FCPS CARES - June 2024

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

Jaime Villamarin Perdomo, Stonecroft Transportation Center

"Jaime is an extraordinary Transportation Supervisor. This past week, he worked his magic to provide transportation for a student at Kilmer Center to get to their graduation ceremony. This student typically receives his instruction in his home so he does not regularly ride the school bus. Jaime was able to secure a bus to transport this individual and his nurse to Kilmer Center. Having the student there in person to receive his diploma was amazing. Thank you Jaime for going above and beyond to make this graduation so memorable for this student and his family!"

-Patricia Kyle, Kilmer Center

------

Region 1

Matthew Ravenstahl , South Lakes HS (Pictured) - View the celebration!

"Dr. Matthew Ravenstahl, Matt, is an Art Teacher at South Lakes High School who takes the meaning and teaching of art to a new level. Matt has a special touch on how he teaches and interacts with his students and other teachers. Matt's ability to share his love of art has extended beyond the typical and touched the hearts of our special needs children. Before starting in Matt's art class, our 17-year-old boy, who is non-verbal due to Down syndrome, our son, had sensory problems and did not like the feel of sticky or gooey materials. Our ambitions for our son where for him to get a vocational job where he might do menial tasks for his life's work. Now, he does not mind working with different textured materials, and he is producing artwork displayed at local community centers. We don't know for sure, but our son might be able, one day, to sell his art. Our son's future has more options because of Dr. Ravenstahl. Thank you, Dr. Ravenstahl, for your talent and kindness and for giving us hope for a brighter future for our special guy."

-a South Lakes HS parent

------

Region 2

Rachel Baxter and Krissy Ronan, Marshall HS - View the celebration!

"I have been teaching English at George C. Marshall High School for 18 years and have worked with Ms. Krissy Ronan and Mrs. Rachel Baxter, our respective librarian and SBTS, as well as Equity Team leads, for several years. Rachel and Krissy have been champions of equity in both roles individually and united as Marshall's Equity Team leads. As Marshall's librarian, Krissy acts as an additional member of any curriculum team. Whenever a curriculum team leader wants to supplement any literature unit with activities or lessons encouraging students to consider marginalized or underserved voices, Krissy creates suggestions and even offers to lead these activities. Krissy also encourages curriculum teams to consider adopting texts that reflect the diversity of the students within our classrooms. Her recommendations have enabled me to teach contemporary works allow previously unseen students to be seen in our novel studies. Thanks to Krissy's recommendations, the additions of the novels "The Poet X," "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," and "All American Boys" have turned more non-readers into readers to discuss relevant and meaningful topics about family dynamics, social justice, identity, and societal expectations as the protagonists in these stories come of age. 

As Marshall's SBTS, Rachel leads the faculty and staff in considering equity in our grading practices. Rachel helped to spearhead the faculty and staff's reading of Joe Feldman's text "Grading for Equity" so curriculum teams and the school could consider what more equitable practices that ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed academically, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, or other factors are. Rachel also highlights resources within FCPS' digital ecosystem that create a positive learning environment and allow all students to participate and feel valued, respected, and capable of success. This year, Rachel helped the wellness and Advisory co-leads prepare students for the county-wide rollout of Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning. Rachel collaborated with faculty stakeholders to create activities and lessons that would allow both faculty and students to better prepare for these activities and enable students to reflect on how they grew this school year. 

Together, Krissy and Rachel lead the Equity Team and create opportunities for students to vocalize equity areas of improvement throughout the school. In Equity Team meetings, students discuss what would make Marshall a more equitable school and students work in teams with a faculty sponsor through project-based learning. This student-centered approach empowers students to improve the school's areas of growth. This year alone, students collaborated together to organize World Heritage Night, recorded a podcast to discuss equity, and created a midyear clubs and activities fair that enabled students to increase their sense of belonging here at Marshall. Through their efforts and in collaboration with the FCPS 2023-2030 Strategic Plan, we maintained or improved favorable percentages recorded in our school's Spring 2024 SEL Screener results. Our students' Sense of Belonging, Cultural Awareness, and Action percentages increased due to events that Krissy and Rachel support to make equity more visible. 

Most recently, Krissy and Rachel presented with Principal Jeff Litz at our April faculty meeting that despite our school improvements, there are always ways to grow and lead a workshop about how faculty and staff can better respond to everyday prejudice, bigotry, and stereotypes. Krissy and Rachel also welcomed Dr. Manuel Gomez Portillo, FCPS equity specialist, to engage in reflective conversations with students about the intent, power, and impact of our words and actions. Krissy and Rachel are worthy of the FCPS CARES Award for their continued advocacy of equity with both students and staff to build a more equitable society."

-Pierce Bello, Marshall HS

------

Region 3

Ana Mack, Sandburg MS - View the celebration!

"Ana Mack is an essential part of Sandburg! She not only controls most daily operations at Sandburg but she is also consistently going out of her way to make sure everyone at Sandburg has all of their needs met. She is incredibly organized and is always very knowledgeable and willing to help with all things related to FCPS. She helped me with so many different HR policies especially when it came to understanding maternity/paternity leave within the county. She is always someone who is willing to just listen and care for all employees if they have a concern or just need someone to listen to them. Not only does she fulfill all of her daily job requirements expertly, she also goes above and beyond and always helps out everyone even if it isn't required of her. She is a hard worker and has a kind soul! For me as an employee, she is one of the best things about Sandburg Middle School!"

-Marc Vandyken, Sandburg MS

Ana Mack, Sandburg MS

"I am honored to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Ana, our exceptional Administrative Assistant. Ana's unwavering dedication and remarkable efficiency make her an invaluable asset to our school community. Ana’s open-door policy epitomizes her welcoming and approachable nature. Whether it's a student in need of guidance, a teacher seeking assistance, or a parent with questions, Ana is always ready to help. Her ability to communicate with ease and clarity ensures that everyone feels heard and understood. Ana’s commitment to providing swift and effective solutions is truly commendable. No matter the challenge, she tackles each task with impressive speed and competence, ensuring our school runs smoothly. Her proactive approach and resourcefulness have saved the day on countless occasions. We are incredibly fortunate to have Ana on our team. Her hard work, kindness, and dedication do not go unnoticed. Thank you, Ana, for being the cornerstone of our administrative support and for making our school a better place for everyone"

-Monica Tatis-Phan, Sandburg MS

------

Region 4

Ryan Nigro, Kings Park ES

"This past year was my son's first year in SpEd. He had been struggling greatly with language arts and it had deteriorated his self esteem and self worth. He wasn't the same kid. Enter Ryan Nigro, his SpEd teacher this past year. Mr. Nigro not only listened to my concerns about what I thought my son needed, Mr. Nigro listened to my son--he built a trusting and kind teacher/student relationship with my son. And my son thrived--he made so much progress in all areas of academics. But what was the most valuable was Mr. Nigro brought my son back to us. I cannot truly put into words how much we value Mr. Nigro's expertise, kindness, and strength he puts into his work with his students. He is a huge assets to KPES and every student that is lucky to be his."

-a Kings Park ES parent

------

Region 5

Mike Gerber, Westbriar ES

"To say Mike Gerber is the best 6th grade teacher ever, would be quite the understatement.

In October 2023, after the start of the war in Gaza, Mr. Gerber invited Palestinian and Jewish students to explain the conflict to the class. I only heard about this from my son whose two best friends are Jewish and Palestinian. In doing so, the teacher gave his students who were experiencing deep pain, a platform to share their perspectives with the classroom - as told by a 6th grader so that the class could understand. While this could be seen as a huge risk, Mr. Gerber took this brave step to help his students acknowledge what’s happening in the world. He demonstrated leadership in a way no one else had and for that alone, I believe he is the G.O.A.T.!

Mr. Gerber is also the first and only teacher at Westbriar to teach students principles of economics in 6th grade. Students get monthly pay, which they are taxed on! They also have to “rent” equipment (chairs and desks and laptops) and pay for utilities using classroom currency branded as “Gerbucks”. They also earn money for correct answers to questions! He has a thriving classroom economy and makes learning fun for all kids. Students earn and spend money throughout the year. At the end of the year, they use their savings at a classroom auction. I had two kids in his class. And both wouldn’t stop raving about this.

He introduced trash-kit-ball as a game for the students to play, something my twin boys absolutely love. He also allows students to give him names - What other teacher allows their students to playfully and lovingly call him Mr. Goober or Mr. Hamburger?! Bottom line, I’ve been an elementary school parent for 9 years and at Westbriar Elementary, there has been no shortage of great teachers. But Mr. Gerber is truly one of a kind! Or as his students would say, the GOAT!

-a Westbriar ES parent

------

Region 6

Jackie Lake, Braddock ES - View the celebration!

"Jakelin Soriano Lake is truly "One Amazing Woman who CARES about her community!" Each and every day Jakelin, as the lead member of the Community Outreach Team, arrives at Braddock Elementary School, she has a mental list of resources she will need to access to meet and support the needs of a student, teacher, administrator, parent, community partner or family. Jakelin knows how to "utilize resources!" Jakelin helps families access resources for food, health, clothing, transportation, and educational needs from PK - College. Jakelin has developed some value partnerships with businesses and organizations to support her efforts by ensuring she will be able to provide resources and support for any Braddock Elementary family, including the staff. When there is a need that others struggle to meet, Jakelin has connections. Jakelin's outreach to community partners and businesses has truly "Made A Difference" for families and students. Jakelin has provided comfort and reassurance to families who have experienced emergencies such as a fire in their home, are unable to pay rent or need transportation to the hospital or immigration hearings for clothing after arriving in Annandale, Virginia / United States for the first time. Not only is Jakelin a supporter of her school community, but Jakelin is also a strong supporter of Education. Jakelin knows the importance of a good education and wholeheartedly encourages her network of advocates to provide support in any way they can for any and all education programs at Braddock Elementary School. Jakelin leads by example when it comes to supporting her school community. Jakelin participates in school programs by chaperoning on field trips, providing transportation for field trips, or taking photos of events to share with teachers, social media staff, and school news shows. The Braddock Elementary Afterschool Program, eXSTREAM: Engaged in Enriched and Enhanced Experiences with Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics, has greatly benefited from the support of Jakelin Lake. Jakelin has provided snacks and materials for clubs like Maker Space, Student Ambassadors, Chess Club, Robotics, Coding, Gardening, Readers Are Leaders, GEMS: Girls Exploring Engineering, Mathematics & Science, and Girl Powered. Jakelin has truly gone above and beyond for the Braddock Elementary School Community for her "Caring Spirit and Actions!"

