. K. has really expanded my knowledge of Spanish extensively, while also making it fun! We have great conversations about soccer and talk about other sports! He has really made my year and I would be stoked to see him win this!"

- a Marshall HS student

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Elizabeth Reed, Centre Ridge ES

"Miss Reed has been an amazing teacher all school year. She has supported my anxious child many times throughout the year. She is kind, compassionate, and overall a wonderful teacher. After a tough year last year my child did not want to go to school, she was often in tears about school, and she lost her love for learning. This year Miss Reed brought back my child's love of learning and school. My daughter now comes home smiling, happy, and eager to share about her day. I am so grateful Miss Reed was a part of my daughter's school experience this year. I cannot thank her enough or even begin to list all she has done. Thank you, Miss Reed!"

- a Centre Ridge ES parent

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Sarina Moses, Sandburg MS 

"Thank you for everything. Thank you for your calm, solid presence, and consistent advice every single time I have a question. Thank you for caring so deeply about all of your students and staff and ALWAYS working so hard to find the best possible solution for all. Thank you for making yourself available no matter what to support us. You are the epitome of what an administrator should be, for the entire Sandburg MS community. It has truly been an honor to work with you for the past two years, and I will miss you terribly next year! Thank you for making me a better teacher. You are amazing!"

- Mary Fouse, Sandburg MS 

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Kimberly Myles and Denise Bridgeman, Sandburg MS

"I want to recognize our outstanding SPED department chairs at Sandburg MS. We as a SPED team could not have asked for better leadership this year. Through compensatory services, changes to Sea-Stars, new students, behavioral challenges, and high-profile cases, Ms. Myles and Ms. Bridgeman have been our rock all year. I have gained so much from their guidance and support, and I know my students and parents have and will continue to benefit as a direct result. I am going to miss you both so much next year!"

- Mary Fouse, Sandburg MS 

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Shari August, Helen Vermillion, Ashley Hoffman, Tristie Purdie, Kiara Leath, Georgiana Rati, Shirley Duddy, Kate Calma, Rushel Grillo, and Kellie Healy, Sandburg MS

"I want to shout out ALL the ladies of the English 7 team at Sandburg. This has been a crazy year to say the least, but through it all, I have been so grateful to be surrounded by such a supportive, kind, knowledgeable, welcoming team. I have learned so much as a second year teacher this year and I know my students have and will continue to benefit. Your passion for your students and desire to do the best thing possible for them is obvious in every single thing you do. I am going to miss every single one of you so much next year!"

- Mary Fouse, Sandburg MS 

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Schuyler Kieley, South County HS 

"Mr. Kieley is an amazing, kind, caring teacher who routinely brings out the best in his students while also teaching them to play the guitar. He dedicates so much of his after-school time to performances, competitions, and the jazz band. He has made such a tremendous impact on my daughter's school career.  Her confidence has grown tremendously, and he has encouraged her to do things like a solo in jazz band that she was initially too shy to try. She has had Mr. Kieley as a teacher for 3 years because she started working with him in 7th grade. Our family feels lucky that she has the opportunity to work with him, and SCHS and SCMS are fortunate to have him!"

- a South County HS parent

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Linda Gillen, Lisa Phillips, Alison Baker, and Kara Taylor, Franklin MS 

"When your oldest child enters middle school, you have no idea what to expect. Visions of hundreds of kids passing in hallways without being noticed or paid attention to what what I thought would happen.  Instead, my son's first year at Franklin Middle was one of the most transformational years he's had in school thus far, thanks to the kind hearts and hard work of Ms. Gillen, Ms. Baker, Ms. Phillips and Ms. Taylor.  These teachers knew exactly where their students were coming from and where they wanted them to go.  This particular group of teachers has made such a different in the love of learning for my son, and I will always be appreciative of the care he receives and Franklin Middle!

- a Franklin MS parent

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Elissa Butler, Dranesville ES 

"Our daughter started at Dranesville right after winter break. We were a little nervous about her starting halfway through the year, but all the nerves melted away when she met her new teacher, Mrs. Butler! She (and her students) received our daughter with open arms and made her feel so welcomed. Our first impressions of Mrs. Butler being a caring person were not wrong. It takes more than that to be an amazing teacher, and that she is! She teaches the kids and always making it fun! She also keeps us parents informed about what's going on in the classroom, and makes herself available for us, which we so appreciate. We would like to recognize Mrs. Butler for ALWAYS going above and beyond, and show showing how much she cares!"