-Joyce Matthews, Braddock ES

------

Other FCPS CARES Submissions

Heather Temple, Gunston ES

"Though it was the final day of her school year contract, Ms. Temple enthusiastically participated in my child's IEP meeting in an effort that she had appropriate services and support to start the 24-25 school year. Ms. Temple's presence in the meeting brought calm and gave me confidence that my child will be loved and supported fully for who they are in her class next school year. She was able to answer questions about the structure of the class, transportation, and more. I am incredibly grateful for her expertise and compassion." 

-a Gunston ES parent

------

Sandra Gatski, Lorton Station ES

"Mrs. Gatski has been a wonderful teacher for my son at Lorton Station Elementary. He has made significant progress in first grade math and reading. Mrs. Gatski inspired him to read, and he was able to read twelve chapter books in the Magic Treehouse series as well as complete Lexia. Mrs. Gatski used highly creative ways to reward students for positive behavior through a ticket system. Mrs. Gatski utilized rewards valuable to students to make connections with her students and positively reward behavior. Rewards included being line leader for a day, picking the popsicle sticks from the jar, sitting with a teacher, treats, and best of all eating lunch with Mrs. Gatski and a friend. My child looked forward to eating lunch with his teacher as his reward for good behavior. Spending time with his teacher was important to him and she took her personal lunch time to reward her students. Mrs. Gatski knew the importance of being in the classroom and being available so that her students could learn. At the end of the school year, she had a broken wrist and needed surgery. She knew that it was important to be there for her students during the final days of instruction and made sure to be present in the classroom those final days, even with a broken wrist. Mrs. Gatski communicated well with parents and always kept us informed of the information the students were learning in the classroom. We appreciate all that Mrs. Gatski does for her students at Lorton Station."

-a Lorton Station ES parent

------

Faiza Alum, Johnson MS

"Ms. Alum reached out to city staff to identify a real-world project her students could work on. She identified the Fairfax Circle area as a important and relevant area for her students as they know the area well and have learned about stormwater runoff and other environmental issues that are present in the Fairfax Circle Area. She invited City staff to talk to the students and present the idea and then with very minimal guidance, she allowed the students to learn on their own, develop their own ideas, and figure out how to present and communicate their ideas with the public. The students conducted in depth research and worked with their peers to create a high quality project that they then presented at three public meetings to the City Council, Planning Commission, and School Board. Faiza created an opportunity for her students to apply their knowledge to real world problems and got them involved in local government, exposing them to the decision making processes that affect their daily lives and communities."

-Amy Lynne Denny, Fairfax County Govt

------

Brianna Cole, Eagle View ES

"Ms. Bri's enthusiasm for teaching her afternoon preschool students about the world around them had a positive impact this school year. Our daughter loved going to school and sharing what she learned. Ms. Bri had a unique ability to make lessons approachable for the littlest learners and engage them in a way that helped them connect. A few of our daughter's favorite lessons included the stages of a butterfly (with a real life caterpillar to butterfly science experiment), the colors of the rainbow (through a "how to catch a leprechaun" STEM crafted slide in rainbow colors), address recognition (with learning to address/stamp/mail a real letter) and knowing the age of a tree by counting the rings (along with planting new seeds to watch how plants grow). The activities/crafts that came home each week showed how much passion Ms. Bri put into ensuring the students understood the lessons. At dismissal each day, we got to witness first hand how playful and engaged Ms. Bri was with her students - literally joining them in games on the playground or blowing bubbles for the class to chase. She addresses her students at their eye level and learned their preferences for greetings to make sure they felt loved and safe. The past few weeks, Ms. Bri has been working hard on kindergarten prep - we've seen our daughter learn to get her own lunch from the cafeteria, repeat books about kindergarten, and be excited for the coming year. As a first year teacher Ms. Bri did a wonderful job where it matters most - showing her students how school is a magical place to be yourself, feel safe and learn about the world around you!"

-an Eagle View ES parent

------

Corri Shusterman, Kings Park ES

"Hello! I wanted to send a shout out to Corri Shusterman. Our son has big emotions, and Corri has been a wonderful, supportive adult at school. Eric adores her, and she's been able to check on him and teach him strategies, which then Eric has taught to us! At night we often say what we are thankful for, and more than once our son has said that he got to visit with Mrs. Shusterman that day. We are so thankful!

-a Kings Park ES parent

------

Raymond Mason, Kings Glen ES

"I wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU to Mr. Mason. My son is enthusiastic about Mr. Mason like no other teacher he has ever had. More than once a song, instrument, or musical genre has come up and Jimmy chimes in with "In Mr. Mason's class...". We are so thankful for the wonderful music education background and attention Jimmy had this year!"

-a Kings Glen ES parent

------

Mourad Touil, Stonecroft Transportation Center

"Mourad Touil was my daughter’s ECSE PM bus driver this year and we were so grateful to him! Even though she is non-verbal and uses a talker to communicate - she also told us in many ways how much she loved him! She would blow kisses, wave, and come down the bus lift in her wheelchair with smiles and giggles after unlocked her wheelchair from the bus for the lift. She also uses her talker to show us the bus and we believe she was telling us she wanted to see him! He would give critical info and a few days before her last day on the bus he made sure to tell us and her how much he was going to miss her. We believed him - and thank him for caring and for safely transporting her all year!"

-a Stenwood ES parent

------

Jeff Bar,  Longfellow MS

"Sometimes you are fortunate enough to come across a person in the education system who truly defines what it means to be an advocate for students. Jeff Barr is that advocate. He is an advocate for students with learning differences yet he goes beyond that and also helps their parents navigate a path forward that is positive and with purpose. Mr. Barr is also an advocate for his staff, coworkers and colleagues, a real team player and cheering everyone on! Coming into a new school is very overwhelming and Mr. Barr took the time to answer our endless questions, provide us countless points of guidance and above us, he told us over and over, “We got this!” And he was so right! Mr. Barr was leading the way but he was also right beside us, every step. We will also be forever grateful for his can-do spirit, whip smart abilities and sincere confidence in our son’s abilities and opportunities for an exceptional education he deserves in a wonderfully welcoming school at Longfellow Middle School."

-a Longfellow MS parent

------

Patricia Metcalfe, Longfellow MS

"We want to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Metcalfe for her steadfast support and dedicated communication with us over the last months. Amidst the many challenges of moving to a new community and school, we were profoundly impressed and touched by the incredible generosity, kindness, and professionalism Mrs. Metcalfe has shown to us and our son. Her calm composure, sincere engagement and expert demeanor with us as parents as well as with teaching our son were unparalleled. We have learned so much from Mrs. Metcalfe and her kindness and expertise will never be forgotten. Thank you for the extraordinary care, respect, compassion and hope you provided during this school transition. Mrs. Metcalfe is a true treasure to Longfellow Middle School!"

-a Longfellow MS parent

------

Andrew Mauritz, Longfellow MS

"Mr. Mauritz is an exceptionally dedicated and inspiring English teacher, and we are deeply grateful for the time, attention, patience, compassion, and quality instruction he provided our son this year. Starting a new school mid-year can be overwhelming, and even more so for students with learning differences. Mr. Mauritz demonstrated genuine belief in our son, making a significant impact. Beyond providing excellent academic instruction and a well-structured curriculum, Mr. Mauritz rekindled our son's hope and joy in learning, which he needed and deserved to experience once again. What a bright future Mr. Mauritz has inspiring students at Longfellow Middle School!"

-a Longfellow MS parent

------

Daniel Segal, Spring Hill ES

"Our son told us dozens of times this past year how much he loved Mr. Segal and how he was the best teacher he's ever had. We wholeheartedly agree. From the first weeks of school, it was readily apparent how devoted Mr. Segal is to his students and to the practice of teaching overall. He took extraordinary steps to make learning fun and interesting. These ranged from relying on examples and activities over plain lectures, to using available free time to teach about "tangents" of interest such as black holes, to providing "choice and voice" where appropriate in class activities. Each Sunday Mr. Segal went above and beyond to write detailed emails describing class plans for the week, and the reasoning behind those plans, so we knew exactly what was going on in the classroom and why. We were so fortunate that our son had Mr. Segal this past year."

-a Spring Hill ES parent

------

Mary Rinker, Spring Hill ES

"At the beginning of the 23-24 school year, my school had an unexpected teacher leave of absence in 6th grade. This meant that the students in the particular class started off the school year without the continuity of a classroom teacher. Fortunately, we had great staff members such as our AART, 6th grade ESOL teacher, and others who stepped in, despite their already busy workload, to provide a strong academic foundation while a permanent teacher was found. Despite my principal's best effort in securing a teacher, the task proved to be a daunting one. It was then that my principal asked me if my mother would be interested in the position, at least as a long term substitute until a permanent one was found. It is important to have some backstory on why this was not a simple question. My mother, Mary (Connie) Rinker, and for whom I submit this award, lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia. She spent over 40 years in education in the Philadelphia area. She began her career teacher primary grades in parochial schools and retired in June 2015 as Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction at a premier comprehensive technical high school. A high school that she opened in 1999 as principal. After eight years of blissful retirement, my mother mentioned to me last summer about possibly returning to the school system in some capacity as a retired educator. It was that very conversation that popped into my head one day when talking to my principal about the need for a 6th grade teacher. A few days later my principal said, "We need your mother". The rest is history. My mother selflessly put a pause on her retirement, packed a suitcase, moved in with me from the Philly burbs, and taught for the past year at my school. In addition, she received her Virginia teaching license so that she could do the job that was asked of her. Furthermore, she offered to teach for the full year, rather than as a long term substitute, so the students could receive the continuity that they needed. If that doesn't show a commitment to the profession and students, then I don't know what does. Despite not having worked in FCPS before, she quickly learned the ropes. As the 6th grade school counselor this year, I taught her students in the master schedule twice per month. I saw the relationships develop between her and her students. I saw and heard the respect they had for her. I saw the way she became a cheerleader for her students so they too could discover the GENIUSES that they were. Her students learned that she was firm, but fair. She held them accountable and expected them to do what was asked of them. As much as she focused on the academic side of the classroom, she took equal amounts of time to help them personally and socially. She listened to their stories. She helped them grow as human beings. Parents of her students frequently shared with me positive feedback about her as a teacher. Colleagues also commented positively about having her as part of the team. What was supposed to be a temporary assignment turned into a full year of making an impact on the lives of her students. The icing on the cake was seeing her hard work, and that of her students, pay off by means of their I-Ready and SOL scores. It was because of the joy she felt being back in the classroom that she informed our principal that she would stay for another year. As for me, I get the pleasure of seeing her shine as an educator and tell people how proud I am to be her daughter."

-Erin Rinker, Spring Hill ES

------

John Kelly, Nancy Sprague Technology Center

"The Navy PTO would like to extend our deepest thanks to Mr. John Kelly, Navy Elementary’s Technology Specialist, for his tireless effort to support to our students and ensure equal access to innovative technology. John’s dedication and hard work turned an innovative and impactful idea into reality. Earlier this year John approached the Navy PTO with the Navy Classroom Projector Initiative. John proposed replacing all the outdated, glitchy, and dim projectors throughout the building with new updated wireless projectors. He performed extensive research to identify the best projectors to fit our needs, presented the proposal to the PTO membership, and answered a seemingly never-ending list of questions. The clear and compelling proposal John shared with us energized the Navy PTO to fundraise and fully fund the largest improvement project in our organization’s history and ahead of schedule. He masterfully managed a complex installation schedule with numerous work orders and schedules to remove the outdated technology, install the new projectors, and troubleshoot issues. This massive installation effort was completed within two weeks, right before the end of the school year rush. John’s idea for the Navy Classroom Projector Initiative embodies the spirit of collaboration, determination, and passion that defines the Navy community. Every student at Navy Elementary will start the 2024-2025 school year in a classroom equipped with a new wireless projector, containing a clear, bright screen, enhanced sound quality, and highly interactive capabilities. Teachers are now able to move freely throughout the classroom to better engage with students. His continued enthusiasm and dedication each day enables our students to be successful. John is an incredible asset to Navy Elementary and FCPS and we are so very lucky to have him on staff."

-a Navy ES parent

------

Farrish Cheronda, Cedar Lane School

"
Dr. Farrish is breath of fresh air. She has only been at Cedar Lane for a year now as a principal, but her impact is clearly tangible and will undoubtedly be lasting. She has already touched the lives of school staff and students as well as parents in many ways. This may be Dr. Farrish’ s first year at Cedar Lane as a principal but from interactions with school staff and students it really looks like she has been at our school for years. Dr. Farrish is passionate about her job as a principal and from the onset did everything to better understand the school culture. She met with school staff to listen and strived to understand their needs and concerns. She listened to everyone’s views and took them into account as she continues to strengthen the school program and sharpen its balance between academics and work skills. Dr. Farrish is a visionary principal and has worked hard to offer our Cedar Lane students an array of class choices in new areas that they will certainly enjoy and benefit from next school year. We are grateful to have her and wish her continued success."

-Saida Bouzaher, Cedar Lane School

------

Jessica Nally & Candace Davis, Lorton Transportation Center

"I'm writing to express my sincere gratitude for your outstanding teamwork and dedication this week. In the absence of team members, I know you both went above and beyond to take on the workload of an additional team. Your willingness to step up and ensure everything ran smoothly is truly commendable. The extra effort you put in didn't go unnoticed – the drivers, attendants, students, families, and schools all benefited from your hard work. Thank you for demonstrating such a strong commitment to your colleagues and the overall success of Area 2. Your dedication is an inspiration to the entire team!"

-Christopher Lester Daniels, Lorton Transportation Center

------

Kim DuPont, Virginia Hills Early Childhood

"After 18 years in education on the "other side" of the table, I found myself immersed in totally unfamiliar and dauting territory as I navigated the Child Find and IEP processes to support my child's developmental differences. When considering the various options that might be available for my child to get support in their pre-K year, I had a significant number of questions about the FCPS Pre-K program, the inclusion program, and head start. The information is not easy to come across in a public format, and it seemed like every person I spoke with in the various pre-k offices had a different understanding of the programs and the qualifications. Ms. Dupont willingly answered all of my questions via email and even attended my child's IEP meeting to make sure that my questions were completely answered. I am so grateful for her extra efforts and all she does to support our littlest learners, especially mine."

-a Virginia Hills Early Childhood parent

------

Patti Dickerson, Virginia Hills Early Childhood

"After 18 years in education on the "other side" of the table, I found myself immersed in totally unfamiliar and dauting territory as I navigated the Child Find and IEP processes to support my child's developmental differences. The process was full of confusion and emotion, mixed with uncertainty and if I'm being honest, fear. Ms. Patti Dickerson was supportive, understanding, and compassionate as we came to a consensus on how best to support my child. Even on her last week on contract, she patiently gathered more data and answered all of my questions. In an effort to make sure my child begins the new school year receiving crucial early intervention services, Ms. Dickerson even agreed to hold a continuation meeting on her final day on contract. I am so incredible grateful for the grace she extended to me during this process. Thank you, Patti!"

-a Virginia Hills Early Childhood parent

------

Terry Kellogg, Gatehouse Admin Center

"I recently adopted my daughter and was having issues with adding her to my insurance. The paperwork I'd submitted was causing some issues. Terry was incredibly helpful as she responded to every email I sent, and even called me after hours to answer my questions so I understood the process and what was needed. She followed up every phone call with an email of what we discussed so that I had something to refer back to. She was timely and helpful, causing me to feel better about the situation. Thanks to her, everything worked out well. I appreciate the time and effort Terry put into my case."

-Shana Schnaue, Forestville ES

------

Leslie Kendall, Bull Run Early Childhood

"Ms. Leslie Kendall has been an exceptional teacher to my Son. She was very dedicated and encouraging to him. She corrected him when needed and praised him with every little effort he made. With her he was very comfortable and willing to learn, explore, discover and most of all participated. His speech improved immensely with her weekly interactions. She also recommended and supported the enrollment of All Ages Read Together (AART) which helped and improved his social and communication skills. All I can say is any student that comes her way will be impacted positively. Thank you Ms. Leslie for a job well done."

-a Bull Run Early Childhood parent

------

Joshua Moss, Gatehouse Admin Center

"Joshua Moss (Josh), our Technology Specialist, at Gatehouse, provides above and beyond services to our staff employees. I have seen Josh started his work super early in the morning, as well as passed midnight at meetings. He always comes to support us with a smile and provides excellent client services. What makes Josh outstanding at his job, is that he always circles back with his "internal customers" to make sure issues have been satisfactorily resolved. I would like to take this moment to recognize his service. Dear Josh - We are very fortunate to have you at Gatehouse!"

-Esther Ko, Gatehouse Admin Center

------

Carrie Pecoraro, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"I want to express my deep appreciation for Carrie Pecoraro and her exceptional contributions as our Behavior Intervention Teacher (BIT). She has been a cornerstone of our team at Lake Braddock Secondary School, especially during some of our most challenging cases. Carrie’s extensive knowledge, professionalism, and leadership skills have been invaluable in helping us navigate numerous situations this year. Personally, I have gained so much from her insights and expertise, and I am eager to continue learning from her as we collaborate in the coming year."

-Walena Haider, Willow Oaks Admin Center

------

Reginald Blaise, Abigail L Bleymaier, Tania R Bove, Alison R Cordo, Lisa M Dockins, Andres F Henao, Molly A Hicks, Sheldon D Lucas, Kayla Mills, Tyler T Mormando, Akon J Otoyo, Leann B Parente, Edward D Pickering, Jenn A Scott, Will T Williams, Osneyda Zeledon, Montrose ALC

"I have had the privilege of working at Montrose ALC this year, and every day, I feel more and more grateful for the entire staff. They share a professionalism and positive perspective that I have not experienced anywhere else; they are truly above and beyond. • Reginald Blaise is the perfect balance of heart and high expectations for students. He holds each accountable, and they respect him. He also provides laughter to get through the day. • Abigail Bleymaier has an unsurpassed level of expertise and compassion. Students are safe with her and can achieve their potential. She has a way of knowing exactly how to respond in every situation and how to engage students in learning when they don’t feel like it. • Tania Bove is always willing to help, is flexible, and has a quiet joy about her that is contagious. • Alison Cordo is fair and holds everyone accountable. She is logical, solves problems, and is also a supportive and thoughtful leader. Her way of leading makes you want to do the best you can. • Lisa Dockins can step in and keep everything going. I don’t know how she does it, but she is like Alexa or Siri—if you need information, a phone number, or have odd attendance, she’s one step ahead of you (all while doing her actual job)! • Andres Henao is the best classroom neighbor. He is welcoming no matter how hard the days get. Also, walking around his room is inspiring because of the creative projects that his classes do. • Molly Hicks is a supportive colleague who is a master educator. She creates tools that provide built-in scaffolding and meaningful interdisciplinary lessons. And nothing rattles her! • Sheldon Lucas is a natural leader. He holds weekly meetings that stay on track and allow for laughter. He maintains a calm presence in everything he does. He is encouraging to others and irreplaceable as a colleague. • Kayla Mills is technically our school psychologist, but she does everything! In addition to her actual job description, she is always there to help and is involved in all our school activities. • Tyler Mormando is incredibly knowledgeable. Tyler is not only excellent at teaching academics but is an advocate for students and teaches them how to be an advocate for themselves. • Akon Otoyo is like a shining light. She always has a positive perspective on life and others and makes you feel supported in her presence. She responds to everything with grace. • Leann Parente is always supportive of students and has endless understanding and compassion. She helped create groups that addressed much-needed help for our students. • Eddie Pickering is the most calm, cool, and collected security there is. He handles everything with ease and maintains a safe environment for everyone. • Jen Scott is the welcoming committee! Scott is also transformative in handling student conflict. Watching Scott facilitate conversations between students that create communication and forgiveness is amazing. Scott also created student breaks that foster self-control and a return to class with a new mindset. • Will Williams is a steady presence who always has wisdom to share. He has strong attention to detail in his lessons and even stronger classroom management. • Osneyda Zeledon keeps everything running behind the scenes. She is the quiet engine that everyone relies on."