- a Dranesville ES parent

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Colleen Wheaton, Bryant ALC

"Our awesome Special Ed Lead Teacher, Colleen Wheaton has been organizing and executing SOL testing for the past five weeks! She has made the process so smooth for our students as well as for all of us! Many of our students struggle with testing and it is difficult for them to remain focused for an extended period of time. Colleen has been encouraging with her words, accommodations, and dedication to making the experience a positive one for all. Thank you Colleen! You have done an amazing job given a very difficult task! We are all very grateful!"

- Nancy Chang, Bryant ALC

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Sarah Pike, West Springfield HS

"Ms. Pike is a very dedicated teacher. I see her as very helpful in every way to the students. As a case manager, with my son, she is so helpful to us. She tries everything for my son. I am always able to contact her whenever we need it. She makes the students feel so attached to her. They seem to love her so much.  My son says that after high school, he wishes he could move near her house. When I ask him if he wants to live in our house or by himself, he says he wants to live near Ms. Pike's house. We appreciate everything she does for my son. She is so dedicated to the students. It makes us feel that she deserves everything that they need in order to support all the students. Based on her dedication and everything, we were trying to get our son into Pulley after he graduated, and we've been talking about that over the last 2 years, and then Ms. Pike said she thought he could do it and she did so many things to help my son to get into there. Without Ms. Pike's help, I don't think he would be able to get to Pulley. Thank you to Ms. Pike for everything, your support, and for a being a very good teacher. She needs to be recommended to the principal for any recognition or funding to support the students because children with autism and disabilities need a lot of support. She is helpful in every way."

- a West Springfield HS parent

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Cynthia Yost, Robinson SS 

"This entire school year, my 7th grader has come home with wonderful things to share about Ms. Yost. She speaks so highly of her, sharing that she makes learning English more fun, has a wonderful sense of humor, and really connects with her students. The transition to 7th grade wasn't easy, but Ms. Yost helped to make it much better. My daughter was always excited on days when she had Ms. Yost, knowing she was going to have fun and laugh in class. Thank you, Ms. Yost, for adding to my daughter's learning and supporting a positive 7th grade year."

- a Robinson SS parent

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Melissa Cowan, Hughes MS 

"I would like to express my appreciation to Ms. Melissa Cowan. She has consistently supported my daughter in a myriad of ways and has kept me informed on her progress. My daughter started the school year below grade level in reading and writing and is now reading above grade level. Ms. Cowan did a superb job helping my daughter overcome the barriers of her dyslexia and she is now more confident that she can do well in school when she applies her new skills taught by Ms. Cowan."

- a Hughes MS parent

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Amanda McCabe, Willow Springs ES 

"What can Amanda not do?!?! She is our Admin Assistant/Finance, plus everything else person. Her friendly smile starts early every morning, especially when she greets students at the door. Amanda genuinely cares about her work, our students and staff. She is very organized, wonderful with solving ALL the staff questions/problems (from work orders to fixing a stuck door) and has a wonderful work ethic. She always goes beyond to make it the best it can be, everyday. Her willingness to step up and do what needs to be done, even if it falls outside of her job title, doesn't go unnoticed. I am thankful to have her as an amazing coworker and I value all the training and help she’s given me."

- Renata Claudio, Willow Springs ES

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Jill Shull, Haycock ES

"I want to express my appreciation to my 6th grade teacher, Jill Shull. Mrs. Shull’s kindness, care, and hard work have made a significant impact on my life and the lives of other students this school year. Mrs. Shull creates a supportive environment in class, where every student feels valued and respected. She takes the time to listen to our concerns and provide guidance. Mrs. Shull worked tirelessly on our National History Day projects to make them the best they could be. I am extremely grateful for the countless hours she spends outside of regular class time, whether it's preparing materials, grading assignments, or providing extra assistance to students who need it. Mrs. Shull’s dedication to our success is evident in the time and effort she invests in our education. Thank you, Mrs. Shull!!"

- a Haycock ES student

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Crystal Broady, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Crystal has been an amazing problem solver and support. She has tirelessly helped with registration in MYPDE for our Summer Institute and has coordinated the ordering of books and supplies. She has incredible professionalism and follow-through in helping us to work with vendors. I could not do my job without her support and initiative. Thank you for all you do Crystal!"