-Betsy Geddes, Leland House

------

Mark Henderson, Stonecroft Transportation Center

"Mr. Mark Henderson, driver of the Happy Bus on to Franklin Sherman Elementary for the mornings goes above and beyond. Every single week he greets the kids with a smile and greets the parents. On the holidays he celebrates the kids with gifts and plays trivia games. He has decorated the bus for Halloween, making the bus rides a delight for the children. He really truly is the “happy bus” that makes the kids just adore him with inside jokes, and fun. We are just so blessed to have him to take our children to school each morning."

-a Franklin Sherman ES parent

------

Ashley Farrugia, Lake Braddock Secondary

"On 6/4/24, we needed additional support for assessment remediation and proctoring.  Ashley not only providing remediation to students that needed it to take the assessment, but she also helped facilitate and proctor the testing.  We are very appreciative of her efforts and support!"

-Janet Babic, West Potomac HS

------

Tracey Skahen, Gatehouse Admin Center

"A substitute and daughter of a former employee reached out to me for assistance in obtaining their employee badge. Senior Executive Administrative Assistant Tracey Skahen went above and beyond to help a substitute obtain it. After contacting Tracey for assistance, she not only promptly contacted the Welcome Center about the badge and responded to me with pick-up directions, but she also offered additional pick-up methods to ensure the substitute received the badge as quickly as possible. In the end, she helped facilitate a handoff at an FCPS graduation! FCPS is stronger because of Tracey's commitment to assisting staff. She helped ensure our students have a qualified substitute in their classrooms."

-Stephanie Sheridan, Gatehouse Admin Center

------

Mary Maher, Oak View ES

"Upon witnessing a major car accident, Mary Kate rushed to the aid of the injured person without hesitation. When she discovered that the injured was a fellow FCPS teacher, her actions were inspiring! She remained calm and ensured their well-being until the ambulance arrived. Going above and beyond by riding with them in the ambulance and staying until family and a colleague could be there shows a remarkable level of compassion and care. Her actions undoubtedly made a significant difference in that person's experience during a very difficult time. FCPS is lucky to have such a dedicated and supportive member like her on its team! On behalf of all of colleagues of the injured teacher at Thoreau, we cannot thank her enough!!"

-Teresa Khuluki, Thoreau MS

------

Debra Brown, Lake Braddock Secondary

"Deb Brown is such a team-player for the LBSS counseling program. She is always willing to help anyone and everyone. Also, she knows what the department should be doing to do to meet students' needs. The department is lucky to have her!!!"

-Lynda Samek-Smith, Lake Braddock Secondary

------

Daniel Drickey, Hayfield Secondary

"Coach Drickey is always willing to help a student get connected with Hayfield. Whether it is talking to a future soccer player, just striking up a conversation with one of his students or helping a new club raise money, he does it with a smile and without hesitation. Coach Drickey recently consented to our May Madness Coaches Bracket fund raiser in which students could donate money and the winning coach in the building would get a shaving cream pie thrown at them. Each penny counted as a vote and donations for Coach Drickey raised over $70 with a vote count of well over 7000 votes! Coach Drickey even allowed passers by "throw" pies at him after being on stage at the Varsity Sports Award Banquet and everything involved with the set up for the event. Coach Drickey is an asset to Hayfield and Fairfax County in all that he does."

-anonymous

------

Luc Nguyen, Chantilly HS

"We are so grateful our daughter was in Mr. Nguyen’s class. She grew so much as a reader and writer, but more importantly felt seen and heard by Mr. Nguyen. Being a member of his classroom community increased her engagement in school by a tenfold. Mr. Nguyen is a gem of a teacher. We are so lucky he is part of the Chantilly HS staff."

-a Chantilly HS parent

------

Sara Owens, Hunters Woods ES

"Mrs. Owens, 3rd grade teacher at Hunters Woods ES, has consistently been above and beyond for the entire school year. She provided many resources to students to support their learning. For example, she taught students WordlyWise, and trained them to read news and make presentations on current events. Further, she prepared for students summer workbook and offered 2 summer book clubs. The games she played with students are both fun and intellectually challenging. She also arranged other meaningful activities for students, eg, field trip to Hunters Woods at Trails Edge. I feel my child is not only learning academics, but also growing as a citizen. We appreciate Mrs. Owens care for her students."

-a Hunters Wood ES parent

------

Jacquelyn Toth, Terra Centre ES

"Jackye has been the one consistent bright spot for our son at school. She happily greeted him daily, cared for him, cheered him on, contributed ideas to help him grow, and always helped him understand he had a place to go if he needed someone to talk with. Even in her busy schedule, she made time for monthly lunch bunches and extra lunches when things were rough. We know our son would have had a drastically different experience without her kindness the last three years. Even on the chaotic last day she took time to take a photo with him so he’d have something to remember her with. The photo will be a wonderful reminder to him that there are people who really care about him at school. We are so grateful for all she’s done and will miss her a tremendously!"

-a Terra Centre ES parent

------

Carrie Pecoraro, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"I want to express my deep appreciation for Carrie Pecoraro and her exceptional contributions as our Behavior Intervention Teacher (BIT). She has been a cornerstone of our team at Lake Braddock Secondary School, especially during some of our most challenging cases. Carrie’s extensive knowledge, professionalism, and leadership skills have been invaluable in helping us navigate numerous situations this year. Personally, I have gained so much from her insights and expertise, and I am eager to continue learning from her as we collaborate in the coming year."

-Walena Haider, Willow Oaks Admin Center

------

Larry Tarlton, Liberty MS

"There are simply not enough words to fully convey the profound influence Mr. Tarlton has had on my daughter. While he is undeniably an exceptional Algebra teacher, his impact extends far beyond the confines of the classroom curriculum. Throughout the school year, he imparted invaluable life lessons that will resonate with her for years to come. From the very first day of school, Mr. Tarlton challenged my daughter to confront the hurdles presented by Algebra. Despite her initial struggles and inclination to give up, he provided unwavering encouragement and additional support to ensure her success. His distinctive teaching approach and mentorship inspired her to persevere through the difficulties of mastering new concepts, fostering a resilience that will serve her well in all aspects of life. By the second quarter, I began to observe a noticeable transformation in my daughter's demeanor. She exhibited greater kindness and gratitude, traits that were previously less prominent. She started expressing appreciation towards me and acknowledging the efforts I made on her behalf. When I inquired about the source of this newfound positivity around the third quarter, she attributed it to Mr. Tarlton. As we approach the end of her middle school journey, I am deeply grateful to Mr. Tarlton for the profound positive influence he has had on my child and all the students under his guidance. His dedication and commitment to both academic excellence and personal growth have left an indelible mark on our lives."

-a Liberty MS parent

------

Jeanine Yabut, Laurel Ridge ES

"Ms. Yabut has just blown away my expectations for how much a teacher can care for their students emotionally, mentally and intellectually. She has guided her third grade class through lots of new experiences with kindess while also holding them to high standards. My daughter has thrived this year with her support and we are so lucky to have had her."

-a Laurel Ridge ES parent

------

Claudia Pirouzan-Jones South County HS

"Claudia Pirouzan-Jones has been incredibly supportive and organized since she came to South County, but as I wrap up my year, I am reflecting on her willingness to do what needs to be done and is in the best interest of her students. I have had a particularly challenging year, and Claudia has been hands-on and supportive since the first parent meeting I sat in with her within the first week of school. She has always been willing to meet with students, hear out teacher concerns, talk to parents, and apply appropriate levels of consequences for students. Her communication skills have also helped my stress levels as I always know Claudia has sent out what is necessary about weekly school happenings, and her individual communications about students have been timely and effective. If Claudia wrote a book on her principles of organization, communication, administration, and leadership, then many of my coworkers and I would all buy her book to learn from her philosophies."

-Katherine Logan, South County HS

------

Katherine Lacroix, Freedom Hill ES

"Ms. Lacroix goes above and beyond to form a positive rapport with the students she teaches. One of the first days of the school year I commented that she was wearing some very cool character specific socks. Her reply was that she was wearing them specifically for my child. I still have no idea how she knew already that socks would be the perfect way to communicate, but it is! I have seen her numerous times under a variety of circumstances and her humor, creativity, and professional calm are always present. I need to have whatever she has for breakfast so I can do the same!"

-anonymous

------

Christina Weise, Freedom Hill ES

"We hadn’t been in school more than a week or so and Mrs. Weise had already communicated with us about behavior she had noticed in our child that we hadn’t seen at the previous daycare/preschool/pre-k classes. She stayed in constant communication with us - keeping us informed, offering suggestions on how/what to talk to our child about, and ALWAYS encouraging us. As the school year progressed, she utilized different strategies in the classroom to help manage the behavior. She checked in daily and she worked collaboratively with other teachers to develop strategies that our child could use during the specials each day. When one strategy didn’t work, Mrs. Weise always had another idea to try. The external providers that we worked with regularly commented on what a wonderful job Mrs. Weise was doing - “She sounds like an amazing teacher.” and “You are really lucky to have such a caring teacher.” Mrs. Weise’s dedication to early, clear and constant communication, her love for our child, and her partnership throughout the school year enabled our child to have a successful year and to also be on the path for success in the years to come."

-anonymous

------

Meredith Renard, Davis Career Center

"Next year, my son will bid farewell to FCPS forever. Since 2006, starting with PAC, we have embarked on a long journey together with autism. This journey continues and may never truly end. I accepted long ago that curing my son's autism completely is not possible. My son's school life has been challenging due to his differences from others. It was not easy for him to gain admission to the Davis Career Center. Due to various issues, he could not join the Davis Career Center at age 18. However, this school year, he finally began attending, albeit with the anxiety that if he did not succeed, he might have to return to his original school. Fortunately, my son successfully completed his first year at the Davis Career Center, finding happiness through the love and sincere support of the teachers and principal. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Renard, the case Manager, who stood by my son's side like a true friend. I am deeply thankful to Ms. Renard, for whom my son has a special fondness. Thank you both for your dedication and kindness.

-a Davis Career Center parent

------

Matt Hounsell, Canterbury Woods ES

"Mr. Hounsell has been hands-down the best language arts teacher my child had throughout her elementary school career. My daughter loves to read and write, but definitely had areas for improvement. Her biggest need was learning how to organize her thoughts and support written arguments. Mr. Hounsell provided clear, actionable systems that she could use to do both of those things. The writing and thinking that she has brought home throughout the year has steadily improved. She seems more confident in her work. We're grateful for all Mr. Hounsell taught her! Most importantly we're grateful for the ways Mr. Hounsell supported her and encouraged her. Thanks for all you did this year!"

-a Canterbury Woods ES

------

Rachel Baxter and Krissy Ronan, Marshall HS

"I have been teaching English at George C. Marshall High School for 18 years and have worked with Miss Krissy Ronan and Mrs. Rachel Baxter, our respective librarian and SBTS as well as Equity Team leads, for several years. Both Rachel and Krissy have been champions of equity in both of their roles individually and united as Marshall's Equity Team leads. As Marshall's librarian, Krissy acts as an additional on any curriculum team. Whenever a curriculum team leader wants to supplement any literature unit with activities or lessons that encourage students to consider marginalized or underserved voices, Krissy creates suggestions and even offers to lead these activities. Krissy also encourages curriculum teams to consider adopting texts that reflect the diversity of the students within our classrooms. Her recommendations have enabled me to teach contemporary works allow previously unseen students to be seen in our novel studies. Thanks to Krissy's recommendations, the additions of the novels "The Poet X," "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," and "All American Boys" have turned more non-readers into readers to discuss relevant and meaningful topics about family dynamics, social justice, identity, and societal expectations as the protagonists in these stories come of age. As Marshall's SBTS, Rachel leads the faculty and staff to consider equity in our grading practices. Rachel helped to spearhead the faculty and staff's reading of Joe Feldman's text "Grading for Equity" so curriculum teams and the school could consider what are more equitable practices that ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed academically, regardless of their background, socioeconomic status, or other factors. Rachel also highlights resources within FCPS' digital ecosystem that create a positive learning environment and allow all students to participate and feel valued, respected, and capable of success. This year, Rachel helped the wellness and Advisory co-leads prepare students for the county-wide rollout of Portrait of a Graduate Presentations of Learning. Rachel collaborated with faculty stakeholders to create activities and lessons that would allow both faculty and students to better prepare for these activities that enable students to reflect on how they grew this school year. Together, Krissy and Rachel lead the Equity Team and create opportunities for students to vocalize equity areas of improvement throughout the school. In Equity Team meetings, students discuss what would make Marshall a more equitable school and students work in teams with a faculty sponsor through project-based learning. This student-centered approach empowers students to improve the school's areas of growth. This year alone, students collaborated together to organize World Heritage Night, recorded a podcast to discuss equity, and created a midyear clubs and activities fair that enabled students to increase their sense of belonging here at Marshall. Through their efforts and in collaboration with the FCPS 2023-2030 Strategic Plan, we maintained or improved favorable percentages recorded in our school's Spring 2024 SEL Screener results. Our students' Sense of Belonging and Cultural Awareness and Action percentages increased due to events that Krissy and Rachel support to make equity more visible. Most recently, Krissy and Rachel presented with Principal Jeff Litz at our April faculty meeting that despite our school improvements, there are always ways to grow and lead a workshop about how faculty and staff can better respond to everyday prejudice, bigotry, and stereotypes. Krissy and Rachel also welcomed Dr. Manuel Gomez Portillo, FCPS equity specialist, to engage in reflective conversations with students about the intent, power, and impact of our words and actions. Krissy and Rachel are worthy of the FCPS CARES Award for their continued advocacy of equity with both students and staff to build a more equitable society."

-Pierce Bello, Marshall HS

------

Tiffany Bryant, Herndon ES

"Ms. Bryant consistently goes above and beyond for her students. My son was new to her school this year and she was so welcoming. Additionally, she checked in with me from time to time to see how he was doing or allowed me to connect with her to discuss any concerns I had about how my son was doing at school. She was so approachable and was a safe person that my son knew he could trust and go to for support and guidance. She made such an impact on him and our family. Thank you, Ms. Bryant for your compassion and caring nature. You are very appreciated."

-a Herndon ES parent

------

Christene Nichols, Irving MS

"I would like to nominate Mrs. Nichols for an FCPS cares award. My son thrived in her Spanish 1 class due to her approachability, enthusiastic demeanor and engaging lessons. On several occasions, Mrs. Nichols sacrificed her planning time to meet with my son individually to help him better understand the content material. She holds her students to high standards and goes above and beyond to ensure they understand the course material, so they are set up for success in Spanish 2."

-anonymous

------

Jaime Villamarin Perdomo, Stonecroft Transportation

"Jaime is an extraordinary Transportation Supervisor. This past week, he worked his magic to provide transportation for a student at Kilmer Center to get to their graduation ceremony. This student typically receives his instruction in his home so he does not regularly ride the school bus. Jaime was able to secure a bus to transport this individual and his nurse to Kilmer Center. Having the student there in person to receive his diploma was amazing. Thank you Jaime for going above and beyond to make this graduation so memorable for this student and his family!"

-Patricia Kyle, Kilmer Center

------

Joy Stephens, Canterbury Woods ES

"Mrs. Stephens kept my child's love of learning thriving this year. My child's biggest need as a learner is to be encouraged to work hard. Mrs. Stephens was able to keep them engaged and putting in work all year. Through Mrs. Stephen's faithful assigning and grading of homework my child learned good after-school time management skills that will serve them well in the rest of their academic career. Mrs. Stephens also helped my child make substantial progress in math, kept them engaged and interested in science and social studies, and provided them stories to keep them loving reading. My child has fond memories of the read-alouds Mrs. Stephens shared with the class this year. Thank you Mrs. Stephens for helping to make my child's primary education a great success!"

-a Canterbury Woods ES parent

------

Marcela Tate, Canterbury Woods ES

"Marcela Tate is an excellent educator who really manages to connect her students with the subject material. My child is a middle child and often feels lost in the shuffle of the family. One of the things that helped her feel special this year was Ms. Tate's excellent Caesar's English instruction. Because my child learned so many new words, their definitions, and how to use them, they were able to teach both older and younger siblings. It was a delight to my child to be the one who can teach something this year. My child also felt the impacts of school disruption in math especially throughout the past several years. While their other teachers have done a great job trying to catch them up, Ms. Tate was able to truly complete the job. My child is well prepared to tackle 5th grade advanced math next year due to Ms. Tate's teaching. On top of all of that, my child was in a community of learners where they could make good friends and grow as a person. Thank you Ms. Tate for teaching so well and providing a good classroom environment for my child!"

-a Canterbury Woods ES parent

------

Angela Santizo, Lake Braddock Secondary

"Angela is a true SIS queen. She knows everything there is to know about SIS and can generate any report, data, and information at the drop of a hat. She has welcomed me into the MS student services department with open arms and a huge smile. She is patient, understanding, and is always willing to help. Thank you so much for everything, Angela!"

-Maya Nardone, Lake Braddock Secondary

------

Amanda Bolden, Robinson Secondary

"I am writing to recognize Ms. Amanda Bolden for her outstanding dedication and support as my son's algebra 2 teacher. Throughout the school year, Ms. Bolden has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure my son's success. Her willingness to meet him outside of class, for extra help has been invaluable, providing personalized guidance and fostering a deeper understanding of the subject. Ms. Bolden's innovative teaching methods, patience, and genuine care have not only enhanced my son's grasp of algebra 2 but also significantly boosted his confidence. She instilled the idea and ability for him to be able to preserve through the difficulties and hardships of the class. Ms. Bolden exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional educator, and her commitment to her students' growth and success deserves the highest commendation. My son truly grew as a math student, but more importantly as a young man!"

-a Robinson Secondary parent

------

Shannon Hardtke, Fox Mill ES

"Ms. Hardtke has been such an amazing teacher this year. She has taken an interest in our son in the best ways. She encourages him and has helped him to see his strengths as a learner. Last night she went above and beyond and attended his swim meet. All year she has asked to know when students have activities so that she can attend her students' events outside of school. It meant the world to our son that she was there. He has worked so hard at his swimming this year and he was really proud to share his talents outside of school with his teacher. Thank you Ms. Hardkte for being one of our son's and our favorite teachers so far. We hope you have a wonderful and relaxing summer."

-a Fox Mill ES parent

------

Diana Glaser, McLean HS

"Ms. Glazier and her teaching teammate Ms. Wanzer are a wonderful English teaching at McLean HS, going above and beyond standard teaching to engage students of all learning types and help them build an appreciation for literature, strong writing skills, and critical thinking. Our Dyslexic student has never enjoyed reading, and we were surprised and happy to hear her sharing excerpts from Romeo and Juliet repeatedly over dinner and in the car, explaining how characters related to each other, story highlights, and how her teachers reinforced the story line by watching parts of a modern movie version in class then discussing it as a group. We heard about Ms. Glazier standing on a desk (or a chair?) to underscore that themes must be more than one word! Our student doubts she will ever forget that part of English. Furthermore, our student remained engaged all year long and very much appreciated the non-traditional study aids such as Kahoot, which made English course material “easy for us to understand”, according to our student, and helped her study for the final exam. Thank you Ms. Glazier and Ms. Wanzer for making English 9 one of the best classes for our student this year!"

-a McLean HS parent

------

Nancy Wanzer, McLean HS

"Ms. Wanzer is a wonderful English teacher at McLean HS, going above and beyond standard teaching to engage students of all learning types and help them build an appreciation for literature, strong writing skills, and critical thinking. Our Dyslexic student has never enjoyed reading, and we were surprised and happy to hear her sharing excerpts from Romeo and Juliet repeatedly over dinner and in the car, explaining how characters related to each other, story highlights, and how her teachers reinforced the story line by watching parts of a modern movie version in class then discussing it as a group. Our student remained engaged all year long, appreciated the non-traditional study aids such as Kahoot, and made it “easy for us to understand”, according to our student. Thank you Ms. Wanzer for making English 9 one of the best classes for our student this year!"