- Lori Bedsole, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Joe Ellington, Bryant HS 

"All of the teachers at Bryant work with students in various ways to help them to master class material and achieve a passing grade but yesterday I noticed Joe Ellington working one:one with a student and it touched me. This student is facing many personal life challenges and coming to school has been very difficult. It came to the end of senior grades and he was overwhelmed as he found himself with 3 F's.  Each teacher worked with the student to help him to turn in work but I believe that the hole was the largest in English 12. Mr. Ellington has invited this student to come in to work with him during his last 2 periods of the day which includes his teacher planning time so that he can help this student to strengthen his writing, flesh out his thoughts and prepare for the final exam. By doing this, Mr. Ellington is filling in the holes of the missed curriculum and empowering a student to believe in himself as he grows in his understanding and application of English. Mr. Ellington has used flexibility and compassion in working with this student and for this, I wanted to give a shout out in recognition of how this teacher cares so well for his students."

- Margaret Veenstra, Bryant HS 

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Christopher Farmerie, Lake Braddock SS

"I want to thank Mr. Farmerie for checking in with the band and me last night at our graduation ceremony. He found me, asked if we had everything we needed, anything he could do, and if all was good. Then he went through some procedural things to help with the flow of the ceremony. I appreciate his approach to check in with the students and me first, and then helped us with making smooth transitions for the ceremony that evening. Thank you so much Mr. Farmerie!"

- Mike Luley, Lake Braddock SS 

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Hana Kang, Mantua ES

"Ms. Kang has been an amazing Kindergarten teacher for my daughter. She is our oldest and we were nervous having her start at a big school with so many new people and Ms. Kang did an amazing job building a special relationship with her and encouraging her throughout the year. We are super grateful to have had Ms. Kang as our daughter's Kindergarten teacher. Thank you!!!"

- a Mantua ES parent

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Ahmad Kohy, Woodson HS 

"He is extremely dedicated to his job and takes it very seriously. He works very hard with the Cat B students and takes very good care of them. In addition, he is very pleasant and friendly to all of the staff members."

- Rachel Silien, Woodson HS

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Kevin Lambert, Woodson HS 

"Kevin has done an outstanding job assisting students with teletherapy. He is kind, patient and very helpful. In addition, he creates a relaxed atmosphere so the students don't feel nervous or anxious when they have speech therapy."

- Rachel Silien, Woodson HS 

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Sook Smith, Centreville ES

"Mrs. Sook is a Counselor. She helped my family who has difficulty in English because she could speak English and Korean. In addition, for the past two years, she has been watching and guiding our two children with interest. And if there is anything I didn't know about school, I always talk to her and she lets me know in detail."

- a Centreville ES parent

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Jennifer Hotochin, Centreville ES

"Mrs. Hotochin conducts her class in a friendly and enjoyable manner so that children can both learn from and enjoy her class. She unfortunately was unable to attend school for a while due to a leg injury, but I was still impressed by her sincere interest in teaching and loving my child."

- a Centreville ES parent 

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Terry Gray, Centreville ES

"Mr. Gray is a math and science teacher who makes his learning fun and easy to understand. He is a kind and attentive teacher to his students, my child respects and loves this teacher for all that he's done."

- a Centreville ES parent 

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Jody Delaney, Haycock ES 

"As the school year comes to a close, I would like to thank our Haycock ES assistant principal, Jody Delaney, for her exceptional management and care towards the newly created position of classroom monitors. As a first-year classroom monitor myself, I encountered a few initial challenges. However, Jody’s handling of these glitches was commendable, and her guidance and support played a crucial role in making our roles smoother and more effective. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work under Jody’s leadership this school year!"

- Toni Sun, Haycock ES 

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Brian Kaufman, Langley HS 

"My daughter's theater teacher, Mr. Kaufman, consistently gives 100% to his students and the theater program. He was recently spotted at her dance studio's dress rehearsal at 10:00 p.m. so that he could close up the theatre. We appreciate his dedication and support. My daughter is looking forward to having him as a teacher again next year (her third year with Mr. Kaufman!). Theater class is a bright spot in her hectic schedule and her incredible teacher is the main reason. We are so thankful!"

- a Langley HS parent

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Deborah Simmons, Riverside ES

"A huge thank you to Deborah Simmons who has gone above and beyond to help the special education team with coverage for IEP and Local Screening meetings.The last three months, Deborah has been pulled in numerous directions and supported numerous grade levels so that we are able to hold meetings. She does all of this with a smile on her face. Thank you Deborah for your dedication to the special education team!"