-a McLeans HS parent

------

Stacey Smouse, Kent Gardens ES

"Mrs. Smouse is an AMAZING and caring 3rd grade teacher who puts her heart into teaching and truly cares about her students’ growth – not just in academics but also in their personal growth as young students and members of the larger school community. She makes learning fun, and my daughter has enjoyed the fun recognitions, such as being recognized as the Student of the Week, getting to take home the classroom stuffed animal pet, and earning prizes for completed homework packets. About a month or two into the school year, Mrs. Smouse recognized that my daughter was doing well in math and had her tested to advance another grade level, so that she would participate in the 4th grade advanced math class on a daily basis. Mrs. Smouse chatted with the 4th grade math teacher and spearheaded a smooth transition for my daughter, who was nervously excited about joining “older kids” for math class. Mrs. Smouse introduced her former students to my daughter, who was welcomed with open arms into the 4th grade advance math classroom. Mrs. Smouse continued to offer 3rd and 4th grade math content homework packets as a review for my daughter who skipped out on formally learning that content in class. Due to Mrs. Smouse continued support and ongoing communications between myself as the parent and the 4th grade math teacher, my daughter is thriving and has been keeping up with the math content! Mrs. Smouse has been a steady pillar of support, constantly telling her students how proud she is of them, how hard they are working, and how they are much more than the scores they receive on tests. She diligently sends out weekly newsletters to inform parents about class happenings, and keeps families informed. Whenever I email her with questions or requests, Mrs. Smouse is quick to respond, and her follow-up actions are much appreciated. While most teachers would say ‘goodbye’ after the school year is over, Mrs. Smouse is giving a Summer Practice packet and is encouraging her students to bring the completed packet back in August to earn a prize. This demonstrates that she truly cares about her students and their continued learning. The academic year is coming to a close, and I am so appreciative of Mrs. Smouse!"

-a Kent Gardens ES parent

------

Nancy Boscia, Deysi Camacho, Nicholas Esposito, Denise Steene and Meg Wiegand, Lake Braddock Secondary

"This group of high school IAs was instrumental in helping the special education department complete file reviews and relocate the files for our recent graduates. This task typically takes a few days, but with the help of this team... it was done in just a few hours! So very thankful for everyone's efforts to get this end-of-year task completely so efficiently."

-Kristin Matus-Kelso, Lake Braddock Secondary

------

Adrienne Schumer, Dogwood ES

"Ms. Schumer organized a wonderful Primary Years Program (PYP) student led exhibition that I had the privilege of attending last Friday, June 7th. The event was well organized and the student speakers did a wonderful job sharing their research and findings. The whole event ran very smoothly and was a great collaboration between student leaders and educators. Thank you, Ms. Schumer, for your hard work with organizing this event, I look forward to attending future events in the 2024-25 school year!"

-Steven Myers, Willow Oaks Admin Center

------

Vanessa Paula, Lynbrook ES

"Ms. Paula organized a fantastic Career Day event at Lynbrook ES last Friday, June 7th and it was a privilege to attend. The event was well organized and included speakers from a wide array of career pathways. Ms. Paula involved student leaders with the facilitation of this event and it all ran very smoothly. Ms. Paula is a true educational leader at Lynbrook ES and does impactful work with the students she serves. Thank you for your hard work with organizing this event, I look forward to attending future events in the 2024-25 school year!"

-Steven Myers, Willow Oaks Admin Center

------

Tyler Reynolds, Marshall HS

"Thanks to Mr. Reynolds, health and PE became our son's favorite class this freshman year! PE was never his thing, but Mr. Reynolds' enthusiasm ignited a passion for sports in our son. Now, our house is overflowing with sports equipment – all thanks to Mr. Reynolds! Our son excitedly teaches us each new game he learns, turning PE into a fun family activity. We've always appreciated Mr. Reynolds' kindness, not just towards our son, but to all his students. Thank you, Mr. Reynolds, for being such a fantastic teacher! We are truly grateful for your dedication."

-a Marshall HS parent

------

Brittany Furman, Kings Park ES

"Ms. Brittany Furman has been my daughters’ Speech Language Pathologist for the last 3 years. And she is amazing. She provides the highest level of speech language services for them and they have made loads of progress this past year. Outside of her speech expertise, she had built relationships with them and has been their "lighthouse" this year. When/if they felt anxious in school, Ms. Brittany would be the one they wanted. Ms. Brittany would come and put smiles on their faces and if Ms. Brittany was happy and calm--they would be too. Ms. Brittany has also supported me this year, through clear and consistant communication via email, in person meetings and phones calls. Thank you Ms. Brittany for all your kindness and support. Can't wait to work with you again next year."

-a Kings Park ES parent

------

Tiffeny Kutz, Kings Park ES

"Tiffeny Kutz was my son's General Education teacher this past year. She was a steady and gently force for my son. When entering this year, my son had lost his sparkle,—his self worth. Ms. Kutz gave that sparkle back to him. She created a classroom where he was able to feel safe and grow and let us and his new friends into his life again. Coupled with her support for my son, Ms. Kutz support me. She supported my advocacy for my son and gave me strength through her words of encouragement. It can be hard to be an advocate for her kids, and Ms. Kutz was the quiet, strong support that we needed this year. She is a great asset to KPES. I hope my younger kids will be able to experience her guiding light."

-A Kings Park ES parent

------

Ryan Nigro, Kings Park ES

"This past year was my son's first year in SpEd. He had been struggling greatly with language arts and it had deteriorated his self esteem and self worth. He wasn't the same kid. Enter Ryan Nigro, his SpEd teacher this past year. Mr. Nigro not only listened to my concerns about what I thought my son needed, Mr. Nigro listened to my son--he built a trusting and kind teacher/student relationship with my son. And my son thrived--he made so much progress in all areas of academics. But what was the most valuable was Mr. Nigro brought my son back to us. I cannot truly put into words how much we value Mr. Nigro's expertise, kindness, and strength he puts into his work with his students. He is a huge assets to KPES and every student that is lucky to be his."

-a Kings Park ES parent

------

Reginald Blaise, Abigail Bleymaier, Tania Bove, Alison Cordo, Lisa Dockins, Andres Henao, Molly Hicks, Sheldon Lucas, Kayla Mills, Tyler Mormando, Akon Otoyo, Leann Parente, Edward Pickering, Jenn Scott, Will Williams and Osneyda Zeledon, Montose ALC

" have had the privilege of working at Montrose ALC this year, and every day, I feel more and more grateful for the entire staff. They share a professionalism and positive perspective that I have not experienced anywhere else; they are truly above and beyond. • Reginald Blaise is the perfect balance of heart and high expectations for students. He holds each accountable, and they respect him. He also provides laughter to get through the day. • Abigail Bleymaier has an unsurpassed level of expertise and compassion. Students are safe with her and can achieve their potential. She has a way of knowing exactly how to respond in every situation and how to engage students in learning when they don’t feel like it. • Tania Bove is always willing to help, is flexible, and has a quiet joy about her that is contagious. • Alison Cordo is fair and holds everyone accountable. She is logical, solves problems, and is also a supportive and thoughtful leader. Her way of leading makes you want to do the best you can. • Lisa Dockins can step in and keep everything going. I don’t know how she does it, but she is like Alexa or Siri—if you need information, a phone number, or have odd attendance, she’s one step ahead of you (all while doing her actual job)! • Andres Henao is the best classroom neighbor. He is welcoming no matter how hard the days get. Also, walking around his room is inspiring because of the creative projects that his classes do. • Molly Hicks is a supportive colleague who is a master educator. She creates tools that provide built-in scaffolding and meaningful interdisciplinary lessons. And nothing rattles her! • Sheldon Lucas is a natural leader. He holds weekly meetings that stay on track and allow for laughter. He maintains a calm presence in everything he does. He is encouraging to others and irreplaceable as a colleague. • Kayla Mills is technically our school psychologist, but she does everything! In addition to her actual job description, she is always there to help and is involved in all our school activities. • Tyler Mormando is incredibly knowledgeable. Tyler is not only excellent at teaching academics but is an advocate for students and teaches them how to be an advocate for themselves. • Akon Otoyo is like a shining light. She always has a positive perspective on life and others and makes you feel supported in her presence. She responds to everything with grace. • Leann Parente is always supportive of students and has endless understanding and compassion. She helped create groups that addressed much-needed help for our students. • Eddie Pickering is the most calm, cool, and collected security there is. He handles everything with ease and maintains a safe environment for everyone. • Jen Scott is the welcoming committee! Scott is also transformative in handling student conflict. Watching Scott facilitate conversations between students that create communication and forgiveness is amazing. Scott also created student breaks that foster self-control and a return to class with a new mindset. • Will Williams is a steady presence who always has wisdom to share. He has strong attention to detail in his lessons and even stronger classroom management. • Osneyda Zeledon keeps everything running behind the scenes. She is the quiet engine that everyone relies on."

-Betsy Geddes, ISAEP Central - Woodson HS

------

Anna McDonald, Lake Braddock Secondary

"Anna has been a true wealth of knowledge when it comes to MTSS. She explains things so clearly, is patient, and is open to any and all feedback. Anna is always willing to meet and explain things again (and again!). We are extremely thankful for all Anna has shared, explained, taught, and guided us through all the amazing spreadsheets she has created. Thank you so much for everything, Anna! - The Testing Team (Maya and Tre)"

-Maya Nardone, Lake Braddock Secondary

------

Kennedy Eyer, Amy Heiman, William Austin and Kimberly McAleer, Ravensworth ES

"Since the beginning of the year, our son has had difficulty adjusting to the rigors of being in a classroom. My son has a lot of energy, loves to have fun, and can sometimes be a handful. I knew that due to the fact that he was twice exceptional that he would have some trouble adjusting to some of the confines of a typical classroom. I reached out to the school team and requested a meeting at the beginning of the year. I was concerned that his teacher may not have the experience or the knowledge to deal with my sons energy or his particular needs. The teacher and IA in the classroom have been nothing short of amazing. My son runs into school when we drop him off each morning, and is excited to share experiences when he gets home. This is all a parent could ask for. The teacher and the I.A have made every effort to provide my child with everything he needed to be successful, both academically and socially. And when things started to go awry, we had an amazing AP and counselor who jumped in with the classroom team to help support my son. A HUGE thank you and shout out to Ms.Eyer, Ms.McAleer, Ms.Heiman, and Mr.Austin at Ravensworth Elementary. We appreciate you!"

-a Ravensworth ES parent

------

Maison Chaffin, Eagle View ES

"I want to express my gratitude to Ms. Chaffin, 4th grade teacher for being such a WONDERFUL teacher. She is very enthusiastic, caring, knowledgeable teacher. We as a parent, see a big difference between her and other teachers. She goes above and beyond to make sure every child is on board."

-an Eagle View ES parent

------

Anne Feldman, McLean HS

"Ms. Anne Feldman is a fabulous ceramics teacher at McLean. She goes above and beyond instructional expectations to ensure the students learn about ceramic art during their time in class. While our daughters have quite different personalities and learning styles, each of them highlighted Ms. Feldman as a teacher who cares about all students, inquires about how their day and semester is going, takes time to work individually with them, and cultivates an interesting, educational, and fun class room. One example of her outstanding care for her students was when Ms. Feldman offered to repair a special piece for my daughter after another student accidentally broke it. We are grateful to have Ms. Feldman as a teacher this year. Thank you Ms. Feldman for making ceramics so much fun!"

-a McLean HS parent

------

Amanda Pituch, McLean HS

"Ms. Pituch is the type of Spanish teacher everyone hopes to get! She makes learning a foreign language fun, encourages the students to celebrate together throughout the year, leads cultural enrichment activities, and motivates his students to work hard and learn the material - even the challenging verb tenses and agreements. We are grateful for Ms. Pituch’s exceptional ability to encourage students’ to continue learning a foreign language, even after the required 2 or 3 years. Our daughter regularly and happily shared stories from class, looked forward to the classroom activities, and spoke highly of Ms. Pituch’s class throughout the year. Furthermore, Ms. Pituch worked closely with our daughter to identify and include specific learning aids to support Dyslexia which is a reading disability that is compounded when learning foreign languages. We know our daughter will be well prepared for whatever Spanish courses she takes at university and we are glad to see her honing her understanding of the Spanish language basics in high school. We appreciate Ms. Pituch’s hands-on teaching style and wish her many years of continued success in teaching Spanish at McLean High School."

-a Mclean HS parent

------

Dylan Persinger, McLean HS

"Mr. Dylan Persinger is the type of science teacher everyone hopes to get! He makes science fun, relatable, relevant, and motivates his students to work hard and learn the material - even the complex or challenging material. We commend Mr. Persinger for his exceptional ability to encourage students’ interest in the physical sciences and are very appreciative of his efforts this year in teaching Geosystems at McLean High School. Our daughter enjoyed the course so much that she routinely shared her presentation and research materials with family and friends outside of school, engaging in sophisticated conversations about the environment, galaxies, and geologic impacts. Furthermore, she is now considering majoring in a physical science and is thrilled that Mr. Persinger will be teaching an advanced geospatial course at the high school next year! We know she will be well prepared for whatever science courses she takes at university and we are glad to see her honing her understanding of our planet and galaxy. Furthermore, we are thrilled that she was required to present materials in class to demonstrate this understanding in addition to standard testing. Her critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and writing skills have improved due to Mr. Persinger’s exceptional instruction, and we know these skills will serve her well in any profession. We are grateful for Mr. Persinger’s hands-on teaching style and wish him many years of continued success in teaching Geosystems and related courses at McLean High School."

-a McLean HS parent

------

Margaret Flaherty, McLean HS

"We commend Ms. Flaherty for her exceptional ability to reach students where they are in advanced English courses, engaging their minds, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Our advanced academics daughter chose to try a dual enrollment English course this year as a junior, not quite knowing how DE differed from AP and not sure what to expect. Our daughter, however, loves reading and was motivated to work hard in Ms. Flaherty’s demanding English 101 and 102 classes. While our daughter loves to read, she is less inclined to write, struggles with spelling, and had not previously taken honors English in high school despite having excelled at multiple AP and honors courses in the STEM field. Ms. Flaherty kept her and the classroom motivated, excited to learn, and aware that they could excel at college-level work even in high school! While our daughter’s grade was not as in high as her regular coursework, she routinely praised Ms. Flaherty’s teaching style, worked hard in the course, and is now motivated to continue other DE classes that she likely would not have pursued without this great experience! We know she will be well prepared for whatever English and related writing courses she takes at university and we are glad to see her honing her critical thinking, reading, and writing skills now which will serve her well in any profession. We very much appreciate Ms. Flaherty’s hands-on teaching style and wish her many years of continued success in teaching Dual Enrollment English!"

-a McLean HS parent

------

Libby Settlemyer, McLean HS

"Mrs. Settlemyer is a leading educator in the STEM field at McLean High School, and her efforts to encourage, support, and motivate students to enjoy and pursue STEM courses is outstanding! Both of our students who have taken courses with her have mentioned how structured her curriculum is/was, even adapting for COVID a few years ago. In STEM design, she guides the student to think like project managers by breaking large tasks into smaller, digestible steps, validating requirements, trial and error, verifying tasks are completed, plus bringing fun and excitement into the learning process. In advanced STEM engineering, she encourages students to think creatively about the design process, modify their builds to meet unexpected needs, and experiment with technology in ways that disarm their concerns about messing up or doing something wrong. For example, this semester our daughter thoroughly enjoyed the arduous but impressive project of building a wooden pinball machine. This construction project includes multiple simple machines, many rounds of trial and error, and incredible lessons for our student about the design process, determining what failed in order to rebuild better and more effectively, and how creativity in design takes many different forms . We very much appreciate Mrs. Settlemyer’s hands-on teaching style and wish her many years of continued success in teaching STEM!"

-a Mclean HS parent

------

Randi Davison, Bryant HS

"Randi Davison is always quick to volunteer when the school has a need. When our graduation coordinator left us for an amazing opportunity overseas, Randi quickly offered to take over these very heavy responsibilities. She did an AMAZING job. She brought in some new ideas, like a teacher tunnel for students to walk though and having a social time before graduation with all teachers and graduates. She is very organized and responsive--and just made our graduation a little extra special! Bryant is grateful!"

-Karen Hertel, Bryant HS

------

Mark Henderson, Stonecroft Transportation Center

"Mr. Mark Henderson, driver of the Happy Bus on to Franklin Sherman Elementary for the mornings goes above and beyond. Every single week he greets the kids with a smile and greets the parents. On the holidays he celebrates the kids with gifts and plays trivia games. He has decorated the bus for Halloween, making the bus rides a delight for the children. He really truly is the “happy bus” that makes the kids just adore him with inside jokes, and fun. We are just so blessed to have him to take our children to school each morning."

-a Franklin Sherman ES parent

------

Amy Allen, Carson MS

"Mrs. Allen is wonderful. She has a lot of positive energy, which makes her class fun for her students. She also provides a safe space for students - so much so that my daughter and her friends continued to visit Mrs. Allen as 8th graders when she was no longer their teacher. As my daughter moves to high school, the one sadness about leaving Carson will be not seeing Mrs. Allen anymore. Thank you, Mrs. Allen, for being a wonderful teacher and supportive mentor to these young people."

-a Carson MS parent

------

Loc Bui, Oakton HS

"On Wednesday, June 5th, Crossfield Elementary School had their final strings concert of the school year at Oakton High School. Our students were thrilled to be able to experience a performance on the high school stage. Ms. Maribeth Frank, Mrs. Rachel Blitch, and myself all had to set up for the event to ensure a smooth and successful concert for our Crossfield students. In order to accomplish the set up, we had the assistance of custodian Loc Bui. Loc went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed for the concert. Loc was incredibly kind and caring as we needed his help unlocking doors, finding tables, getting a piano out, and even calling other colleagues to make sure he had all the right keys and equipment for our concert. Loc made our concert experience at Oakton High School so enjoyable! Thank you Loc!"

-Robert Salzberg, Crossfield ES

------

Ashley Farrugia, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"On 6/4/24, we needed additional support for assessment remediation and proctoring. Ashley not only providing remediation to students that needed it to take the assessment, but she also helped facilitate and proctor the testing. We are very appreciative of her efforts and support!"

-Janet Babic, West Potomac HS

------

Telia Johnson, South County HS

"This year, Ms. Johnson became my son's special education administrator. Since she joined our IEP team we noticed a significant improvement in our IEP, long term plans and goals, communications and quality of support. By presenting us a clear path to our son’s graduation, she became like our navigator. We no longer feel like we are lost. Most importantly she really cares and makes us feel supported. Her positive, engaging, effective and can do attitude has been a breath of fresh air. We are super excited to have her in our team at South County HS. We really want her and the school to know how much we appreciate her! Thank you, Ms. Johnson!"

-a South County HS parent

------

Sadhana Rampersad and Shuntina Taylor, Chantilly HS

"Ms. Taylor and Ms. Rampersad, I would like to thank you for support of our child. Thank you for being a main source of continued support for our child and all students amidst changes and challenges both inside and outside of the school system. As a family we felt very supported by you and subschool 3 for your encouragement and consistent presence within our child's path to graduation. I cannot give you enough credit for your profession. Thank you for all you do by reaching beyond the school walls to support."

-a Chantilly HS parent

------

Christie Miller, Greenbriar ES

"Ms.Miller is one of the best, fun, caring teachers my daughter has ever had! She my daughter loves her and her class she has been with Ms.Miller since kindergarten and now she is going into 3rd grade! She makes everyone feel welcome and makes a great fun learning experience for everyone. It’s nice to have a teacher that truly cares and watches out for your child! We are truly happy to be part of the GBE family!"

-a Greenbriar ES parent

------

Caitlin Bielen, Deborah Alsado and Susan Vetter, Westbriar ES

"Ms. Beilen, Ms. Alsado, and Ms. Vetter, have helped my son work through his dyslexia so well this year. He has learned not only how to read, but also the determination not to give up. FCPS has a wonderful cadre of wonderful teachers, this team has really gotten through some road blocks, but at the end of this year he is reading not just books, but words he see around him when in public. I wanted to highlight the efforts of this team of teachers."

-a Westbriar ES parent

------

Wafika Albani, Greenbriar East ES

"Wafika helped me a lot in understanding some school matters and sometimes translating for me in my children’s schools"

-a Greenbriar East ES parent

------

Andrea Montano, Westgate ES

"Andrea Montano goes above and beyond every day to provide such a caring, structured and supportive environment both for her students and colleagues. She is a natural educator that inspires fun, creativity and joy whenever she is leading and supporting students. Not only does she hold students accountable for their behaviors and academic growth she also gives them the skill sets to learn and grow to achieve high standards. She is a rock star when it comes to parent communication, dance parties and all things Kindergarten. I wouldn’t have had such a successful year without her daily commitment to the work, positive energy and unwavering support.