- Lorri Hallenbeck, Riverside ES 

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Cindy Downing and Lisa Reaves, South County MS 

"South County Middle School teachers, Cindy Downing and Lisa Reaves, are extraordinary in all that they do, particularly when it comes to hosting an evening Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning (POG POL) showcase where over 70 students were able to share their learning with staff and community members. As Global Classroom Project partners, Cindy and Lisa’s students are able to collaborate with peers in Vietnam and France, making their learning authentic in a global way. From new teachers entering the classroom to those of us who have been educators for decades, seeing Cindy and Lisa collaborate and ignite learning for their students is an inspiration to all. Passing by their classrooms, you are able to see students personalize their learning, understand the modeled expectations, and talk about their real world connections to learning. Both teachers consistently bring high levels of student engagement to their classrooms. Thank you, Cindy and Lisa, for being exceptional colleagues, collaborators and teachers."

- Dana Gorman, South County MS 

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Michelle Gotico, Lake Braddock SS 

"Ms. Gotico is my daughter's civics teacher. All year Ms. Gotico supported my daughter in and out of the classroom. My daughter learned so much about civics and applied what she learned by engaging in actions to create change by volunteering and advocating for change in local government. Ms. Gotico planned engaging field trips which my daughter and her classmates saw civics in action. My daughter wants to learn about careers serving the community, as a result of her educational experience. Ms. Gotico supported my daughter when my father had a health crisis. Ms. Gotico also attended my daughter's performances. Ms. Gotico is a teacher who goes above and beyond to ensure her students know they are cared for and through her skills as a teacher, her students see pathways to apply what they have learned."

- a Lake Braddock SS parent 

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Jen Cortesi, Liz Cuddihy, Michelle Gotico, and Rachelle Miller Lake Braddock SS

"Working with the Lake Braddock Secondary School Bruins in Action Lead Team has been an absolute honor and a complete pleasure. Jen Cortesi, Liz Cuddihy, Michelle Gotico, and Rachelle Miller are each outstanding teachers of their separate subjects (Science, Special Education, Social Studies, and English), but as a cross-curricular unit, they are an unstoppable force! Every step of this multi-faceted project was carefully considered, balancing the needs of our students and teachers alike. Thank you for your care and diligence and leadership! All 750 of our 8th graders learned and grew through action and service this school year as Bruins in Action. Thanks also for being the best thought partners over the past two years!"

- Niki Holmes, Lake Braddock SS 

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Ashley Chapman, London Towne ES

"Mrs. Chapman is always so helpful to students! She always goes beyond to help kids! We are very grateful for her ongoing wonderful help!"

- a London Towne ES parent

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Carolina Salazar, London Towne ES

"Mrs. Salazar is always very creative with children! She always goes beyond to make kids feel special and help them! She always answers her emails."

- a London Towne ES parent

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Jen Cortesi, Liz Cuddihy, Michelle Gotico, Niki Holmes, and Rachelle Miller Lake Braddock SS

"Jen, Liz, Michelle, Niki, and Rachelle went above and beyond throughout the 22-23 school year as they led Lake Braddock's Middle School staff and 700+ 8th grade students through the Bruins in Action Experience, a cross-curricular service-learning project. These ladies spent countless hours planning meaningful learning experiences, facilitating meetings and trainings for staff, and organizing many moving parts that a cross-curricular project entails. This year-long project culminated with a week of Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning where ALL LBSS 8th graders shared their growth throughout the experience to their teachers, support staff, administrators, and central office personnel. This week of POG POLs was a powerful showcase of student learning, agency, and growth- none of it would be possible without this passionate and dedicated team of lead teachers! Thank you Jen, Liz, Michelle, Niki, and Rachelle for all you do for our students, you are true Bruins in Action!"

- Courtney Klein, Willow Oaks Admin Center

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Brian Sirdofsky, Kilmer MS 

"My son is in 8th grade and really wanted to take PE over the summer. But he will be attending TJHS next year and the counselors there were not able to help him get enrolled in the summer PE class. The counselors at Marshall HS (his zoned school) tried to help but since my son was no longer enrolled at Marshall they weren't able to give the required approval. Mr. Sirdofsky was able to work through the red tape and get my son enrolled. I really appreciate that even though this involved a special request and registration for a class that will be taken after my son leaves Kilmer Mr. Sirdofsky and the Kilmer administration put in the effort to make it possible."

- a Kilmer MS parent

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Nicholas Lynn, West Springfield HS 

"My son was lucky to be placed in Mr. Lynn's Geosystems Honors class this year. He had told the counselor to choose any science class that would fit his schedule because, "I don't enjoy science, so it won't really matter which class." Mr. Lynn's teaching style and obvious love of the subject matter helped my son both learn and actually enjoy science. In addition, Mr. Lynn took time to support his students beyond academics too. He created a safe place for them to ask questions and feel understood. We are so thankful that our son had the opportunity to take Mr. Lynn's class this year."