-anonymous

------

Alicia Leonard, Westbriar ES

"This school year has been tough for my son and we have had some very rough patches. Through it all, Ms. Leonard has been their to support my son and ensure that he is able to have a successful 4th grade year. She has been a true partner for me in navigating how best to support my son at school and has always been willing to sit down with me to discuss my concerns. She has gone above and beyond to maintain open lines of communication and to work with me so that I can play an active role in my son's education. She was a steadfast supporter in helping to get my son additional support so that he can reach his full potential and I truly felt that I had an ally as we navigated the complex academic needs of my 2E son. More importantly, throughout the year, my son has come to see her as an adult who believes in him, is able to challenge him and support him through those challenges, and as someone who will stand by him even at his lowest moments. My son has experienced some major personal changes recently and Ms. Leonard has provided him with a truly safe space to adjust to these new changes and become the best version of himself. I am truly grateful to her for raising my son up throughout this past year."

-a Westbriar ES parent

------

Nadya Abu-Rish, Beech Tree ES

"I take this opportunity to recognize Ms. Nadya Abu-Rish for her extraordinary dedication to her students and commitment to ensuring her students' academic success and well-being. Ms. Abu-Rish's efforts to involve parents in educational and recreational activities enhanced student engagement. As a parent, I feel confident that my kid has received adequate resources to continue growing. Congratulations to Beech Tree ES for such an amazing teacher."

-a Beech Tree ES parent

------

Tracey Skahen, Gatehouse Admin Center

"A substitute and daughter of a former employee reached out to me for assistance in obtaining their employee badge. Senior Executive Administrative Assistant Tracey Skahen went above and beyond to help a substitute obtain it. After contacting Tracey for assistance, she not only promptly contacted the Welcome Center about the badge and responded to me with pick-up directions, but she also offered additional pick-up methods to ensure the substitute received the badge as quickly as possible. In the end, she helped facilitate a handoff at an FCPS graduation! FCPS is stronger because of Tracey's commitment to assisting staff. She helped ensure our students have a qualified substitute in their classrooms."

-Stephanie Sheridan, Gatehouse Admin Center

------

Sarah Hurley and Lorena Sagastume, Willow Oaks Admin Center

"Thank you, Lorena and Sarah, for your dedication and flexibility in assisting with multiple rounds of science and math remediation. Your willingness to work with small groups of students, even when plans changed at the last minute, is truly appreciated. Your support for both teachers and students in any capacity does not go unnoticed. We are so lucky to have had your support this year."

-Brandi Goncz, Holmes MS

------

Latifa Ennaouri, Glen Forest ES

"As an Instructional Assistant in our program, Ms. E has been the consistent and caring staff for students and families. As her Resource Teacher, Jody Samuels writes: "I am writing to bring your attention to the exceptional dedication and support displayed by Latifa En-Naouri towards our PreK program this year. Throughout the academic year, Mrs. E has been an invaluable asset to our team. Not only has she consistently excelled in her designated role, but she has also gone above and beyond by taking on many of the responsibilities of the lead teacher throughout the year. Her willingness to step up, always with a smile on her face and ensure the smooth operation of the PreK program is truly commendable. Mrs. E’s commitment to the well-being and development of our young learners has been evident in every aspect of her work. Her ability to effectively manage classroom activities, ensure the room is ready for students, and foster a nurturing learning environment has greatly contributed to student success and the smooth running of the PreK program this year. "

-January Tkach, Alan Leis Center

------

Wafika Albani, Greenbriar East ES

"It is with great honor to have the opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to Mrs. Wafika Albani. Mrs. Albani provided many hours of support through the Family Arabic Phone Line. She facilitated my communication with a parent, whose child has Significant Intellectual Disabilities and is non-verbal. Mrs. Albani took the time to listen to the message I intended to relay to the parent, asked clarifying questions, and contacted the parent via 3-way, thus facilitating the mom's ability to communicate fluently with her son's teachers. Mrs. Albani took her time to ensure that mom understood what was being communicated, through a gentle and respectful approach. Mrs. Albani made herself available each time I reached out to her and went above and beyond to ensure that mom became an active participant in her son's education. Mrs. Albani was very approachable, facilitating our collaboration for the wholesome wealth of the student and family. Thank you, Mrs. Albani, for your professionalism and for your genuine care and approach to working with families who are not used to having their voices heard. Your assistance truly made my day-to-day as an Intellectual Disability Teacher at FCPS easier, and I am forever grateful for you and what you do for our Arabic-speaking families in FCPS."

-Marcela Ardaya Barron, Whitman MS

------

Christy Ryder, Carson MS

"I am submitting Ms. Christy Ryder. She was my son’s counselor in 8th grade and became my “go-to” person for all of my school questions and concerns. She was so responsive and supportive in every way that I came to trust her as my true partner in navigating middle school. Thank you so much to Ms. Ryder for all of the many ways you supported us both big and small. We are so lucky to have you!

-a Carson MS parent

------

Ashely Schatz, Carson MS

"I am submitting Ms. Ashley Schatz. She was my son’s French teacher in 7th and 8th grade and was so communicative and proactive with me as the parent. She worked closely with me to keep him on track with his assignments and tests and was a great parent partner. My son said she was patient, approachable, and really helped him to succeed in a class he found quite challenging. She is his favorite middle school teacher 😊. Thank you Ms. Schatz for making such a positive difference in my son’s middle school experience!"

-a Carson MS parent

------

Charita Eley, Greenbriar East ES

"I would like to recognize Ms. Charita Eley. When I reached out to Ms. Eley to address some topics as a parent, she handled in a prompt and professional manner. I appreciate her putting things into action. I also appreciate her transparency and great leadership."

-anonymous

------

Franklin Kyle, Hughes MS

"Mr. Kyle's presence creates a seamless continuity of caring for students from the school day until the last student leaves the building. Mr. Kyle's ability to listen to students, staff, and parents means he listens to the pulse of the school. He knows where issues could be even before they are apparent. He gets to know students, their peer group, and their normal behavior in the lunch room even before afterschool programs start. He creates a calming presence just by his willingness to be present in the moment with students. He is a team player, seeing an opportunity to talk to a parent as a positive way to address students' needs. He is an FCPS alumni community member that brings insight and connections that help him give a unique perspective that allows him to relate to students' time, place, and experiences. This experience allows him to make excellent adult judgments about what activities students will benefit from in the important afterschool hours. The whole community benefits from Mr. Kyle's day to day care, concern, and presence with FCPS middle schoolers that are in need of caring adults as they naturally push away from their parents' toward independence. Finally, when Mr. Kyle's home was struck by a weather situation and power outage this year, he is so professional he made sure he could be present for students even under those circumstances by staying near work in a hotel until his own personal emergency situation was resolved. Knowing Mr. Kyle has parents' backs, should make all LHMS parents breathe one especially long, appreciative sigh of relief as they remember Mr. Kyle being there for all LHMS students! Thank you so very much Mr. Kyle and keep being an excellent, healthy mentor!"

-a Hughes MS parent

------

Rhonda Jones Howard, Hayfield Secondary

"Through her work with Young Scholars Mrs. Howard-Jones has reignited the curiosity in my child to learn. Her efforts compliment the standard curriculum. The Young Scholar's program has given his self-esteem a HUGE boost!!  He now walks with confidence, believes in himself and looks beyond the digital screen for opportunities to learn.  The trip to Planet Word was amazing.  I plan to bring funds to your school to support to provide this opportunity for more children next year. He was so excited about the trip; I am planning to take our youth at church there this summer.   We are all excited to see what Mrs. Jones-Howard will bring forth next year with the Young Scholars Program! She is to be commended for the way she connects with students and encourages them to recognize their potential."

-a Hayfield Secondary parent

------

Brianna Cole, Eagle View ES

"
Ms. Bri's enthusiasm for teaching her afternoon preschool students about the world around them had a positive impact this school year. Our daughter loved going to school and sharing what she learned. Ms. Bri had a unique ability to make lessons approachable for the littlest learners and engage them in a way that helped them connect. A few of our daughter's favorite lessons included the stages of a butterfly (with a real life caterpillar to butterfly science experiment), the colors of the rainbow (through a "how to catch a leprechaun" STEM crafted slide in rainbow colors), address recognition (with learning to address/stamp/mail a real letter) and knowing the age of a tree by counting the rings (along with planting new seeds to watch how plants grow). The activities/crafts that came home each week showed how much passion Ms. Bri put into ensuring the students understood the lessons. At dismissal each day, we got to witness first hand how playful and engaged Ms. Bri was with her students - literally joining them in games on the playground or blowing bubbles for the class to chase. She addresses her students at their eye level and learned their preferences for greetings to make sure they felt loved and safe. The past few weeks, Ms. Bri has been working hard on kindergarten prep - we've seen our daughter learn to get her own lunch from the cafeteria, repeat books about kindergarten, and be excited for the coming year. As a first year teacher Ms. Bri did a wonderful job where it matters most - showing her students how school is a magical place to be yourself, feel safe and learn about the world around you!"

-a Eagle View ES parent

------

Adriana Vela, Fresia Mercado-Rodriguez, Jacquelyne Vereen and Visoni Rimson, Braddock ES

"Since 2015, the Braddock Elementary eXSTREAM (Engaged in Enriched and Enhanced Experiences with Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) programs such as Maker Space, Robotics, Coding, Gardening, Girl Powered, Chess Club, Readers Are Leaders, and GEMS: Girls Exploring Engineering, Mathematics, & Science were introduced as part of the Afterschool program. Since then, many of the Braddock Elementary students have participated in numerous opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills to build a foundation for Computer Science and STEAM Education experiences. Many of the Braddock Staff and parents are strong supporters and offer their time to volunteer and help with student supervision, chaperoning or even share their own experiences or expertise in these fields. Some of these staff members have gone above and beyond to continually provide support for the program without being asked or seeing financial compensation. They are always there to provide assistance by helping with activities or programs and support by taking photos for social media or encourage our students to participate in the afterschool clubs. I have truly been touched when students when share that specific staff members have encouraged them to join a club because they see their potential. Some of these teachers consistently voluntarily show up and ask, "How can I help?", or "I know an Engineer who would LOVE to speak with the children" or "I have some plants for the school garden and happy to speak with students about why I love them". It is truly wonderful to see some of these staff members learn and grow with our students. Some of the staff members come and assist with the Awards recognition at the final club meeting. I am forever grateful! These actions are such a wonderful example of "Giving Back to the Community" and "Modeling the importance of Good Citizenship"."

-Joyce Matthews, Braddock ES

------