- West Springfield HS 

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Susan Jelinek, Gatehouse Admin Center

"My positive experience with Susan is not an isolated one. I have been on short term disability for several months. Whenever I have reached Susan on Human Resources main phone line, I knew I could ask a question, and Susan would give me the best possible response. She is a quick thinker with a calm, warm, and compassionate demeanor. And it is precisely that demeanor that encouraged me to keep asking questions and advocate for my needs. Susan is an A+ and beyond employee."

- Lynn Marsh, Lewis HS 

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Sidney Monday, Glen Forest ES 

"Ms. Monday has an enthusiasm for teaching that goes beyond her years. FCPS needs more such educators who bring creativity and compassion into the classroom. Our child's experience this year in Ms. Monday's class has been to a positive outlook. Thank you for teaching our children and making them feel safe and valuable."

- a Glen Forest ES parent

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Bobbi Snyder, Westfield HS 

"Ms. Bobbi Snyder has been my son's guidance counselor since 9th grade. He graduates this year. She has been very helpful and responsive throughout high school. I’m a parent with questions and Ms. Snyder has always called or emailed me back quickly providing me with answers. There have been times when my son or I needed something right away (poor planning on our part) and she has happily helped us. I am very thankful that my son had such an invested guidance counselor!"

- a Westfield HS parent 

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Minh Huynh, West Potomac HS 

"Mr. Minh stepped in for the Assessment Office and completed a math SOL read aloud. This shows how much he cares for the success of our students."

- Tiffany L. Wilson, West Potomac HS 

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Cari Allen, Coates ES 

"Ms. Allen is an amazing guidance counselor at Coates. She is warm and kind and she cares deeply about the kids. She works closely with the kids and helps to bring out their best. She problem solves with the kids and helps them learn life skills like conflict resolution. Coates is very lucky to have her!"

- a Coates ES parent

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Jenn Gray, Coates ES 

"Ms. Gray is an incredible Assistant Principal. She is warm and kind and has a special connection with all the kids at our school. She cares deeply about the kids and she is amazing. Coates is very lucky to have her!"

- a Coates ES parent

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Alexandra Milfeit, Fairview ES 

"As the year ends, I wanted to thank Mrs. Milfeit for completing changing my daughter's feelings and confidence in math. She went from someone who's first impulse was to say she couldn't do it to math being her favorite class!"

- a Fairview ES parent

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Audrey Goldberg, Graham Road Community Center

"Mrs. Goldberg is a Teacher of Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired (TBVI). She has worked with my son for the past two school years at Clearview Elementary School. Mrs. Goldberg has gone above and beyond our expectations. Since returning to full time in-person instruction she has helped our son become confident in using Braille as his method of instruction (reading & writing). Mrs. Goldberg not only helps make all curriculum accessible to him, but has encouraged his love of learning. She implements unique motivation techniques to keep him on task. He loves going to school and working with her daily. We feel incredibly lucky to have Mrs. Goldberg on his team. She deserves to be honored for all the time and love she puts into her position."

- a Clearview ES parent

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Elizabeth White, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Not only did Elizabeth take time out of her busy schedule to help facilitate POG POL conversations with our 8th grade students, but she seamlessly jumped into action when our school had to adapt to an unexpected disruption. Her calmness, pleasant demeanor and ready-to-help attitude were invaluable during a stressful situation. We are incredibly grateful that she was there and willing to help!"

- Kim Hammond, Lake Braddock SS 

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Jessica Lee, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"We are so lucky to have Jessica as part of our OSS team! Jessica strongly supported us in planning and preparing for our Math SOL remediation. She even came in to work with several small groups of students on remediation day! We can't thank you enough for your collaboration and dedication to our students and staff."

- Brandi Goncz, Holmes MS 

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Daniella Daddario, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Daniella was a huge help in planning and preparing for our Math SOL remediation! Not only did she put together helpful resources to support teachers with their planning, she even came in to work with a small group of students and helped prepare them for their Math 6 retake. Thank you, Daniella, for your collaboration and dedication to our teachers and students!"

- Brandi Goncz, Holmes MS 

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Paula Burckas, Island Creek ES 

"Thank you so much Ms. Burckas for all the hard work and the support you give to the students, teachers, cafeteria staff and parents everyday. It has been so nice having you at Island Creek ES. Your welcoming demeanor and thoughtfulness have been much appreciated."

- Ikram B Lemmonds, Island Creek ES 

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